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Local businesses try to cope with implications of disaster
By JENNIFER GOLDBLATT
© St. Petersburg Times, Pasco businesses attempted to return to business as usual Wednesday. But the airspace shutdown kept area manufacturers from shipping their goods to customers and bringing in supplies, while retailers scurried to meet heightened demand for emergency supplies from people preparing for the worst. Travel-related businesses worked with skeleton crews, coping with a flurry of cancellations. Local airport limo services had nearly all their business canceled. Whitney & Sons Seafood of Hudson was not able to get the fish they import from South and Central America or to ship their products to New York. "It's definitely hampered business a lot," manager Shane Shelburne said. Dennis Bulin, owner of Zeagle Systems in Zephyrhills, which manufactures scuba gear, had deliveries halted and was waiting on parts from overseas. "A lot of people travel when they scuba dive and fly all over the world," he said. "I would imagine less people would want to fly. It's definitely going to have a negative effect." Jerry Flatt, general manager of Soule Co. in Lutz, which makes packaging and foam items used in surgery, was getting lists from hospitals and medical distributors that he would need to ship as soon as air-travel opened up. Customers likeRaytheon and Lockheed Martin put Soule on alert that they'd need packaging expedited. "That means we have to produce faster, use more overnight delivery, do whatever we have to do to get that work done," he said. Brian Nottage, senior economist with Economy.com, told the Times that the long-term economic impact of the tragedy would depend on consumers. "If people feel confident, and if there's a robust U.S. response, we'll have a month or two that's slow but things will get back to normal pretty quickly," he said. "If we have an extended period of uncertainty where people aren't buying, or going out of their houses, that's a worrisome scenario." That didn't seem to be the case Wednesday. At Gulf View Square mall, shoppers lingered at the shops, some with purchases in hand. Others, like New Port Richey's Bobbie Allen, were just looking for a distraction. "I'm still just sort of dazed, just walking around and I still can't believe it," Allen, 35, said. Two products seemed to be in sharp demand -- American flags and guns. "Most people just wanted to make sure their families and themselves were in a position to take care," said Sue Virkus, co-owner of Firing Line Gun Range & Cartridge. She said sales Tuesday were twice what they normally would be. "People who were thinking about buying guns before, this just pushed 'em towards it." When Jim Fioranelli opened B & B Gun shop in Hudson on Tuesday, a line of people waited for him. One woman had a list of the ammunition she wanted, scribbled on a kitchen napkin -- she bought $1,400 worth. "Most of them were concerned that they'd cut off sales of ammunition and guns, so they're buying now," he said. -- Jennifer Goldblatt covers business in Pasco County. She can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6229, or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6229. Her e-mail address is
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From today's Pasco Times |
