Business This Week: Optimism for the New Year

Kay Harris

It’s difficult to find anyone who says that 2009 was one of their best years. From business and job woes to violence in the community, the year ended on a down note.

Ever the eternal optimist, I am hopeful that next year will be much better, calmer, and filled with less controversy and more happiness for everyone. If this year has taught us anything, it’s that you have to be ready to adapt at any time. The most carefully laid plans for retirement, employment, marriage, children, etc., can be sidelined all too quickly by bankruptcy, layoffs, illnesses, and other unforeseen circumstances.

The cover article in today’s Business Section is a must-read for business owners as they look for ways to trim budgets and save money. Finding ways to reward employees if a monetary reward is out of the question, finding ways to continue to promote and grow your business and learn that good old fashioned customer service goes a long way towards helping both your customers and employees know they are cared for.

Although there are no quick fixes, there are two things that business owners can do to help even in tough economic times.

One is to continue marketing your business. I can’t emphasize enough how often I get questions about restaurants and stores that people think are shut down because they never see or hear ads for them anymore. It’s a self-fulfillling prophecy — if you act like your business is in trouble, it will be.

The other recommendation is to ask real estate companies in town to limit their signage by viable businesses. There are a number of huge signs saying for lease, for sale, or for rent directly in front of restaurants and stores that are open and trying to retain customers. Just because one store in a strip center may be empty, there’s no reason to create the impression that the entire place is closed or in trouble. That’s not to say that realtors shouldn’t advertise their businesses or actively find tenants, but the placement of the signage goes a long way towards hindering or helping a business.

As we look forward to the new year, here’s hoping that we all learn from the past in order to improve the future. We all want happiness and good health, and let’s hope this year we all come closer to finding it.

Business Roundup

The O’Neals Country Buffet on North Ashley Street is getting ready to shut down for a couple of weeks for renovations and a general sprucing up. The beloved buffet and downtown mainstay for lunchtime diners will re-open in mid-January with a new, fresh look but the same good food. There’s a rumor that Mr. O’Neal may retire, but it’s doubtful that he’ll leave his perch at the counter for long.

Look for the new Chick-fil-A on Inner Perimeter Road to open Jan. 14. I understand the interior is being finished and the staff is being trained to prepare for the opening.

If you’ve been around Toombs Street downtown lately, you will notice that the building for the new Teen Center and activity areas for the Boys and Girls Club is underway. It’s taken a while to get to this point, but the center is sorely needed and will be a great addition to the club and its offerings.

WaldenBooks in Valdosta Mall is shutting down and will be closed soon, and they are offering steep discounts on the merchandise and books in the store. It will be a shame to see them go, but we’re not the only ones losing a mall bookstore as several hundred are closing nationwide this year.

Look for work to begin in the New Year on the Harvey’s supermarket and other businesses locating in the old Pick’in park in Hahira.

Folks on the north end have been waiting for a large grocery store to come their way for a long time.

A few other projects around town are in various stages of planning and development, and I’ll have more updates coming, but for now, Have A Happy New Year!!