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Discover Mid-America — January 2005

The year in review

Wow! What a roller-coaster year! Two thousand and four defied any and all recognizable patterns of foregone years. Up and down the street I have heard every possible excuse, including Elvis has returned, the economy, the war, the election, unemployment, the weather, the Broncos lost, the erratic stock market, and do not forget that the sun, moon, and stars must all be aligned properly for business to prosper. Ahaaaa, if only psychic intervention could tell us what to expect in business, we could all be successful.

Well, forget the prognostications, here’s my review:

January: The usual after-Christmas slump, and the hurry-up and start your taxes month.

February: Love is in the air — Valentine sales are way above normal. There are faint rumblings of election primaries in Iowa and New Hampshire.

March: Snowy weather and street potholes take their toll in Denver. The Democratic primaries resemble an old-fashioned shouting match! The University of Denver Antique seminars begin.

April 1-15: All antique dealers should go on vacation

April 16-30: Make it an extended vacation!

May: Gangbusters — great business successes.

June: The Democratic Convention seems to have triggered a slowdown in business. When people are uncertain about the future, they do not spend money

July: More of the same.August: Ditto. With the Republican Convention over, the barrage of television election ads begins.

September: Great business returns. May be they cannot stay home to watch the election advertisements any longer!

October: My shop resembles a ghost town! Where is everybody?

November: Hurray, the election is over. Business is the best it has been all year. Women tend to Christmas shop early. On the other hand, I will see every male customer I have the week before Christmas.

December: The month has started with a nice steady roll. I will see all my regular once-a-year male customers in a week or so. They will come in, sit down on a chair, tell me what they want, purchase a bauble or two, wait for their gift(s) to be wrapped, and are perfectly happy to be waited on.

Happy New Year!

Syrma Sotiriou is the proprietor of The Treasured Scarab in Denver, and a regular contributor to Discover Mid-America. Contact her at (303) 777-6884.

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