Dollar Store News article #6

Life after Wal-Mart
Burk business picks up after store closing
By: Lara K. Richards
Tuesday, March 25, 2008

BURKBURNETT — Burkburnett stores are reporting an uptick in business since Wal-Mart closed its location just off I-44 in October.

The local Dollar Store has extended its hours, and other stores are reporting a 10 to 15 percent increase in sales, said Burkburnett Development Corporation Executive Director Kelly Bolen.

Everyone is doing their shopping locally, she said. Local businesses are stepping up to meet the need.

Bolen heard that for the month of December, for instance, the city had only experienced a 4 percent drop in sales tax receipts.

If you think in the grand scheme of things, four percent is not bad after losing Wal-Mart, she said.

The cause for the increase in local sales may be a backlash against the retail giant.

Local resident Debra Pugliesi said she was mad at Wal-Mart for first coming into town and taking money away from local businesses. And now, she said, the store had abandoned the town altogether.

Were boycotting Wal-Mart after what they did to us, Pugliesi said.

As she browsed the racks at Hayes General Store in downtown Burkburnett recently, Pugliesi said she was traveling around to Burkburnett stores to take a look at what retailers had to offer.

Were trying to figure out where to go. We came in here to see what all hes got. We just came from the Dollar Store, she said.

The high cost of fuel might also be contributing to more people shopping in Burkburnett, she said.

Gas is too high to be running around looking for stuff, she said. Three dollars a gallon? Thats six bucks to go to Wichita Falls and back.

Becky Linker, manager at Hometown Hardware, said shes noticed more foot traffic over the past few months in the store. Thats translated into more sales.

Were really busy, she said. People just keep saying that theyre glad were here. Theyre glad they dont have to go to Wichita.

Jerry Hayes with Hayes General Store said hes also seen a noticeable increase in both traffic and sales.

Weve seen more faces in the store. Weve seen an increase in sales, he said. The traffic inside the store, theres definitely been more.

Hayes said he and other business owners are working together to make sure that customers are able to find what they want in Burkburnett.

Stores regularly call each other searching for items. If he doesnt have what a customer is looking for, maybe another business does, Hayes said.

The end result is a strong local economy with local businesses ready to fill the void left by Wal-Mart, he said.

We were here before Wal-Mart and we plan on being here a long time after Wal-Mart, he said. As long as our customers continue to come in, well continue to serve them. Thats our plan.