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photo by Brie Cohen
Gladys Reinertson takes a call at Reinertson’s Embroidery on Tuesday while filling orders in the back of her store.
Albert Lea merchants are optimistic
Holiday shopping season starts Friday
Published Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Though many people across the country are showing concerns about the success of the upcoming holiday shopping season, several local business owners said they are optimistic and hopeful about the outcome.
Many local businesses offer services that are unique from large retail chains, and people still are seeking out those services, they said.
For example, Bill Hertling, who owns Leuthold’s in Northbridge Mall with his wife, said his store offers different kinds of merchandise that can’t be found in other places throughout the community or even in nearby communities. Because of this, they often have customers who go out of their way to come to their store.
“I wonder if our store is kind of immune to this because we offer these different things,” he said of the economic crisis. “Because we are a true specialty store there are things you don’t see everyplace else.”
Though business in the month of October was said to have been down across the country, that wasn’t the case for Leuthold’s, Hertling said.
Photo by Brie Cohen
Steffanie Corning, manager, left, and Lydia Atkinson, inventory specialist, take down Venturer 10-inch LCD digital TVs from the top shelves at Walgreens in preporation for Black Friday. The TV sets will be on sale for $120 from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday. Corning said she expects to see double the holiday sales that Walgreens saw last year.
Gladys Reinertson of Reinertson’s Embroidery shared similar thoughts.
Her business provides a service, not solely retail products, Reinertson said. In fact, Christmas is her store’s busy season.
She gets phone orders, Internet orders and calls based on advertisements in magazines from people who want a personalized gift for their family or friends.
If people want to spend money, they go an extra step to personalize it, Reinertson said.
The items the business embroiders most are sweatshirts, hats and jackets, she said. They’ve seen a big increase in tractor apparel and school apparel.
When it comes to the holiday shopping season for Mary Ellen Johnson, of Celebrations Party & Gifts, she said so far the Thanksgiving shopping season has been going about normal for her business. She’s hoping the shopping will be normal or better between now and Christmas.
“You just don’t know,” Johnson said. “Because you’re hearing it all over that people aren’t going to spend as much for Christmas.”
Photo by Brie Cohen
Gladys Reinertson takes a call at Reinertson’s Embroidery on Tuesday while filling orders in the back of her store.
Hearing those reports has a snowball effect on other people and sometimes can make them think maybe they shouldn’t spend as much either, she said.
At the same time, however, she said she thinks Albert Leans have always been very practical.
“I don’t think that people overspend and get themselves into a lot of trouble,” Johnson said. “They kind of know what they want to spend, they plan it and they have a nice Christmas.”
Like the others, she said her business is one that’s a little bit different than most.
Celebrations offers products for an affordable luxury, she said.
Along the lines of a large retail chain, Albert Lea Walgreens store manager Steffanie Corning said she, too, is optimistic about holiday shopping sales.
She said right now the store’s regular sales are up 79 percent over last year, and they have been getting many sales already on their Christmas merchandise.
“I think we’ll do pretty good,” Corning said. “We did good last year, and I’m expecting double.”
Comments
Posted by Wildbill (anonymous) on November 26, 2008 at 10:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I do all my shopping in Albert Lea, but I think there are alot of community leaders that don't do there shopping here.
Two years ago, I went walking through Northbridge Mall on Black Friday at 1:30 p.m. and saw Santa Claus sleeping and Mrs. Claus reading a book. There were very few people in the mall. Obviouly the business leaders have not done their job to promote this town.
Posted by Truth (anonymous) on November 26, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is an open post to the business of Albert Lea.
I live and work in Albert Lea. I currently rent. I want you to know that I will not have the money to shop for Christmas gifts because of the actions of the city. I truely thought that after we elected a new mayor that the rental ordinace would have been tabled or repealed and yet I read today that the city is going forward with imposing fees. I have recived notice of an increase in my rent by over $100.00. My landlord has said if the city repealed the ordinance than he would not have to increase my rent as much just what the increase of taxes are. I have been traking what rents have been doing since this was proposed. Rents had not changed much until the city anounced that they were voting for it. Then rent jumped $50 a month for a 2 bedroom place after the vote and they jumped $75 a month. Then when the city said they had no idea about the fees the went up $100. So this summer you could rent a nice 2 bedroom place in a good area for $400 that same place is now $500+ and forget it if you want a nice house they are way way to much now. I do not blame the landlord they are like you they have to cover their cost. What bothers me is the city for no reason or a hatred of some has increased those cost and is taking more from me. So when you ask me to spend money in your stores that money must come from somewhere and it is coming from my spending cash. I have cut cable (because they rasied the price), I have cut eating out, I now eat MacCheese and cheap cheap meals, I cut out pop, I walk way more than I ever did. I don't have the extra money to spend on your stuff.
I no longer have it to give. The city thinks they are helping me yet they are destroying me. I want to buy gifts I want my kids to have a great Christmas but it is not happen and why because the city is taking it.
You as business owner know that you must pass on increase in your cost to us the consumer so must the landlord. I can go without a new sweatshirt with my name on it. I can not go without a place for my kids and me. Please understand I want to help you but the city has made it so I can't. I hope that you make enough to stay open so that no one else will lose a job, that your kids have a Christmas. I know the city council members will have a great Christmas and their kids will as well. All because it is not their money they are taking it's mine.
God Bless you and Merry Christmas.
Posted by NoDFL (anonymous) on November 26, 2008 at 10:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There are a lot of people like Truth in our town and we are just sitting by and watching them hurt. Come on people show some Christmas spirit. Call the council and the new mayor and ask them to junk this rental deal. The little guy needs a bailout as well. We voted for change didn't we?
Posted by Wildbill (anonymous) on November 26, 2008 at 11:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Truth's landlord is just using the city as an excuse to raise his rent.
Posted by NoDFL (anonymous) on November 26, 2008 at 11:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
But he is right about rents going way up since they started this. Also it was sold to help the renter but it is hurting them. I just think it is the wrong time for this. Or if it is so needed than don't charge any fees. Have the landlord get inspected (for free) and regiester then (for free). Then the landlord would not jack up the price. Also why not enforce the laws that are on the books already?
Posted by CFIKAR (anonymous) on November 26, 2008 at 11:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
In these hard times, it is more important that ever to shop locally whenever possible, but buying from businesses with local ownership is even more important. Home Depot and Herbergers are better than Lowes in Owatonna or Macy's in Bloomington, but if you can get similar items at Ace Hardware and Leutholds you are doing even better!
The more effort we make to keep our money turning over inside our own community, the less our local economy will be impacted by the recklessness of Wall Street.
And, I'd like to thank all our local entrepreneurs for betting on Albert Lea and risking their futures to open businesses and make their lives in this community! Let's all support them this Christmas!
Posted by headscratcher (anonymous) on November 26, 2008 at 12:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have a question. IF the fees have not been set yet how does the landlord know how much to raise the rent? Seems like they are taking advantage of the renter before he needs too.
Posted by metisman (anonymous) on November 26, 2008 at 3:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Scratcher, the landlord must make an educated guess if the city cannot provide him with detailed costs.
Posted by outoftownlandlord (anonymous) on November 26, 2008 at 5:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
headscratcher,
The council has given me 8 different set of numbers and not one of them the same. I looked on the city's site no where to be found look here in the paper and again no where to be found. I am a landlord who has sent notice and yes rents are going up. Way up. This is what happens when my cost go up. I wish there was another way but the city of Albert Lea has forced my hand. It is not just the fees that I had to look at it was the other added cost from having to hire a property manager because it is required by the law, to higher taxes, and to a add fund for extra repairs. It is a business and must be run that way. It is just very sad to see this happen to good tenants but the city does not care.
Posted by alea (anonymous) on November 26, 2008 at 6:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wait a minute, if no fees have been imposed on any rental properties than why would any landlord raise the rent? This smells of sheer greed by a landlord as a very alme and poor excuse to glean more money from a renter. I would like one landlord explain in real terms why he needs to raise his rent if his expenses have not been increased by the city. And speculation that the rental ordinance will go through is NOT a valid reason to increase rents prior to being enacted!
Posted by outoftownlandlord (anonymous) on November 26, 2008 at 7:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
alea,
The ordinace has been passed but the council did not approve the fees. Each member has a different idea on the cost and has told me (us) that they are going to be high. They pushed off the fees until Nov meeting. Which they did but have not listed them anywhere for review. It will be Dec or Jan before they are set. Now when you have to renew your 1 year leases you must work on the information provided by the city which has been hard to get.
The city has tried to hide this ever step of the way because they knew it would be an increase on the renters but they did not want to deal with the fall out.
So yes the city has increased the cost to the landlord even if the fees are low there are the cost of inspection, the added cost of having a property manager as required by the ordiance, there is the increase in tax and the new tax assesed value because of the improvements, the building permits and the list goes on. Then you add the normal increase because of inflation and the high cost of water in this town and you get why rents are going up.
Hope this helps you to see that the city is costing the renters in Albert Lea way more than they would have faced if the city had not passed the ordinance.
Posted by headscratcher (anonymous) on November 26, 2008 at 10:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
you sound like a used car salesman. bla bla bla........if it is too hard and expensive for you to be a landlord then maybe you should sell your properties and do something else.
Posted by outoftownlandlord (anonymous) on November 27, 2008 at 9:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Not a used car salesman just a businessman and like any businessman my job is to maxism my profits and contol my cost.
As for selling the Albert Lea market is so far down that you can not make a return on investment. I left Albert Lea many years ago because of a job kept my house because thought I might get back one day had to rent it out to make ends meet. Then I got another in Albert Lea because of a death in the family. Tried for 2 plus years to sell but no one is buying in Albert Lea so renting it out too.
When the cost of shipping food or making it went up did you tell HyVee that they were whinning when they rasied the price? I don't think you did. Did you call the farmers whinners because they pushed ethonal that has drive prices up? No. We are just responding to a city who for no reason added cost onto our business. Now our customers have higher price for our product. We are not the bad guys we did not pass the law we did not develope fees just to line the wallet of the city.
I could tell you stories about Albert lea. How people make appointments to see a place confirm that appointment with in a hour of it than never show. How they lie on their apps and when you do the background check you find out what kind of person they are. So if you think it is easy become a landlord or that there is no cost than by all means join us. Pay the fees and provide the homes. If you think we do not provide a needed service let the city provide all the housing because if you keep this up that is what you will get.
Posted by headscratcher (anonymous) on November 27, 2008 at 10:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have been a landlord. I know what it cost to maintain a property. I know that tenants don't always tell the truth. I know they have pets that they shouldn't have. I know all of that stuff. I also know that Albert Lea is not the only place the housing market is bad, so don't blame that on the city. I also know that Albert Lea is not the only place that requires inspections. I'm not even agreeing that Albert Lea is making the right choices. To be honest with you I don't attend the meetings. I vote and that is about it. I also don't complain about everything the city does unless I am prepared to take action on my words. By that I don't mean by posting comments online at the Tribune. If this issue is so important to you then you need to make the time and go to the meetings.You need to come face to face with the city council and make your statements. There also has to be some way that you can put raising your rents until you know what your fees will be. your renters will appreciate your efforts.
Posted by outoftownlandlord (anonymous) on November 27, 2008 at 2:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have spoke to the council many times. They do many things that are hidden. It is also a fact that the landlords who have taken a stand and spoke up have been singled out. The soon to be gone mayor has made it a mission to go after certain landlords. The rest of us are being made to pay because of personal issues of some council members even some who will no longer be on the council.
The general public is uninformed about this issue or most issues facing the city and the Tribune has made no real effort to show the damage the rental ordiance is doing to the real people. Heck they can't even bother to print the fees or the ordiance. It may not sound like a big issue but it will have a ripple effect in the local economy.
Lastly you missed the point. True Albert Lea is like most as far as housing market goes but it has never had a good housing market because it doesn't have a good local economy. Jobs are hard to find and are in industries that have little growth or are known for low wages. When most of your young people leave to other cities because of work it is a sign of a bigger issue. Every year the city loses people. They leave for many reasons still others leave because they can not afford stay here.
I have other rental where there are these ordinaces. Rents are much higher and the ordinaces are way better. Rochester, Winona, and Mankato do not charge fees for inspection, they do not charge fees to sell your rental property, they do not require property managment companies, the do not charge the new owner a fee to buy a place (if you buy a place even if it is licenced you must have it reinspected (pay a fee for that), pay a fee for a new licence, pay a fee to become a new landlord and pay a fee to register your property managment company under the Albert Lea law.) The licences are for 5 years in most places. We can go on and on but you can see this law is very flawed. I would say it covers the sell your place issue as well because who would buy it knowing all the hassles faced. Besides the parts of it that are unconstitutional and those that violate state law like mandatory eviction. Minnesota State law gives more rights to the renter and the city has said it will force you to evict however only a district court judge can evict and if you bring a motion for eviction and judge thinks it is not good enough not only does the person stay but you the landlord pay a fine.
So yes I have done a lot more than complain on this site but I also understand that a lot of people out there don't understand the issue. As for waiting to raise the rent you have to be careful because again there can be a violation of state law. Our state laws are written to benifit the tenant so they get hit with the increase. I would guess if more renters called the city and made a fuss they might rethink this. I would also say if business in Albert Lea start to feel the pinch they may speak up as well.
Posted by mrthunder (anonymous) on November 28, 2008 at 9:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
shop in Albert lea. when i can go to mason and fill up my car get my groceries and anything else i need. and save money. Then see shop owners and public officials from Albert lea shopping. Someone please tell me why i should spend my hard earn money here when i can save .
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