Sustainability of Bainbridge Island Business

"Sustainability" is frequently associated with preservation of earth, water and the air we breathe. But there's another kind of sustainability we should be considering.

First, a story...

Last weekend a gentleman came into the store and expressed substantial interest in our very popular McKenzie storage bed and associated dressers, nightstands and media consoles. He had just missed the end of our recent sale period, but nevertheless wanted to take advantage of sale prices. We're happy to do this. But there's more.

Said he to our capable sales associate, "Can I make an offer? It doesn't make much sense to pay full price in this economy, does it? Why, I've been buying furniture and other things in Seattle at 40 and 60 percent off!" Our sales associate responded with a smile and asked, "Oh, and was anyone still working there?" His reply: "No, there was hardly anyone there at all!"

We're not sure he got the message, but it was clear that he cared not a whit whether or not his neighbors remained employed so long as he got a deal he could crow about.

We all want the most value we can get for our hard earned dollars and Port Madison Home routinely guarantees the low price. But when you see merchants offering deep discounts, you can be sure they're not making the money they need to pay their employees, the rent, the utilities and all the other things that keep the wheels of commerce turning and still have something left to take home or to plow back into the business. They're simply trying to get back the money they invested in the inventory. And if the discounts are super-deep store-wide, you can bet the store is in danger of going dark soon and all those people who once brought home the bacon will be looking for work, if they're not already. Those people are your neighbors and mine.

Sustaining the kind of life we love here on Bainbridge Island depends, especially in these times, upon you and me doing business with our neighbors, the people who own and operate and who work in the shops that contribute to the lifestyle we came here for in the first place.

Here are some interesting and not trivial facts that tell the story.

Please let us know what you think about this.