Fashion Prevails Through the Down Economy

Jack Rodzik

March, 17 2011

Kositchek’s

248-974-8926

rodzikja@msu.edu

WORD COUNT: 506

Fashion Prevails Through the Down Economy

            LANSING, Mich. – Kositchek’s specialty store in Downtown Lansing, Mich. overcame the challenges brought on by the economic crisis by holding strong to the company’s key business beliefs. In late 2008, Kositchek’s went through a 20% sales decrease but has since exceeded their annual goals.

            Kositchek’s is a high-end fashion men’s specialty store located in Downtown Lansing catering to the more expensive kinds of clothing. David Kositchek, 58, has been involved with his family business since he was 12 years old, practicing the same ideals three generations of his family have passed down. Kositchek believes in using the same business strategies that have worked for his store since it began in 1865.

            Although the economy has impacted the success of many businesses, Kositchek’s has only experienced a decrease in sales of about 20% Kositchek said.

            “Being a smaller company we can maneuver, we can respond to trends,” Kositchek said.

            With the idea of keeping his company small, with a staff of about only 20 people, he was able to respond quickly and efficiently to any problems that were presented in late 2008. “It only gets complicated if you grow fast,” said Kositchek, “we grow incrementally.”

            Small businesses have been impacted tremendously in the recession, not only in East Lansing, but also throughout the entire United States. Kositchek focuses on keeping his company up-to-date and addressing every situation continuously, as a routine business strategy.

            “No matter how long you’ve been in business you have to continue to innovate, you can’t stay stagnant, always creating newness and freshness,” said Kositchek.

            “We focus on quality, we focus on service, period,” said Kositchek.

            With these two concepts, Kositchek’s continued to succeed throughout the depression of the early millennium. Kositchek stated that he does not disclose any numbers regarding his private company, and that is the way it has always been.

            “People come here for the personal service,” said Matt McLeod, 51, employee of Kositchek’s for 30 years, “they can’t believe people give you honest advice.”

            With maintaining successful business strategies, Kositchek’s sees many of the same customers coming through, helping to excel their business as a whole.

            Kositchek remains successful expressing that his job is but his passion.

            “If you focus on your passion and if I tell you that my passion is pleasing people and you focus on that and only that and keep your eye on the ball everything else falls into place,” Kositchek said.

            “I enjoy coming into work,” said Carl Dorman, 33, Kositchek’s newest employee in eight years, “I do displays so I get creative, making things look nice, of all of the customers you meet about 90 % are super people”

            Kositchek’s is a store based on the customer, with keeping the idea of business based solely around the customer, the men’s specialty store in East Lansing is able to continue to prosper, even in the worst of times.