I apologize for not posting Friday. I was at the lake all weekend, and worked late tonight. Here is the first guest column. I don't really agree with all of Sherry's points I think you might enjoy her perspective. If you don't I'm sure you will let her know (I tried to warn her). If you would like to submit one just email me what you want to write about to the email at the left of the page and I'll get back to you.
I'll be back Thursday with another post, and get to the backlog of comments tomorrow night.
Enjoy - Scott R.
Why is Poplar Bluff Treading Water?
I've never done anything like this before, but I have a few things I want to get off my chest. I was born in Poplar Bluff and lived here all of my life, and want my children to do the same. If they are able to do that I think we are going to have to grow and progress, but not with more box stores. I am so tired of hearing that new businesses are coming to town only to find out that they are new box chain stores. I think stores like Wal-Mart and Home Depot are what is killing our community. Its tough because we dont have a lot of loose money so I need a good deal, but I get by alright at Calhoun's, Pack's, Gamblin, The Wine Rack, and a lot of others. I think every time we buy stuff at those places its like sending money right to New York or probably China.
What really gets under my collar is that Poplar Bluff has a lot to offer with schools, a highway we are paying for, and the outdoor recreation that is great. With all of this we are not gaining, but losing. I work in the industrial park and even though we have all of these positives we lost Rowe, and I worry more may come. We need more local jobs that pay better wages.
To me the answer is we should promote our locally owned business. We dont seem to be doing a very good job of that. It takes two years to figure out where to put a halfway house while are spending thousands of dollars that dont stay in Poplar Bluff. I think the entire community should make a more concerted effort to shop with local businesses and stay out of the chains that take money out of town.
Thank you for reading,
pbsherry89@yahoo.com
About Me
- Scott R. Faughn
- Stringtown, Missouri
- This is my side. No holding back. srfaughn@hotmail.com
43 comments:
Wal-Mart, Home Depot, and other corporations build stores to satisfy demand. I support local business 100%, but they still must compete on a quality and price basis.
You mentioned the Wine Rack. I have shopped there on several occasions to purchase more time-sensitive libation (i.e., not wine) only to find that what they have is PAST the factory-stamped recommended freshness date. Wal-Mart does not have this problem.
Also, Wal-Mart's dairy products are the freshest in town. Check the dates.
My point is you can't sell lower quality goods at higher prices and not understand why people go to Wal-mart.
What about the local people that the big stores employ? Are they wrong to work there? Do you hold them in low esteem because they took a job that pays a competitive wage?
not bad. not bad at all.
the wine rack rocks!!!!!!
i cant believe you dont like the wine rack. they are first rate.
Im with you sister. PB busineses 1st.
i dont think anything bad about people working there. when i worked at walmart i got no insurance. when i was in a wreck they told me to get on welfare.
i dont think anything bad about people working there. when i worked at walmart i got no insurance. when i was in a wreck they told me to get on welfare.
"freshest in town" are you mrs. walton. if you are i need a loan.
if not you are out of your mind.
i agree. if we shop at local businesses they can give more people better jobs.
good writing.
she did do a great job. the amount of talent in Butler county never ceases to amaze me.
dont forget some local people own the chains. and its going to be a walmart, home depot, bed bath beyond world.
deal with it.
i really like reading what real people think.
local is better but i need cheap.
lets hear more from sherry!
im on board chains are going to choke poplar bluff.
im glad a small business man like eddie strenfel is in government to help out the little guy.
i wish we had hogg's back in business.
with all due respect this column was poorly written and doesnt make much sense.
Rowe leaving was huge, but we dont have that many more chains than any other town.
Leave the writing to the professionals.
professionals? like who?
this is america you should be able to make as much money as you can.
you dont have to be a professional to voice your opinon!!!!!!
it dosent matter anyway. the bigshots (you too scott) keep businesses out they dont want.
some things will never change.
Mr. Faughn,
I think its just too cute to let people write columns about businesses in Poplar Bluff.
Why dont you come clean about how you, and you alone, stong armed Mrs. McLane into selling the Mansion Mall.
You did it to her. You were going to take her land if she didnt sell it and she lost millions because of you, not anyone else.
Sherry, you have no idea who you are dealing with.
Im sure you wont post this, but I want you to remember that you took that property from her when you harp about local businesses.
Sincerely,
Someone who knows
how do you like them apples faughn
Its getting interesting on this board.
Give us a response.
i love the internet
whoever made her sell, the mansion mall is hoppin with stores where it was vacant when she had it.
its filling, but with some chain stores, sf bread co anyone?
wow. are you mrs. donnely ?
ive got to be a little careful here. i have always believed in results not rules and procedures. procedural moves never brought a job to pb, filled a shopping center, or built a hwy.
when i was in government i got results, and frankly didnt care about procedure. you get a lot done that way, but you give your enemies plenty of stones to throw at you.
to me the bottom line is simple. when mrs. donnely owned the properties they were abandoned. the city got involved and today thanks to the banking community and some good businessmen it is doing quite well. the rest is details.
you can focus on the details or the results, your choice.
that was a happening time. i hope we can get back to things happening again. im so sick of hearing people fight about where 5 jobs at a halfway house is going.
details matter to me. i think how you do things are more important that what you do. maybe you have had time to think about that.
good job on the colunm. i hope mine gets up next, it will blow your mind.
Sherry and the rest of us concerned citizens should take our commerce concerns to the new head of the Chamber, then again, he has managed Wal-Mart for years, so I don't know if he'll agree with Sherry's perspective. There was a glowing column about him in DAR, so sounds like he's falling right into place. Obviously DS approves of his appointment. He seems to be a pretty nice and intelligent guy though, so hopefully he'll do a great job without getting "caught up."
The Mansion Mall was an eyesore and an embarrassment to the community when Donnely owned it. If she lost millions why then did she spend so much money trying to fix up Valley Plaza? I'm not a fan of Bailey either, but bless his heart he stuck his neck out when nobody else had the stones and it is now a thriving shopping center again.
i am 100% against eminent domain.
private property laws should not be messed with.
private property laws should not be messed with.
they are all crooks, just get things done.
Small business Vs. Large Business.
Most don’t understand economics, and I don’t hold that against them. Although I’m for supporting the small guy, we are in a time that the small guy is obsolete.
When you really sit down and compare the two, the larger business will win. Not only does the public get a better value (yes I know, not all the time), they create more jobs. Lets not forget the tax dollars these stores provide for your town.
Now I have read where Wal-Mart didn’t offer heath insurance, which could be that you were only a part time help. They are allowed to do this because your local government failed you. Don’t hold it against Wal-Mart, because they are there just like any other business and/or person. And that is to make a buck.
On the note of heath insurance, there aren’t many (if any) ma and pa stores that offer it either. They just can’t and if they did you would pay more at the cash register. This is the case now when you deal with one potato, Vs several potatoes.
Look at it this way. You have one little store that only carries five gallons of milk, now you have a larger store, one that has location across the land that are able to purchase several more, bringing the price down. Also what I have seen is most of the ma and pa stores are family run, not many job opportunities there.
Why has'nt sandy been sued by now ?
From what I hear she makes her employees atend a little "church meeting" every monday and if you dont go you dont have a job. Isnt that Illegal?
im glad bailey is making that place come to life!
Who is Sandy? It would be nice if postings were relevant and had context.
I don't think writing is the exclusive domain of professionals but it should be left to the deft.
If non-professionals are allowed to "report" the news at PB's non-professional newspaper, what's wrong with non-proprofessionals voicing their opinion on a Internet blog?
Sandy is Sandy clane Donnely
I'm all for local business. But, when I don't make a lot of money, I'm gonna look around for the cheapest product. And 99% of the time, Wal-Mart has the better price. And I know many people say that the quality isn't the same...I'll disagree with that. Maybe it didn't used to be the greatest, but that's different now. The quality from the "box stores" as many people like to say is just as good as it is any where else.
And if you do have a problem, it's usually easy to return. I wish that we had more of the chains here. Target would be great. Maybe a Best Buy.
And regarding Rowe closing it's doors...I highly doubt you can blame that on lack of locally owned business'.
Big business creates jobs, pays higher wages and offer more benefits to employee's than Mom and Pop stores could ever think of doing.
When mom and pop can compete with Wal-Mart, have'em give me a call. I'll be glad to give them my business. Until then...I'll see you at Wal-Mart
Well Said!!!
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