Business Lagging? Don't Be Shy

We've all got our ways of coping with the economy. Since I always forget to bring lunch from home, I have become a regular customer at Mamoun's, which makes a mean $2.50 falafel sandwich. And as I was walking back to work with said falafel, I chanced upon this chalkboard outside the Native Leather store on Bleecker St.

It says: 'YOU ARE MY ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE.'

Native Leather has been around since 1968 - it sells Italian caps, Argentinian belts and fine Laguiole knives from France - but these days, its owner since 1993, Carol Walsh says things aren't going so well. People continue to buy leather hats and gloves and belts ranging from $20 to $55, but the nicer items just don't move off the shelf. Thus the chalkboard plea, which went up a week ago, right after President Obama signed the economic stimulus package into law.

Previously, Walsh said: "If we sell one high-ticket item a day, or every two days, that was pretty normal. It would be $200 or $300. That's rare right now - that's extremely rare."

She held up a little chit of paper listing yesterday's purchases. The most expensive thing she'd sold cost $62. Some of her suppliers, she noted, have instituted a credit hold.

"They’re not going to shoot me any more merchandise until I get caught up with my bills," she said.

But Walsh still has her sense of humor, so she periodically scrawls something on the chalkboard outside - occasionally, political commentary of some sort - and she thinks her latest message has been somewhat effective. She says some of her more loyal patrons are making purchases just for her sake.

Referring to one purchasing customer, Douglas, she said: "Before he was leaving he said 'I want to make sure you’re still here.'"