Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: Zep on October 02, 2008, 09:27:02 am
-
(http://www.rawfoodlife.com/Latest_Raw_Food_News/Dallas_Morning_News_4_7_08/logo_dallas_morning_news.gif)
[size=20]Texas State Fair's luxury sales drop[/size]
Thursday - October 2, 2008
By JESSICA MEYERS / The Dallas Morning News
jmeyers@dallasnews.com
The State Fair's Grand Place building houses its usual blend of hot tubs, vibrating foot massagers and handcrafted African goods. It's only missing one thing this year: customers.
Luxury goods vendors say they're experiencing the worst sales year on record, up to an 80 percent decrease among some sellers almost a week into the fair. They attribute it to an early decline in fair attendance and spreading fears about Wall Street's crashing stocks.
"Last year you couldn't get across the aisles," said Brad Collins, who sells custom-built Western furniture in the Grand Place building. "Now you can shoot a gun in here and nobody would get hit."
Mr. Collins said he's one of the vendors experiencing an 80 percent decline in sales compared with last year.
(http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/img/10-08/1002fairsales2.jpg)
TOM FOX/DMN
Griffin Pierpont, 12, of Colleyville takes a break with his family at the Aries Spas Manufacturing display at the State Fair of Texas.
Photography Photo store Carlene Cash, who sells stuffed jalapeno cookers, described things as "bad, bad, bad."
And Medi-Rub Massagers owner Lee Jurewicz said sales are the worst he's seen in the 12 years he's worked the fair. The St. Petersburg, Fla., vendor said he's sold 32 machines so far, compared with 100 at this time last year.
Mr. Jurewicz hauls his goods to five fairs a year, from Orange County to Kansas City, but said nothing compares to the drought he is experiencing in Texas.
"To stand here and do nothing is terrible," he said, looking at a line of empty chairs bearing foot massagers.
While failing banks and sinking markets have affected visitors, State Fair spokeswoman Sue Gooding attributes the lousy sales to football.
Last Saturday marked the first time in five years a football game did not occur on opening weekend, events that wrangle in the largest crowds for the fair. Prairie View A&M University and Grambling State University play this Saturday in the Cotton Bowl, with the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma renewing their annual clash the following weekend.
Many customers who are making their annual trek to ogle the whirlpools and paw the handmade jewelry say they're keeping tighter pocketbooks.
Two years ago, the Allens from Corsicana spent $5,000 on a bar and pool table. This year, Jeanny Allen said, they're buying nothing.
"We're spending a lot less as we watch our money disappear from the stock market and our retirement go down the drain," she said.
The vendors who are making sales have etched out a niche market that makes purchases more justifiable, said seller Tomazane Tonips, who has only seen a "smidgen" of a decrease in sales of her husband's handmade stone oil lamps.
"If it's something they think is really unique, they will continue to spend," said Ms. Tonips, who sells their goods in the Arts and Collectables tent. She admitted lowering prices to accommodate increasingly selective shoppers.
She's banking on customers like John Kearley of Arlington, who declared that he and his wife would spend the same amount as they always do. That prompted his wife, Jean Crawford, to shake her head in disagreement.
"It's scary times," she said.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/100208dnmetfairvendors.10c72c2.html
-
I'm afraid this will be a reality for a few years. Banks are going to tighten up restrictions on loans. It will be harder to finance "toys". A question to dealers.....what percentage of people pay cash for their tubs vs. financing?? We paid cash, but I would guess a large percentage finance their tubs.
-
By far most of our customers use credit cards...another way of financing.
-
renee i paid cash too, but I would think most don't. even credit cards will get tight because #1 alot of folks are maxed out, plus credit card companies are going to tighten too. i know a guy that works at a car dealer. he said their best day by far is saturday. last saturday this huge dealership sold a total of ONE car! one car sold on a saturday, he said that was a shock. i was at an independent pizza take-out place last night and the owner said his business is down 50% over the last two weeks and he'll have to close soon if it continues. he's been in business at the location for 12 years.
-
Everyone (except the sheeple) realizes that the criminals in Congress are about to take over the free market system and that we will soon have a socialist in the White House.
<Baaaaa baaaaaaa......Dancing with the Stars is on......baaaaaaa baaaaaaaa.......where's my guberment cheese?!......baaaaaaa baaaaaaaaa>
Terminator
-
I've noticed over the past week or two that hardly any of the current threads - on any spa forum- are from customers currently shopping for spas. They're all maintenance issues, covers, etc.
I saw an article about the auto industry yesterday that said car sales were down 30% in September. I would imagine that spa sales have got to be worse.
-
Everyone (except the sheeple) realizes that the criminals in Congress are about to take over the free market system and that we will soon have a socialist in the White House.
<Baaaaa baaaaaaa......Dancing with the Stars is on......baaaaaaa baaaaaaaa.......where's my guberment cheese?!......baaaaaaa baaaaaaaaa>
Terminator
Scary, eh?? I think this country will have to hit rock bottom before it starts getting any better.
Just my opinion though....
On a side note...my husband sells beer....you don't think people will quit drinking beer, do you?!?! :o
-
Scary, eh?? I think this country will have to hit rock bottom before it starts getting any better.
Just my opinion though....
I say let the whole thing crash...the sooner, the better! I've been writing and calling these turdburglars in Washington and letting my feelings about the matter be known. Our local rep's e-mail server has crashed.
On a side note...my husband sells beer....you don't think people will quit drinking beer, do you?!?! :o
Your husband is probably going to see a boon! :D
Terminator
-
Alcohol sales ALWAYS increase as the economy decreases.
Budweiser's stock is UP almost 50% in the last 6 months ;D
-
"you don't think people will quit drinking beer, do you?!?"
NEVER!
(http://www.reallyfunnypictures.co.uk/interesting/pics/28.10.06/beerhottub.jpg)
-
"Now you can shoot a gun in here and nobody would get hit."
Term, this is not a request to test the theory.
-
Term, this is not a request to test the theory.
I couldn't hit anything if I tried...I've done gone cockeyed from trying to get this new Vista system up and running. I got the newest Photoshop version, but can't get it to work. It's worse than possum piss.
At least we're busy...goin' to the fights in Shreveport next Friday and to the Aqua Show in Vegas next month. Can't wait for that!
Term
-
Zep,
Great pic of the Heineken hot tub! I'll have to show my hubby that one, as it's one of the brands he sells. ;)
-
Hi Guys,
My Sundance dealer in Ct. has sold five spas in the last month or so. His rep said that when the pools close people start thinking about hot tubs.
Hey Renee, what other beers does your husband sell? Is he a distributor only or a producer?
Thanks.....Sean
-
Hey Renee, what other beers does your husband sell? Is he a distributor only or a producer?
Thanks.....Sean
He sells everything BUT Budweiser products. Miller, Coors, Old Milwaukee, Imports, etc. He works for a distributor and does the pre-selling from a van, so not much lifting like the guys on the trucks.
Glad to hear spas in your area are still selling!!
renee
-
Aqua Show in Vegas next month. Can't wait for that!
Term
Is this the year they honor forum moderators? I haven't got my invitation yet.
-
Is this the year they honor forum moderators? I haven't got my invitation yet.
They only invite the 5 who were nominated. Being that there are only 6 total to choose from I thought you'd have a shot but...
-
"Aqua Show in Vegas next month. Can't wait for that! Term"
Darn Term I'll miss ya by one week. Going out to Vegas at the end of Nov.
-
"We face extreme danger. Unless there is immediate intervention on every front by all the major powers acting in concert, we risk a disintegration of global finance within days. Nobody will be spared"
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/ambroseevans_pritchard/3141428/Germany-takes-hot-seat-as-Europe-falls-into-the-abyss.html