Shipshewana retailers feel the pinch as shoppers spend less

by Ed Ernstes (ernstes@wsbt.com)

Tools

Shoppers spend less in Shipshewana

Some retailers in Shipshewana say they are feeling the effects of high gas and food prices as shoppers spend less. (WSBT photo)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Jul 22, 2008 at 3:47 PM EST

Story Updated: Jul 24, 2008 at 10:25 PM EST

SHIPSHEWANA — Higher gas and food prices continue to chip away at many family budgets. For places like Shipshewana, that's a big concern. The crowds are still there, but many families are definitely spending less.

The Landing convenience store is a popular stop for many people heading to Shipshewana. More and more of their customers are filling up their tanks, but buying little else.

"We have seen a slow down on our food sales, things that are discretionary items that people don't have to have,” said Carol Bachman with The Landing.

Farther up the road, the parking lot is full at the Davis Mercantile complex, but people seem to be shopping more and buying less.

“People are not buying like they did a few years ago and that's not necessarily a bad thing,” said Alvin Miller, owner of Davis Mercantile. “I think if you go back three and four years ago, we were all spending too much money on things that we really didn't need."

“Our store is full of people,” said Linda Zehr of the Simple Sounds Unique Music Store. “[But] I find that instead of people buying maybe four or five CDs they're going to one or two. Instead of buying the most expensive items, they're stepping down a little bit."

Some shoppers who traveled to Shipshewana from out of state say the economy did have an effect on their shopping habits.

"When we come here I usually buy a lot of fabric, I usually buy four or five bags worth of odds and ends,” said Meg Baldwin of Roanoke, Va. “Today I didn't buy anything."

"We are definitely not spending as much money as we would like to,” said LuAnn Turner of Cleveland, Ohio. “Just a simple [case of] gas prices going up and stuff, I mean we have to watch our budget."

Merchants say they have seen a drop in the number of shoppers coming in from Michigan, but are seeing more people from the LaGrange and Elkhart County areas.

More Good Stuff

WSBT Weather

icon
Current Temp 36.3
°
More Weather

On Demand

More On Demand

Stock Quotes

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Tonight On WSBTFull Schedule

7.00
Paid Programming
7.30
Jeopardy
8.00
The Mentalist
9.00
48 Hours Mystery
10.00
48 Hours Mystery
11.00
WSBT News
11.35
CSI: NY
12.35
CSI: NY
1.35
CSI: Miami

Question of The Day

Will the new health recommendations for women change your health screening habits?

E-mail your comments. We'll pick some to read during WSBT News at 5.

  • YES
  • NO
Today's Mortgage Rates