Take steps to empower yourselves

To the editor:

Over the last several weeks I’ve heard from many of you how badly Portland wants a grocery store.

I agree with you. And because we all feel that way, a surprising number of people are convinced it should happen quickly.

Several years ago, I started a company that created marketing programs for mass merchandisers, primarily grocery stores. We worked with Ralphs Supermarkets, Kroger’s of Atlanta and Payless Supermarkets in Anderson. I was amazed to discover the grocery industry operates on razor thin profit margins. Net profits in the industry run in the 1 percent and 2 percent range. For the promise of Portland’s $10 to $15 million grocery market, that means an investment of millions for a new store in our community would only return to the company $300,000 per year at best. 

The reality of the situation is not easy to hear. Not only have we lost a grocery store, but we’ve lost other merchants as well. Our downtown is populated with many empty and decaying buildings that once housed thriving businesses because our citizens patronized them.

If Portland had furniture stores, appliance stores, jewelry stores and gift shops that enjoyed the loyal shopping habits of our residents, we’d have a story to take to those empowered to build a grocery store in our town. We do not have that story.

Ask yourself where you purchased your last kitchen appliance, mattress, car or even Christmas or birthday gift. Forget the argument about selection, cost and availability — in most cases it is just not true. Over the last 10 years, Jay County Chamber of Commerce and WPGW radio have sponsored Shop Jay County First. We explain how important it is to the future of our community.

We all still want a grocery store.

What is the answer?

There are people in Portland addressing that concern. Lack of results is not because nobody is listening. Sadly, conventional methods do not offer a lot of promise. Our answer may come from unconventional methods, new ideas that have not been attempted. Maybe a small-town footprint store that fills the needs of Portland, a new concept with lower costs and better profit for the grocery industry. The solution will be quite different than anything we envision right now. And we may even resist because it could require us to change our shopping habits.

In the meantime, here’s what you can do. When you shop in Muncie, Celina, Winchester, Fort Wayne etc., make it a habit to tell the cashier, stock boy, store manager, any employee this: “I’m from Portland. We’d really like to have one of your stores in our town.” If you know an employee who works in the warehouse or home office, or drives truck for one of these companies, tell them the same thing. If everyone would do that, it will get some attention, be much more effective than a petition and offer a pro-active, positive approach.

Or, organize. Money speaks. Use it.

Get a group of 200 to 300 residents to go to Aldi’s in Winchester, the same day at the same time. Take a caravan. Every one of you tell them we want a store in Portland as each of you spend $75 to $150. Do the math, the money will speak.

Is it enough?

Maybe not. But it will be fun. And you’ll feel empowered.

Who knows, maybe every couple of weeks you can pick a different grocery chain. Maybe the numbers group will grow to 500 and make a bigger impact. Not only will the grocery executives hear about it, it should get lots of publicity putting positive pressure on a grocery store to come to Portland.

Certainly, it would be news-worthy as one small town takes it destiny into its own hands and does something positive about it. Could be picked up by national media.

In the meantime, many good people from Portland will continue to carry your message through the front door of grocery companies talking to executives about finances, tax incentives, population trends and real estate values.

Most importantly, they will try to explain why Portland is different from a hundred other shrinking small towns. Your actions could make them right.

John Boggs

Portland