Sometimes, it is inconceivable to me
how Reason’s ever turned a profit and I say that because of the inventory in
the store. It is amazing all the little odds and ends that are stocked around
this store. Of course I am not exactly complaining about it now…
But there were a lot of things that
smart shoppers would never buy here. I guess the theory was to try to snag
those lake shoppers who were coming up to their vacation home and either A)
forgot something or B) needed to replace something unexpectedly and didn’t want
to drive all the way to Pryor or Vinita for a Walmart. Some of the things that
were stocked had been in the store for quite a little while. Not like shelf
merchandise that had dedicated space but those special seasonal drops that you
kept stored or displayed on top of things like the ice cream freezers. We are
talking about things like wicker furniture, box fans, folding beach chairs,
hibachi grills. I mean, if I need some patio furniture, the grocery store is
not the first place I think about for bargains.
The same goes for items on the HBC
aisle. There are things like toasters, Panini presses, quesadilla makers, alarm
clocks, the plastic corn on the cob skewers, salt shakers, that 16 foot section
of tools, hammers, duct tape… This is all for what is called “impulse buying.”
The theory is that you know you need a hammer and you are already here in the
store, so rather than head over to the hardware store after you have your
groceries, you will pay 50-cents extra just to go ahead and get it now. Like I
said, smart shoppers probably would just wait.
But I gotta tell you, I am really glad
we have all this kind of stuff here. Some sections are completely worthless.
That 12 foot section of greeting cards? Pretty much a giant waste of space. The
office/school supplies are pretty useful. We did waste about half of a ream of
paper from the copier on a paper airplane contest but given the 20+ other reams
of paper we have in back stock, I think we will be okay.
Still, it is quite amazing the things
that you take for granted until you don’t have easy access to them. Thankfully
we had an entire end cap display section of batteries, and flashlights, a
completely full shelf and backroom back stock of things like bandages,
Band-Aids, gauze, iodine, alcohol and peroxide. What would people out on the
road give for the simple things like plaque rinse, toothpaste, mouthwash,
dental floss, and a fresh toothbrush every month?
Sometimes, it really is the little
things in life…
