ladysingstheblues (anonymous) says...

If the Chandelier Shop was open on Saturday, they might have had more business. It was hard for me to shop there when they were only open 9-5, Monday through Friday.

February 2, 2010 at 1:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

HenryVIII (anonymous) says...

I have two solutions for you, ladysingstheblues.
1) Wal-Mart
2) The Internet
I'm just glad Emporia has both of these or I'd never have a chance to buy anything.
'enry

February 2, 2010 at 2:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ToxicPink (anonymous) says...

This doesn't make sense to me, if you've going to run a store that sells something, wouldn't it make sense to have the store open the days that people will not be working other office type jobs?

I mean, I understand wanting the weekend free, but if you're selling something to the community wouldn't it be wise to be open when other things close allowing people to do their shopping on the weekend

9-5 is when everyone is working in their offices, banks, etc. =/

Trust me, I know my shopping.

Oh my, I do believe this ties into shopping Emporia first! (We can't do it! They gotta be home in time for Heroes and Lost!)

February 2, 2010 at 5:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Pinkpintopony (anonymous) says...

I went into the Chandelier Shop in November ( just a few months ago) when I was shopping for some new light fixtures. I pride myself on always trying to go local first. I had about 20 minutes to kill before picking one of my kids up from school. I walked in and walked around and I was there for about 10 minutes and saw NO ONE. No sales person. I saw someone pass by in the background, but then nothing. I have noticed that in a few other local shops here in Emporia. Don't get me wrong...I don't want someone following me around and non- stop talking to me when I come into their store, but a simple greeting and a " let me know if I can help you with anything" is required for my business. Who knows? I may have been prepared to spend $10,000.00 that day at the Chandelier Shop! Or maybe just $100.00. Business is business and if you don't know how to run yours, many of us will probably go elsewhere. I'm still holding onto the hope that I can shop local. Does anyone have any suggestions for me on where I can go to get some fine lighting?

February 2, 2010 at 9:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...

Sounds like you could have gotten some really good deals with no employees anywhere. Know what I mean? nudge nudge wink wink

Just joking kids. Stealing is wrong.

February 2, 2010 at 9:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...

When I worked there, we were open 9:00 am to 5:30 pm Mon-Fri and 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on Sat. People who truly wanted to stop in did so on Sat. mornings or over their lunch breaks. We even experimented with staying open later on Wed. evenings, but it was completely unprofitable--in fact, all it did was cost us money. The hard truth is, though, it is too high end for most fly-by-might shoppers and therefore also too high priced for them. Most of those kinds of shoppers would walk away to buy inferior products(a grade lower than the lowest a showroom can carry) at Sutherlands or Walmart or even Lowes or Home Depot where they liked the prices better. Most of that kind of business was lost a decade ago with the boom of big box stores and many other Chandelier Shops in larger cities took this step in reduction then. This store held on ten years longer than was expected. Most of their business comes through new construction and large remodels and are either handled by the contractor or a sub-contractor, or the owner will take time away from work to make their selections with flooring, paint, bathroom fixture and lighting consultants. Since the construction business works 8:00-5:00, it made the most business sense to shave off the times when they weren't being patronized anyway and narrow hours down to when they were being used. As it was, a fraction of that business was also lost to the big box stores.
Even though I knew this was coming, I'm very sad to see it go and hope Stanion can someday bring back all their Chandelier Shops.

February 2, 2010 at 9:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

alfalfa (anonymous) says...

I like the points brought up about 9-5 businesses. Since most people have to work, and people who work tend to also be the people with the most money to spend, why aren't more businesses open after 5pm? I have tried hard to support mom and pop businesses, but I am about done with it. You have to take time from your workday to spend more money..go figure. If businesses are serious about staying in business, I guess they better start catering more to the working class.

February 2, 2010 at 9:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ToxicPink (anonymous) says...

Why should I have to spend my lunch break, the hour I get, shopping for a lamp when I should be eating?

Don't open at 9. Open at 11.

Close on Monday and Tuesday rather then Sunday and Saturday.

Shaking it up isn't really all that scary.

February 2, 2010 at 10:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...

Well, first of all, no one said you had to spend your lunch hour that way--you have to decide how you want to spend your 60 minutes. Secondly, it makes very little business sense to adjust the hours like that to make $250 in sales from browsing traffic only to lose a $900 order plus several subsequent, significant ones from a regular customer at 9:30 Mon. morning.
Like I said, the people who really wanted to come in, did. And, I might add, the well-known names in town who really have the most money to spend (lawyers, doctors, even newspaper editors) have flexible enough work schedules to make it in for a fixture or two here and there......although, unfortunately that profit still doesn't compete with what contractors do.
Shaking it up is scary when it results in loss.

February 2, 2010 at 11:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ToxicPink (anonymous) says...

Apparently it all still did end in loss anyway.

And you like to in a round about way, name drop, makes it seem like the working class, middle class are not important to the store anyway.

I guess if regular people aren't important enough and they'd rather cater to those that make on the high end in way of income, big deal. Let them close.

I'll go to home depot and bed bath and beyond.

Part of my /point/ that I mentioned in my first point, albeit it was a tad on the smartass side, was that we were just told to "Shop Emporia first" but Emporia doesn't want the working class to shop here apparently.

February 3, 2010 at 7:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

biscuitboy (anonymous) says...

Good observations ToxicPink. I was having the same thoughts.

February 3, 2010 at 8:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

koalemos (anonymous) says...

Less new construction = less lighting fixtures being purchased +
Big box stores selling cheap light fixtures that "look like" the ones contractors use = quality vendors downsizing. Sad but true.

February 3, 2010 at 8:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

methusla (anonymous) says...

I too, absolutely agree with your observation ToxicPink . Sad thing about all this " High End/Higher Priced " thinking is, Walmart in ther restructuring plan is also going for " Higher End " merchandise, to draw in more affluent shoppers, which will translate into higher prices. And word has it that Walmart is going to go thru another remodel of the local store for this very reason.
And I also agree with a gentleman that I was talking to just yesterday about this very subject and the direction the country seems to be headed. He said, that it would seem that the " powers that be/wealthy " , who are running this country are trying desperately to " Kill " the poor and middle class of this country .

February 3, 2010 at 8:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

methusla (anonymous) says...

You know, if you have 100 customers who spend $900 dollars or 1000 customers who spend $100 dollars, you will make $10,000 more from the 1000, $100 customers than from the 100, $900 customers. And if you just happen to cater to both, it would seem you would make even more money.
Is my math or logic flawed, as I am not the brightest bulb in the " Chandelier " .

February 3, 2010 at 8:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

HenryVIII (anonymous) says...

seriouslyfolks,
I hear ya! A nod is as good as a wink to a blind bat.

oh4theluvof,
I sleep in until 1pm on Saturdays! Why would I get up so early on a day off?

'enry

February 3, 2010 at 8:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

create (anonymous) says...

Okay everyone, now's your chance. If you want or need a good quality lamp or hanging lamp, the Chandelier Shoppe will be open this Saturday from 8 - 5 where prices will be slashed 25%.

Got that? Open SATURDAY!!!

Good quality.

Now the whole town will be in there.

February 3, 2010 at 8:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...

Amazing how people read in what they want to. In case you all missed it, I'll repeat it again. We experimented with different hours to try to cater, BUT we weren't patronized. Show rooms can't buy the cheap stuff that big box can (not that it's good business for a smaller store to anyway, once all the returns come back) and lastly, the so called "name dropped" customers still weren't enough to compete with construction (much of which is middle and working class, btw).
Maybe it did all end in "loss" (not really if contractors can still order as usual) but it was an extra ten years of availability to off the street customers.......that's good business. Now, they are just cutting expensive overhead that turns no profit. Once again, good business.

February 3, 2010 at 8:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

methusla (anonymous) says...

create
Well, not quite the whole town. Even 25% off is still pricey for this old " Miserly Scrooge " .

February 3, 2010 at 8:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

methusla (anonymous) says...

create
Besides, the space for parking will be a hassle.

February 3, 2010 at 8:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...

How many lamps and light fixtures did each of you buy last year? How many do you plan on buying this year? How many of you will come up with any excuse in the world to not go to that shop because you really don't want to and you never have?
I'm sure each of you are better at business management than the team of people there who have several decades of experience *in that shop* and know the town and the business, not to mention the corporate heads in Pratt.

February 3, 2010 at 9:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

marko (anonymous) says...

I can recall friends from out of town complimenting the showroom for the quality and variety at a time when they were building a new home, plus they were happy not to hassle with big city traffic.

February 3, 2010 at 11:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

neighbor (anonymous) says...

Sorry to hear another local business is giving it up, never good news but reality is reality. I'd like to offer my personal experience and view on why this happening more frequently. I built a new house seven years ago. I drew up the plans for the house to have exactly what we wanted, not what others had built or designed. I acted as the General Contractor in the construction. I chose to hire local sub contractors based on past work experience with them, and the desire to keep my money local. I chose them based not on the amount of their bids, but rather on their reputations and my personal knowledge of their work. Only one local Carpenter would submit a bid, he wanted and needed the work, he got it. Two non-Emporia contractors submitted bids, but they would only bid the job with themselves being the General Contractor. The other locals refused to even submit a bid on the job unless it was a turn key job, start to finish with them hiring their choice of sub contractors. Some of the local builders also told me that they didn't bid because they were five years behind, business was booming. Only one cement contractor submitted a bid, the others told me later they shy away from jobs if a licensed contractor is not involved.(the good old boy system is alive and well in E-town) I ended up paying over 40% more to hire local mechanical contractors than I would have paid hiring crews outside of Emporia. I know this because I allowed a few non-resident contractors to bid on the job. One example of this came from Osage City, that contractor bid on installing all of our plumbing, electric, and HVAC. Their bid was lower than I ended up paying for just the plumbing to be installed by a local plumber. It was suggested that I should buy all of my fixtures at the Chandlier Shop by the electrician I hired. My wife and I went in to have a look at what was offered, it didn't take long to get sticker shock. We bought one decorative light fixture to have above our dining room, we bought the rest of our fixtures elsewhere for 1/4 the price that we would have spent there. As for the quality claim, I saw the exact same light fixture we bought at the Chandelier Shop for $180 sold at Lowes for $59. It was packaged differently, but used the same metal base, glass, wiring and socket materials. It was the same light only it was boxed in a generic package. I saved over $70k building the house the way we did doing alot of the work ourselves, but could have saved another $10-$15k hiring contractors outside of Emporia. The construction industry in Emporia is not alone in being over priced for the local economy and average pay scale of the area. Many of our locally owned retail businesses do not even appear to try to compete with the out of town options. They will be the ones that will join the others that have closed up shop.

February 3, 2010 at 11:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

create (anonymous) says...

For years, everytime I replaced any lighting in my old Victorian, I went to the Chandelier Shoppe. Just last year I bought from there twice for overhead lights and once for a table lamp. Still, I'm not enough business. But I am sad to see them go.

methusla, I went down this morning and did my shopping without a hassle. Many things had already been marked down. Boy, you must really be the "Miserly Scrooge" that you say you are if you think 25% off is pricey.

February 3, 2010 at 12:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

methusla (anonymous) says...

create
Yep, I am the origional " Miserly Scrooge " . And I and my sister have gone to the Chandelier Shop a couple of times and even 25% off of the origional price, which was way out of our budget, is/was still to pricey for us. You see, we have been taught to live within our means and not to buy something just because we want it or to try and impress anyone else. You see, I and my sister come from a poor working family, who had to budget and watch every penney earned and every penney spent . And we had to learn to live pretty " Lean " when my father was out of work for almost 3 years. I too am sorry that they are having to change marketing strategies. However, those individuals who used to shop there, most likely had to make some decisions on where to shop to save money also. Tough times are affecting everyone and thats too bad .

February 3, 2010 at 12:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...

Henry,
While I'm betting you could see the obvious answer to your question, I will give it anyway. Don't go at all if you don't want to, or just don't go on Saturday. Go on a weekday...you sleep in that late because you work a late shift which means you could go during any of the daytime hours--after they open at 9:00 am and before you go to work at 5:00(?)pm--that we are accustomed to seeing you here. You obviously aren't sleeping when you're posting here, so it's not a conflict.

neighbor,
While the showrooms aren't allowed to carry the bottom line fixtures that big box can, big box is allowed to get some of the mid and high line stuff that showrooms sell and with bulk buying power, it is possible that it was the same fixture, BUT with that kind of price difference, I'd bet yours is brass plated and the $180 version was solid brass. Yours probably also didn't have the insulation above the plate. I could be wrong, but those are two of the many common differences that most buyers don't catch or don't care about. Having never worked on commission and not even working there now, I have no vested interest in this, just passing on a few years of information that I gleaned. I refused to ever lie to the customers, so I did a lot of studying up on what the differences really were to make sure I was never misleading them.

Yes, everyone has to make the decision on whether they want to cut quality to get quantity or if they can even afford to make the purchase at all. This is not a criticism from me. It is a fact that I acknowledged (tactfully or silently) with each customer I had so as to not be pushy. I am not a spokesperson for the company either. All I was trying to do in the first place was to give a little "insider" look into the business (I've heard some posters like that, but it didn't seem to pan out here) and to commend the Emporia Stanion Wholesale Electric and Chandelier Shop team for beating the economy and the odds for a whole decade.
I wish them all continued success as they "shake things up" in a sensible (and saddening) move for overall survival.

February 3, 2010 at 3:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

create (anonymous) says...

Thank you for your explanation, methusla. I appreciate your having to "lie lean." I'm quite familiar with that term because I grew up that way, and for many years was the wife of an active duty military man.

On the other hand, I have also learned that quality lasts for a very long time and I save my money and will buy quality every single time. I'd rather have one thing of higher quality than ten things of regular. The floor lamp I bought this morning was solid brass and quite lovely for the price. Also, the OTT lamp I bought for seeing colors better when I sew can be found in fabric shops for a little over $100. I paid $48. That is what I'm talking about.

Nothing will peel off that brass lamp when I clean it, and that OTT lamp will last forever.

February 3, 2010 at 5:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

neighbor (anonymous) says...

I bought the $180 version locally oh4, I hope I didn't pay extra thinking I was getting better quality and only got plated brass. I assure you the one in Topeka was exactly the same light as what I bought in Emporia, insulted above the plate and all.

When people can afford to buy, they will buy more, more volume helps everyone. Trying to survive by relying on loyal customers only while thumbing your nose at those who can't afford your products, it just won't cut the mustard in this kind of economy. There will be more businesses that will fail and will close their doors in Lyon Co before things get better.

February 3, 2010 at 7:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...

neighbor,
I misread what you had bought. Not that it matters, but I am very confident that what you bought was the better one.
I don't follow your second paragraph. The point I was making was that for ten years they did everything to stay available to the once-in-awhile customers and they beat the odds in doing so. You just can't pay $500 in operating costs (utilities, wages, advertising and cost of item from vendor) in order to sell $500 in merchandise. Only a percentage of that $500 in sales is actual profit so you are really taking a loss in that equation. The profitable business model is changing and morphing with the fickle economy and if they had done it the way everyone else was, this shop would've been long gone by now. There just honestly wasn't that much irregular business in that avenue of retail even in the housing boom of the mid-nineties to mid-2000's. I can only imagine how slow the trickle was as of late. I would bet that it was common to have no one stop by in a whole business day...accounting for why, unfortunately, no one was monitoring or checking the sales floor when Pinkpintopony stopped in (that and the darn doorbell was probably on the fritz again). Sadly, loss of business has such domino effects. It was a niche market that has apparently minimized significantly here in E-town.
I just hope that I can still order through them when I finally get around to changing out my ceiling fans. I am VERY picky about my RPM's, decibels, blade pitch and motor life.

create:
Just don't use Windex on that brass lacquer---I bet you know that already, but just in case.........and you'd be surprised how many people don't know and do that.

February 3, 2010 at 9:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

teamplayer (anonymous) says...

You know if 10% of Emporia would quit looking for negative in everything and everyone just maybe Emporia might get off the ground. If they found just 5 mintues more a day to do something positive with there lives instead of all this gossip.No one feels the need to work together nor do they have anything good about anyone or anything. They loose everything to other towns because of prices, stock oh yeah thats a big one order everything customer service is lousy here. I think you all should of looked at the good that store gave to the community for so many many years there weren't many that didn't shop there. And for the love of god if we were all to find one nice thing to say about someone else or there business or put the effort forth for 100 + customer service do you think Emporia as a whole would be in such lousy shape. But no instead everyone sits on there computers and shops, gripes as all of this and this is what you all want to teach children of Emporia........... What happened to if you have nothing good to say say nothing at all be thankful you had one more business in Emporia Kansas that actually gave 100 + WHEN IT CAME TO CUSTOMER SERVICE.

February 3, 2010 at 10:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

teamplayer (anonymous) says...

EMPORIA KANSAS EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU NEED TO GET A LIFE. THEN EMPORIA MIGHT FIND SOME SUCCESS.

February 3, 2010 at 10:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

teamplayer (anonymous) says...

As a general rule Emporia has destroyed itself with all the people like each and evey one that has nothing good to say if you know it all why is there no one out there trying to guide and save what little bit is left of the big E. Oh I forgot this is how big E LIVES. Gossip gossip gossip............. Businesses come and go in the times in which we live..... GET A LIFE.

February 3, 2010 at 10:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

teamplayer (anonymous) says...

This company as a whole was struggling like all the rest they reconsolidated to try and salvage what was left no different than interstate what they are being ridiculed because they didn''t follow in Modine or Diddes footsteps.

February 3, 2010 at 10:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

create (anonymous) says...

teamplayer, I don't know where you get this idea of "everyone" sitting on their computers and "gossiping." If you care to really take a look at these forums, they are made up of a handfull of regulars who don't control the opinions of an entire town; they just happen to be more vociferous.

If it is true that the handfull of regular posters can be that powerful as you say, then I say we need to get together and form a lobby group where the real power is. May as well make some money out of this meeting of the minds.

oh4theluvof,
Thank you for the advice on use of Windex on brass. I appreciate it. I find that regular dusting with a plain soft cloth takes care of most cleaning, and that brass has a protective coating. Now that I no longer smoke -- 8 years free now -- cleaning house is a breeze. Tell me, what do you use on brass when you do need to clean it? My late Marine husband used Brasso by the gallon when he was on active duty. In fact, the smell of Brasso still takes me right back to those years. Every single morning, I'd smell two things in the kitchen, strong coffee and Brasso.

How's that for positive, teamplayer?

February 4, 2010 at 7:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...

create:
It must have been quite the worthwhile chore for your husband to care for all that proudly earned brass :-) Brasso is a pretty good product....I personally use Never-Dull as it's a no-clean-up kind of polisher, but I don't know how they stack up in comparison to each other. I'm guessing that the Brasso does better around embossing and filigree. Either way, each are designed to remove build-up from that protective brass lacquer without stripping it off and most household cleaners will either smudge it up and camouflage the brass or strip it and expose the brass to tarnishing. The two most common cleaners that people will use on a living room or bedroom lamp are furniture polish or glass cleaner. Neither are good, but the window cleaner is much worse. You are right to be using a dry or barely damp cloth. Pledge has a formula that cleans glass effectively but is also safe for wood and brass lacquers and I use that for quick wipe-downs on brass that is in heavily "polluted" areas. (sticky airborne particles that cause a waterproof film that won't wipe off) It still needs the Brasso or Never-Dull cleaning two or three times a year, however.

February 4, 2010 at 3:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

teamplayer (anonymous) says...

It is kind of nice that the comments have become more positive you know it is an actual loss for some of the citizens of big E. Awesome to you create.

February 4, 2010 at 6:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

create (anonymous) says...

Thank you oh4. What a nice compliment. And I will remember to use Pledge when it's time to clean that lamp.

Thank you, teamplayer.

You know, I'll bet there will be catalogs at Stanion's to order from after this. I wonder what they will do with that showroom?

February 5, 2010 at 10:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

neighbor (anonymous) says...

I heard on the radio yesterday that Hill's Appliance is closing for good at the end of the month. Another empty building joins the list.

February 10, 2010 at 10:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

create (anonymous) says...

I'm going to miss Hill's. Every appliance and TV in my house comes from them, all within the last 5 years. They always gave me the best deal too.

Yes, neighbor, it is very sad to see so many empty buildings. So many people have tried to hang on for as long as they could. But we need a stronger base of employment here. But the conundrum is that with more and more empty buildings, how can we market our town?

We have a good-sized university, a decent hospital and a pretty good availability of medical professionals, both human and animal, a few nice sit down restaurants, and we are the county seat with a nice courthouse. My list is the short list because we have many more features. We need to protect what we have and figure out a way to attract more employment.

February 10, 2010 at 5:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )