In a world where the economic markets are failing, it is
hard for owners of small businesses to maintain their businesses while
competing with megastores.
However, there are places that are sustain just by small,
local businesses — Old Town Lansing is one of these places.
According to the Old Town Lansing business directory, more
than 120 businesses have stayed in the neighborhood. UH, WHAT? ARE YOU SURE? THAT DOESN’T EVEN SEEM POSSIBLE. IF YOUR
INSTINCTS SAY A NUMBER ISN’T RIGHT, THEN CHECK IT OUT AND SEE HOW THEY’RE BEING
COUNTED. PLUS, HOW MANY HAVE LEFT? AND HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO A NORM THAT
YOUR NEUTRAL EXPERT MAY BE ABLE TO SUPPLY?
But, why Old Town Lansing and not Downtown Lansing or any
other community?
“The rent is cheaper than downtown for the most part and
that could be a starting point,” Old Town Commercial Association Executive
Director Austin Ashley said. “But I think more important than that is the
energy and the sense of community that we have down here.”
HOW DOES THE RENT
COMPARE? DON’T JUST TELL ME; SHOW ME THE DATA
For Ashley, having different businesses that offer unique
services and barely overlap has contributed in part to the success of Old Town
Lansing.
“It’s also … looking at what kind of market we currently
serve and what can we do and what businesses can we have that could complement
that,” Ashley said.
WHAT IS THAT MARKET?
WHAT ARE THOSE TYPES OF BUSINESSES?
But the success of a neighborhood in the current economic
climate can vary.
Zachary Neal, assistant professor in the Global Urban
Studies Program within the Department of Psychology at Michigan State
University, said grassroots efforts by the neighborhood to encourage residents
to shop locally could be key in a successful community. GOOD NEUTRAL EXPERT
“In Old Town Lansing, the Michigan Institute for Contemporary
Art, which is responsible for hosting the Bluefest and Jazzfest, has been
particularly successful at this,” Neal, who specializes in urban sociology,
including business networks, said in an email.
Neal also said nonprofits play an important role in attracting
costumers and businesses into the community.
And many businesses in Old Town Lansing have been part of
the development of the community.
October Moon has been in the neighborhood for 14 years,
growing as a business as the costumers ***
FATAL FACT ERROR: CUSTOMERS, STED COSTUMERS *** demands increases.
October Moon Owner Aura Ozburn said there are many factors
that have contributed to her store’s ability to stay in business.
“Loyalty to my customers, posted hours that are followed,
nice items, good service,” Ozburn said.
“I mean, all of it, it’s not just one component.”
WHAT DO HER CUSTOMERS
SAY? GET THEIR TAKE, TOO
Ozburn, who said she wants to stay in Old Town Lansing, said
the sense of community is one of the things that have made her stay for 14
years.
“I love the historical neighborhood and when I first opened
up it was extremely dilapidated and unloved for the most part,” Ozburn said.
“But you could see people were trying so hard and you could feel it but it was
not necessarily visual. Many people were afraid of the neighborhood.”
Many of the business owners volunteer in the different
fundraisers organized by the Old Town Commercial Associations to raise money
for the betterment of the community.
HOW MANY FUINDRAISERS
DO THEY HAVE? HOW MUCH DO THEY RAIUSE ANNUALLY? WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?
“I’ve watched a lot of businesses come and go,” Ozburn said.
“Even though you are in an urban environment you feel like you are in a small
town… and you don’t have to agree but you support each other and you listen to
each other and that is quiet refreshing.”
But there are different reasons that could contribute the
departure of businesses from Old Town Lansing.
“There are many different factors… the most obvious is a
lack of demand (and) revenue,” Neal said. “But for some businesses that close
quickly, this may be driven by insufficient starting capital.”
LET’S FIND A
BUSINESSPERSON THAT LEFT OLD TOWN AND GET THEIR TAKE OF WHY THEY LEFT
If a business wants to be successful, it is imperative for
it to have a sufficient starting capital, Neal said.
“New businesses often take several years before they become
profitable, so opening a new business requires a sufficient reserve of capital
to cover expenses until the business generates a profit,” Neal said. “If a new
business opens on a very limited budget, it may be unable to withstand the
initial costs of getting started.”
Ashley said many of the businesses in Old Town Lansing can
sustain themselves and have built a clientele that grows every year.
And having loyal costumers can make a difference in small
businesses.
“There is a pride, because there is ownership… the
difference between owning and renting,” Ozburn said. “Old Town shows ownership.”
INSTRUCTOR COMMENTS:
GOOD OVERALL STRUCTURE, BUT FIRST WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PAIR
GENERALITIES WITH DETAILS. IF WE SAY THE AREA HAS A CERTAIN CLIENTELE, LET’S
SAY WHAT THAT CLIENTELE IS. IF WE SAY THEY DO FUND-RAISERS, THEN LET’S FIND OUT
HOW MANY AND HOW MUCH THEY RAISE. DON’T JUST TELL ME SOMETHING IS SO; SHOW ME
THE PROOF AND THE DETAILS. ALSO, WE’RE MISSING A MAJOR PERSPECTIVE HERE: THAT OF
SHOPPERS! WHY DO THEY SHOP THERE? WHAT ARE THE PROS AND CONS? WHAT KEEPS THEM
COMING BACK AND WHAT KEEPS THEM AWAY? LET’S NOT FORGET EVERYDAY PEOPLE LIKE
THAT. WE ALSO NEED A BIT OF HEALTHY SKEPTICISM IN TERMS OIF THE NUMBERS WE ARE
OFFERED: HOW ARE THEY COUNTING THAT? WHAT DOES THAT TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION?
ALSO, LET’S CAREFULLY PROOF OUR WORK FOR ADHERENECE TO AP STYLE AND MAKE SURE
THERE ARE NO MORE FATALS IN HERE. AND WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR A SECONDARY MEDIA?
PHOTOS? VIDEO? A LOCATOR MAP? A FACT BOX?
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