ASHLEY'S LIST

I have been trying to figure out in my head, a mental picture if you will, of what the world would be like without small business. The images that are conjured up as a result of this daunting question are quite bleak. I see nothing but the obvious. Chains. I see streets lined with endless Starbucks, McDonalds, Home Depot, PetSmart, Chipolte, Wal Mart, Best Buy, Target & Lowes. Strip mall after strip mall. Nothing in between. No character. Now... this is just the mental imagery.

The reality of a world without small business would be horrific. It is enough to think we have come close enough to the endless strip malls - but in reality, we aren't far off from stripping our economy and business culture from small business entirely.

Soon, coffee choices will be nil. That doesn't sound like that big of a deal - unless you refuse to drink or support Starbucks. Soon, there will be no more Tennyson Street Hardware... as there is a Home Depot going up just around the bend. Not more chit chat with the people you have been buying your tools from for the last 15 years. Gone. Soon, our lunch choices will range from Fast Food to, well, chains. No such thing as that old hole in the wall that we have all known and loved. The ones that make the best sandwich and know your name when you walk in. Soon, all of the clothes we wear will be chain bought. No such thing as small boutiques like Mona Lucero Designs, SWANK or Metroboom. We will all be shopping at the Cherry Creek Mall or Target, some maybe Wal Mart.

This is a frightening sensation to realize that within time there may be no place for small businesses. Somehow, in America, the idea of BIGGER seemed to equate with better and I just don't buy it. I know what it is like to know my local store owners; a pleasure. It isn't about the goods necessarily. It is about community. It is about keeping commerce moving while supporting the corner store rather than the more obvious, obnoxious choice.

I ask you to think about what it would look like in your world- without small business. What does it feel like? A little cold and sad for me. And what WE CAN do is support and buy local. I know, it isn't always easy and sometimes, more expensive. Believe me- I have to juggle sometimes. But I would rather pay a little more to keep small business up and growing rather than being partially responsible for their demise.

If you have a small business and are a small business owner, I would love to hear from you. I would like to know what some of the challenges you are facing - perhaps as a group we can reach out and support one another before everywhere we look is one long strip mall.

Your feedback, questions and insight are most welcome! Please email ashleyslist@yahoo.com

Customer service is really important these days. I have to say it is now more than ever when I appreicate walking into a small business where I know the person that owns it or I recognize them because they are usually there. While experiencing a GI-normous computer break down in the last week I have been on the phone with customer service reps from Hewlett Packard all over the world.  And the customer service - just sucks. It is awful.  There are language barriers and misunderstandings. I think confusing and frustrating for both parties- the customer service reps and the callers.  I was sold a printer this week that I didn't even need.  Was this a mistake or someone trying to get extra commission on an upgrade? I will never know- but I have a hunch.

It is frustrating that when I call customer service - most likely I will be re-routed to someone that is not living in the United States of America. Though this could get political, it doesn't need to- the fact of the matter is - why are our calls be routed to foriegn countries?  How did this happen?  What happened to the call centers in America where we could shoot the shit about the weather? "Oh, is it raining in Seattle?"  "Yeah, it's snowing in Denver today... I am going skiing!"  I miss that.  The world seems to big for it's briches right now.

So, I am just getting older and the smaller things like someone BEING NICE and HONEST are more important... I am thankful for the small business out there. THANK YOU... for keeping your doors open - for the great customer service - Doctor Jon Shick, Mona Lucero, MUDD, Rich Luna, UnCommon Scents, Meade Street Station, Three Margarita's, Chicago's, Sally Clark's of the world,  Desi and Micha at Bikram's Yoga in Highland, The Guy's at the Coral Room, The Staff at Red Tango... you are all what makes the world a better place... Your kindness... above and beyond care... your smile.

It would be so nice if Wal Mart would just go away... as if it never happened. There is something surreal about the gianormous (yes, Webster's is making this an official "word with meaning.") money sucking entity that has taken over. I pass by our local Wal Mart and it pains me every time.  I even ventured in the other day to do some grocery shopping - I just wanted to see if the prices really were cheaper.  I couldn't believe my eyes. It was gut wrenching how many people were pushing their carts through the aisles, bumping into one another, unapoligetically. People were eating hamburgers from the resident McDonald's as they pulled underwear off the racks. Girls were getting their toenails painted as I looked for banannas. There is something wrong here.

In creating ASHLEY'S LIST, I really wanted to focus on small business. I want to bring Mom and Pop back.  Mom and Pop are missed dearly and I think we can do this if we do it together.  We have to just stop shopping at Wal Mart... we have to. I don't care if I saved $30 on my regular groceries... I would rather pay the extra money and support a more local retailer.  I would rather go out of my way and shop the small boutiques of Denver than get a "spiff on" shirt from target that everyone and their mother will be wearing. I am not sure if it is actually possible to conquer the Wal Marts of the world... but I want to do my part.  There are so many other options out there.  Instead of getting your coffee at Starbucks... check out a new place like Metropolitan MUDD between 15th & 16th on Wazee.  Small business owners, great coffee and food - they need our support. It's the character, the wave, the handshake, the recognition that has gone away... and I think we could all use a little brushing up on re-connectiing with one another, our local retailers and probably ourselves for that matter.

I won't be grocery shopping or doing any other kind of shopping at Wal Mart. I won't be drinking Starbucks and I will go out of my way to support the very people that being us the "uniqueness of Denver."  What use to be old hat is and should be the only hat... small business. After all, 88% of Denver is made up of small biz. We should support it and be really proud that we make an effort to go out of our way to do so if necessary.