CORNER BROOK, N.L. — John Alteen has been in the retail business for a long time and there’s no doubt in his mind that sales are slumping.
“The people are just not out shopping,” said the owner of Altronics on Broadway in Corner Brook.
Alteen said there are almost two generations of people who don’t shop the old-fashioned way by visiting a store.
“They are online shoppers and that is definitely hurting the climate.”
“It’s a whole mentality that’s got to be changed.”
He acknowledged online shoppers don’t worry about price, shipping or the ramifications of trying to send their items back.
“If it’s available they’ll buy it.”
To stay competitive, Altronics has an online presence, too.
“We have to be,” said Alteen. “If you’re going to be in the game at all, you have to have an online presence.”
Years ago, he could run a full-page newspaper ad, buy a few spots on the radio and fill the store for a 24- or 48-hour promotion.
The paper is now a weekly and now, he says, when he runs a full-page ad hardly anyone shows up. The younger generation is not listening to radio; they stream it online to avoid commercials.
So, Alteen has an up-to-date webpage and uses Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
He's not sure if it works.
“I have absolutely no idea. There’s no way to gauge it.”
But if the store’s not visible online, it runs the risk of losing out, he said.
Alteen thinks a new mindset could help improve the retail situation.
“It’s a whole mentality that’s got to be changed.”
For shoppers, it includes going back to supporting local stores. For retailers, it means having the products people are looking for.
Corner Brook Plaza manager thinks shopping centre’s future is bright despite store closures
“I don’t expect anybody to buy anything if they’re getting gouged on pricing. But if it’s reasonably priced, it’s in inventory, there’s someone there to help you, you buy the product. Don’t come in and use us for a showroom and go online and save $5.”
Alteen also thinks more needs to be done to help revive Broadway.
The area used to be the key centre for shopping in the city.
“Downtown cores are struggling everywhere in Canada.”
People no longer window shop and retail is not considered a profession anymore, he said.
He said the city needs to do more promotion and start pushing its downtown cores.
“They’ve got to put some money into it. They’re going to have to sit down and help us out with this or they’re going to lose more businesses.”
Twitter: WS_DianeCrocker
