Experts:
A2 retail
sales have
increased
.since '72
(Continued from Page 3
said Mayor Lou Belcher. "In the next
few years, I think we will continue to
see Ann Arbor take a big hunk of the
retail business."
Belcher added the diversity of areas
businesses helped the city's economy
grow, since few businesses are tied to
the faltering automobile industry.
Doug Sager, co-owner of Fiegle's
Men's Shop on Main St., said he feels
world events affect people's buying
habits. "Even though the nation was
involved in Vietnam, sales were up
during those five years ... we weren't
in the mess we are in now (in Iran and
the Mideast)," Sager said.
SMALL ACCESSORY sales
decreased slightly this year, while
clothing sales increased in volume, he
said. "Things are going well now, but
they say we haven't hit bottom yet."
At Wilkinson's Luggage Shop across
the street, sales "held their own" when
Briarwood opened up in the early 70s,
according to store manager Harlow
Olson. "From 1976 to 1979, our sales in-
creased about 20 per cent every year,
but this year we'll be lucky if we are
equal to last year," Olson said. Olson
said he feels the current recession was
responsible for the drop in sales.
A few other stores reported slight in-
creases in sales. Tom Border, owner of
Border's Books on S. State, said sales
remained "pretty solid" during the
past year, and State Discount manager
Tom Cushing reported a slight upswing
in sales.
' MANY MECHANTS mentioned the
University as a contributing factor in
Ann Arbor's economic stability.
"College students who get their spen-
ding money from mom and dad don't
feel the economic crunch," said Cheryl
Warren, manager of Burger King on
Maynard St. Warren said the increased
dollar amount of her store's sales was
partly due to increasing prices. "Every
time minimum wage goes up, we have
to increase prices," she said, adding
that she expected the upward trend to
continue in the near future.
"Ann Arbor is far more economically
stable because of the University's
presence," Belcher said. "Our em-
ployment rate does not jump around.
Last year, for example, it stayed at un-
der three per cent."
Richard Lee, manager of Kline's
Department Store, said advertising
was up this year in addition to sales.
"We are taking a more promotional ap-
proach this year than we normally do.
It's been a little tighter economically,
but the sales are there if you go out and
push for them," Lee said. Lee predicted
the recession would slow down by
Christmas time.
According to Verway, Detroit's
economic downturn is due both to the
urban decay in Detroit and shopping
malls that have sprung up in the subur-
bs which "drained the shopping
business out of Detroit." Verway said
r he thinks Detroit will "bottom out"
economically before 1982, the year of
the next goverpment retail census.

The Michigan Daily-Friday, June 13, 1980-Page 9

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