Got to work today, and there are big "Going Out of Business Signs" in the Luxe Home Interior's store.
I have theory. The second incarnation of any business will have less of a chance of surviving long term than the first incarnation.
The first incarnation is usually someone's dream. They put everything into it. The fixtures, the product, the attitude is as fresh as it will ever be.
The second incarnation is usually trying to pick up the pieces. Sure, they may have gotten into the same situation for less money, but....
1.) They have the evidence in front of them that the first incarnation, for all its loving care and energy and its new product and its New Kid in Town mystique didn't make it.
2.) They have the same hurdles of learning the business that everyone has, without the new business excitement.
3.) Picking up a store because it's available is very different in motivation from starting a business from scratch.
Of course, I have my own business to contradict that. I'd managed the store for a couple of years before I bought it, the absentee owner had really neglected it, and I brought a big sense of Newness in my attitude right from the start. But still, I was the second incarnation. It's more than possible that the management of 900 Wall is bringing the same virtues to their business, for instance.
P.S. Luxe has the distinction of being the first store both on the New business section and the goings section.
NEW BUSINESS'S DOWNTOWN
Mary Jane's 6/1/09
c.c.McKenzie 6/1/09
Velvet 5/28/09
Recession Pies 4/11/09
Bella Moda 3/25/09
High Desert Gallery (Bend) 3/25/09
Joolz
Zydeco
900 Wall
Great Outdoor Store
Luxe Home Interiors
Powell's Candy
Dudley's Used Books and Coffee
Goldsmith
Game Domain
Subway Sandwiches
Bend Burger Company
Showcase Hats
Pita Pit
Happy Nails
BUSINESS'S LEAVING
Luxe Home Interiors 6/4/09
Treefort 5/8/09
Blue 5/2/09
Volcano Tasting Room 4/28/09
Habit 4/16/09
Mountain Comfort 4/14/09
Tetherow Property 4/11/09
Blue Moon Marketplace 3/25/09
Plenty 3/25/09
Downtown Doggie 3/25/09
Santee Alley
Bistro Corlise
Made in Hawaii
EnVogue
Stewart Weinmann (leather)
Kebanu Gallery
Pella Doors and Windows
Olive company
Pink Frog
Little Italy
Deep
Merenda's
Volo
Pomegranate (downtown branch)
Norwalk
Pronghorn Real Estate office.
Speedshop Deli
Paper Place
Bluefish Bistro
I have theory. The second incarnation of any business will have less of a chance of surviving long term than the first incarnation.
The first incarnation is usually someone's dream. They put everything into it. The fixtures, the product, the attitude is as fresh as it will ever be.
The second incarnation is usually trying to pick up the pieces. Sure, they may have gotten into the same situation for less money, but....
1.) They have the evidence in front of them that the first incarnation, for all its loving care and energy and its new product and its New Kid in Town mystique didn't make it.
2.) They have the same hurdles of learning the business that everyone has, without the new business excitement.
3.) Picking up a store because it's available is very different in motivation from starting a business from scratch.
Of course, I have my own business to contradict that. I'd managed the store for a couple of years before I bought it, the absentee owner had really neglected it, and I brought a big sense of Newness in my attitude right from the start. But still, I was the second incarnation. It's more than possible that the management of 900 Wall is bringing the same virtues to their business, for instance.
P.S. Luxe has the distinction of being the first store both on the New business section and the goings section.
NEW BUSINESS'S DOWNTOWN
Mary Jane's 6/1/09
c.c.McKenzie 6/1/09
Velvet 5/28/09
Recession Pies 4/11/09
Bella Moda 3/25/09
High Desert Gallery (Bend) 3/25/09
Joolz
Zydeco
900 Wall
Great Outdoor Store
Luxe Home Interiors
Powell's Candy
Dudley's Used Books and Coffee
Goldsmith
Game Domain
Subway Sandwiches
Bend Burger Company
Showcase Hats
Pita Pit
Happy Nails
BUSINESS'S LEAVING
Luxe Home Interiors 6/4/09
Treefort 5/8/09
Blue 5/2/09
Volcano Tasting Room 4/28/09
Habit 4/16/09
Mountain Comfort 4/14/09
Tetherow Property 4/11/09
Blue Moon Marketplace 3/25/09
Plenty 3/25/09
Downtown Doggie 3/25/09
Santee Alley
Bistro Corlise
Made in Hawaii
EnVogue
Stewart Weinmann (leather)
Kebanu Gallery
Pella Doors and Windows
Olive company
Pink Frog
Little Italy
Deep
Merenda's
Volo
Pomegranate (downtown branch)
Norwalk
Pronghorn Real Estate office.
Speedshop Deli
Paper Place
Bluefish Bistro