ELLENTON — The Cat’s Meow, like many businesses in the home decor industry nationwide, was feeling the aftershocks of the housing crash at its location in a Venice shopping district.
So Mark and Susie Holt decided to move their business, which specializes in shabby chic styles, to Ellenton where they thought they would get more drive-by traffic. They opened June 1.
But they know meeting sales numbers of the past may be a challenge.
“Business isn’t like it was five or six years ago, but I don’t think any business is,” Mark Holt said.
The American Society of Interior Designers completed a survey last month that found businesses and employees in the industry are seeing a decline in sales and work. In the survey, 28 percent of respondents said they had reduced work hours or implemented layoffs since November.
“Office design seems to be the hardest hit right now and residential is a close second to that,” said Michael Berens, director of research at the American Society of Interior Design, based in Washington, D.C. “Certainly the whole situation with the housing industry has been very difficult for our industry.”
Dean Hix, owner of Hix Interiors, said his family-based business, which has been in Bradenton since 1968, is seeing its slowest business since it opened.
“We used to say things are slow,” Hix said. “Now we call it dead.”
Hix’s observation is common among professionals in the industry, Berens said.
“I think probably the most frequent comments we’re getting is ‘This is the worst I’ve seen in my “blank” number of years of doing interior design,’ ” Berens said. “It’s the worst year they’ve ever seen.”
To keep the business going, the Hixes have made personal sacrifices.
“We just tightened our belts,” Hix said. “When things were good we used to go out to eat more, travel more, spend money on our own house. We cut our expenses the best we can, we cut advertising, cut money on wasted appointments.”
Susie Holt said they noticed the impacts of the housing crash more in Venice than in Manatee County.
“Sales were down more,” she said. “Since we’ve been here we’ve had an interest in people wanting to buy. Here, I haven’t seen that much of an effect, which is a positive thing.”
The Holts decided to relocate The Cat’s Meow from Venice’s Main Street retail district, once dubbed the antique district, after the area began to have a hard time retaining and attracting vintage-based businesses.
In addition, they wanted a clientele base that wasn’t mostly tourists.
Their 3711 U.S. 301 N. location in Ellenton draws more drive-by traffic and reaches a clientèle of young professionals, the Holts said. It also is well positioned between Tampa and Sarasota.
“We went from selling a lot of little things like our giftware to getting more hits on home decor, sofa sales, chair covers,” Mark Holt said. “They’re purchasing bigger items, so sales are better that way.”
Barbara Jaeger, owner of The White Egret, LLC, which specializes in coastal decor in three shops in Anna Maria and Holmes Beach, said business is slower now.
“Not as many people are spending money this year as last year,” Jaeger said. “They’re very cautious and rightfully so. But those who have the money are spending.”
Jaeger said she’s cut expenses in payroll by relying on three temporary employees for the peak season. During the off season, the White Egret has 10 full-time employees at its three locations.
“We just watch our spending and try to keep our payroll at a reasonable rate,” Jaeger said.
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