A popular Midtown boutique says it’s feeling the effects of an economic slowdown, despite a loyal customer base and steady foot traffic in recent years.Retro Vixen, known for its eclectic accessories and retro-inspired clothing from sizes XS to 5XL, has worked to adapt as shoppers pull back on discretionary spending.“It’s not that I don’t want to come in there and buy something, I just don’t have the money,” owner Melissa Evans said customers often tell her.Evans said business has noticeably slowed this year, even after the store added events and began offering gently used resale items to help attract price-conscious shoppers.She describes it as a “perfect storm, ” cheaper online competitors, higher tariffs, rising food prices, the recent federal government shutdown, and interest rates that have pushed many people to cut back.Evans says she’s feeling the pinch personally, too.“I stopped doing my nails this year, so I cut back on my expenses too,” she said. “That was the first thing to go when I did my budget.”Business insurance costs are up, Evans said, and her personal Jackson County property taxes have increased as well, expenses she says small businesses and restaurants across the metro are struggling to absorb.She hopes shoppers will consider shifting some of their spending to local shops during the holiday season.“If you did 10 or 20% of your personal shopping at a small business, it would change the world for them,” Evans said. “It doesn’t take huge steps.”
A popular Midtown boutique says it’s feeling the effects of an economic slowdown, despite a loyal customer base and steady foot traffic in recent years.
Retro Vixen, known for its eclectic accessories and retro-inspired clothing from sizes XS to 5XL, has worked to adapt as shoppers pull back on discretionary spending.
“It’s not that I don’t want to come in there and buy something, I just don’t have the money,” owner Melissa Evans said customers often tell her.
Evans said business has noticeably slowed this year, even after the store added events and began offering gently used resale items to help attract price-conscious shoppers.
She describes it as a “perfect storm, ” cheaper online competitors, higher tariffs, rising food prices, the recent federal government shutdown, and interest rates that have pushed many people to cut back.
Evans says she’s feeling the pinch personally, too.
“I stopped doing my nails this year, so I cut back on my expenses too,” she said. “That was the first thing to go when I did my budget.”
Business insurance costs are up, Evans said, and her personal Jackson County property taxes have increased as well, expenses she says small businesses and restaurants across the metro are struggling to absorb.
She hopes shoppers will consider shifting some of their spending to local shops during the holiday season.
“If you did 10 or 20% of your personal shopping at a small business, it would change the world for them,” Evans said. “It doesn’t take huge steps.”
Based in New York, Stephen Freeman is a Senior Editor at Trending Insurance News. Previously he has worked for Forbes and The Huffington Post. Steven is a graduate of Risk Management at the University of New York.