San Antonio Retailers Get Creative Amid Inflation Pressures

Local retailers resort to unique strategies to keep their businesses afloat amidst growing inflation

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 – Retailers all across San Antonio are wrapping their heads around innovative strategies to keep their customers engaged as pressures from inflation continue to surge. While big box corporations have the luxury to decrease prices, local retailers are being pushed to their creative limits to combat economic stress.

The Thrust Of Excessive Discounts

Some local businesses revealed that merely having promotions and discounts was far from enough to stand against online trading giants. They are having to delve deeper outside their comfort zones, brainstorming unexplored solutions to keep their sales going. As shared by Kerri Arnold, the owner of the popular boutique 3 Sassy Chicks, “We definitely see a decrease this year from last year, but we are seeing an increase of us having to push sales through discounts, and also we’re seeing an increase in returns so buyer’s remorse.”

Community Building Over Price Fluctuations

A few businesses have resorted to focusing more on building robust community relationships, abandoning the conventional focus on price fluctuations. Paraic Mulgrew, one of the co-owners at Knight Watch Games and Sanctuary. emphasized, “While we don’t participate in price gauging or price discounts, what we do is really emphasize customer service and the amenities of the spaces and then tournaments and events to keep the customers engaged with the store.”

He continued, “That’s the idea, is that we want to offer a service that places like Amazon or big box stores don’t offer, and so we offer value that way.”

Local Retailers Banding Together

Arnold agreed with Mulgrew’s theory that embedding community relationship is vital for their survival but said the tactics are now more crucial than ever to lure customers back into their stores. “We did a really great Mother’s Day event. We gave away free gifts with purchase, we did drawings for free gift certificates, free gifts, gift baskets. We do food and drinks and snacks,” confirmed Arnold.

In the face of growing inflation, San Antonio retailers are proving that creativity and a keen understanding of customers’ needs can facilitate survival during tough economic times. The creativity, tenacity, and resilience displayed by these local businesses are representative of the strong community spirit that defines San Antonio.