Local store struggles against big retailers

By: Mason Snyder | SCNow
Published: December 21, 2009

With holiday shopping in full swing in many places, there is one local exception.

Electronics and appliances store, Avac’s parking lot is empty.

"Sales have been okay, but not up to par from past years," said Joel Snipes, Avac employee.

Joel said people just aren't shopping like they used to.

“You've got to make the most out of every dollar you make here," Snipes said.

Avac managers believe one reason why their sales have been lower this year is because they are being forced to compete with bigger companies, like Best Buy, who are able to keep their prices low, because they are such a big company.

"Traffics been very good,” said Pat Braswell, Sales Manager at Best Buy. “We were a little light the other night when we had so much rain, but overall we've had an excellent season so far, and I'm extremely satisfied with where we are at this point."

Best Buy says sales are up this year.

"If you can be stressed out, I think we've actually been to the limit at this point,” said Braswell. “Everybody's been busy. I know management-wise we've been putting in quite a few hours this year."

And they don't expect to slow down before Christmas either.

"We expect to be busy all week long, and really, believe it or not, the day after Christmas is almost a big a day as the day before Christmas, its kinda funny how it goes like that," said Braswell.

But not so funny for local retailers, who are doing what they can to stay afloat.

"A lot of people will shop 'big-box' stores and that money just goes elsewhere all across the country, out of the country in most places, so its good to keep the money local," said Snipes.

“It’s best to keep the money in your community and let your community recycle into programs that can help this community," said Snipes.

The same community, Snipes hopes, will begin to see those benefits and start shopping at local stores.