This year has been a learning experience for me as a consumer and as a small business owner.<\/p>\n
As a consumer:<\/strong><\/p>\n As a consumer with less money to spend, I find that my buying habits have changed significantly. I am switching to cheaper alternatives in many areas: Internet phone service instead of regular land line telephone; less expensive cell phone plans; store brands at the supermarkets and specials instead of the brands we used to buy.<\/p>\n Many purchases have been put on hold: clothing purchases; household construction projects; landscaping projects; auto tune-ups;<\/p>\n Trips to nearby cities for supplies are carefully scheduled so they are kept to a minimum.<\/p>\n Small purchases for entertainment continue, but the outlay is greatly reduced. If we eat out while on a shopping expedition, it is more likely to be at Subway than Applebys and a regular coffee instead of a latte from Starbucks.<\/p>\n I borrow tools for short projects where I used to buy them to add to my collection.<\/p>\n We shop online for everything we cannot buy in our local stores.<\/p>\n We look for opportunities to barter whenever possible.<\/p>\n In short, we look for special deals in almost every transaction and do not buy until we find a seller that is willing to give us a price that makes us feel satisfied with the opportunity. Spending money has become painful and it takes a special deal to make buying something satisfying.<\/p>\n As a small business owner:<\/strong><\/p>\n As a small business owner selling services and products to people who are hurting for money, I have not found much useful advice in the various online forums I follow. The usual advice is to increase my level of advertising and promotion and there is a shortage of strategies for pricing to suit hard times. Promising the same services to more people does not seem to address what consumers As a consumer, I find myself ignoring advertising except for things I really need at a price that I can't refuse. If my disposable income is at a rock-bottom low, my attention goes to those offerings that will provide me with things I really need at prices that make me feel comfortable buying them. I am not attracted to off-brands at low prices, but to known brands that are being offered at savings that can't be resisted.<\/p>\n If there is a rational reason that the goods are being sold at very low prices, it sweetens the deal for me as a consumer. Overstocks, special buys, and closeouts offer a chance to get needed products of standard quality at prices far below normal.<\/p>\n As a small business owner, I have been experimenting with ways to extend my line of products and services so that I offer limited specials at irresistible prices while maintaining my ability to produce high end products and services for those customers who need them and can afford them.<\/p>\n The results have been encouraging. I started seeing more business at the low end as soon as I started offering special pricing. Customers have been spreading the word that custom framing is still affordable for those who need it. <\/p>\n The turn-around for me as a business owner came when I started looking at my needs as a consumer. I only buy when there is a compelling reason to purchase. I had to give my customers the same opportunity.<\/p>\n Has anyone else had a similar experience?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This year has been a learning experience for me as a consumer and as a small business owner. As a consumer: As a consumer with less money to spend, I find that my buying habits have changed significantly. I am … Continue reading are experiencing<\/s> need and want.<\/p>\n