Small Businesses Can't Handle Increased Costs
By Mickki Langston - Posted on August 13th, 2008
Small businesses everywhere are beginning to cave under the pressure of increased costs. This article about the 35-year old Wagner's Bakery in Binghamton, NY, is just one of many such stories.
The bakery's owner Lori Wagner says, "They raised the water 40 percent. We use water just to run the steam in our ovens, let alone all the wash we had to do. And the taxes are unbelievable and they're going to go up again." Combined with their competition from national chain stores and the increase in fuel and flour, the bakery was forced to close.
The president of the Chamber of Commerce is quoted as saying, "What they've gone through as far as cost of doing business here and yet having the desires to succeed and one combating the other, is exactly why we need to have some sort of reform," although the article doesn't say anything about what kinds of reform could be adopted.
There are communities all over the country who are trying out various methods to strengthen their local economy. Take a look at this checklist from Michael H. Shuman of 100 things consumers, entrepreneurs, investors and policy makers can do.
The economic pressures we're facing are having a real impact on our local businesses and our quality of life. What things can we do nurture our local economy?
The bakery's owner Lori Wagner says, "They raised the water 40 percent. We use water just to run the steam in our ovens, let alone all the wash we had to do. And the taxes are unbelievable and they're going to go up again." Combined with their competition from national chain stores and the increase in fuel and flour, the bakery was forced to close.
The president of the Chamber of Commerce is quoted as saying, "What they've gone through as far as cost of doing business here and yet having the desires to succeed and one combating the other, is exactly why we need to have some sort of reform," although the article doesn't say anything about what kinds of reform could be adopted.
There are communities all over the country who are trying out various methods to strengthen their local economy. Take a look at this checklist from Michael H. Shuman of 100 things consumers, entrepreneurs, investors and policy makers can do.
The economic pressures we're facing are having a real impact on our local businesses and our quality of life. What things can we do nurture our local economy?
