In these tough economic times, what’s a store to do to make sure it’s still in business a year from now?
“Get a tarot card reader,” said Emese Boone, owner of Box Turtle in Little Rock, Ark.
And she isn’t kidding — Boone hired a local tarot card reader to give free readings during a recent jewelry trunk show in her clothing, jewelry and housewares shop.
Retailers like Boone are hoping special events, classes, blood-pressure screenings and even career counseling will inspire shoppers to keep on shopping during the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.
Boone has also thrown a cocktail party and book signing and started a rewards program that gives customers a 20 percent discount every time they spend $500 in her store.
Do these perks translate into dollars? Not necessarily — and it costs money to pay for entertainment and refreshments.
Still, shop owners think it’s worth a try.
“Even if customers don’t buy anything, they’re leaving the shop with a good feeling,” Boone said.
Tamara Lee, owner of Brooklyn Mercantile in New York, is teaming up with a local nurse practitioner who will conduct free breast cancer and blood pressure screenings, as well as free nutrition workshops.
In addition to her usual sewing and craft workshops, Lee is planning to enlist a career coach who will offer guidance to customers. Her shop had already become a local gathering place for those interested in do-it-yourself activities, but even those have suffered.
“Because of the economic climate, people are worried about their work lives, they’re cutting back on extraneous spending and looking inward,” said Lee. “They want to do things to fix up their homes without spending money.”
