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Despite national economy, Tomball businesses stay strong
  
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By ANNA SCHUMANN
Though many people nation-wide are concerned about failing businesses and their financial futures, local business experts and owners assure, Tomball is the place to be.
According to the Texas comptroller’s web site, Texas accounts for 45 percent of entire job gains for all states and in the past five years, Texas added 1.3 million new jobs to the economy.
Texas’ unemployment rate has been lower than the national rate for 20 consecutive months, according to the site.
Bruce Hillegeist, president of the Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce, said Tomball is in better shape than most cities because of its proximity to Houston, and Houston’s economy is in good shape because of its diversity of jobs.
Grocer hears chatter but sees no differences
Jeffrey Klein, manager of Klein’s Super Market in Tomball, said he believes a great way to gauge the state of the economy is to listen to people talking at the grocery store.
He said he hears people concerned about the stock market and tax increases, but just as significant as the economy is the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, even more than one month after Tomball was hit.
“People are restocking as pay allows,” he said.
Other indicators of a weak economy, he said, would be people overwhelmingly buying store-brand products rather than name-brand products, or a significant change in order sizes at check out. He hasn’t seen either of these occur.
Part of the store’s business, the bakery, was as busy as ever baking wedding cakes for the weekend.
“That’s one thing that doesn’t change,” he said.
Overall, he said, his business is stable.
“This isn’t a real downturn,” he said. “People are still concerned but they have to eat.”
Restaurant manager: ‘we are blessed’
Kathy Schmidt, manager of Goodson’s Café, said though the restaurant’s costs have gone up, business is still strong.
Any recent slows in business, she said, are not attributed to the economy.
Once school begins in the fall, business normally slows, she said. The aftermath of Hurricane Ike caused additional slows; however, business is back to normal and busy.
“I know a lot of places are slow, but we haven’t personally seen any change because of the economy because we’re well-established,” she said. “We have been very blessed.”
Salon still doing well
Joyce Butler, co-owner of Trendsetters salon, said despite the national economy, her business is still doing well and still taking both referrals and repeat customers.
The cost of the products the salon buys has gone up, she said, but the cost has not been passed on to her customers.
After 53 years in business, this is just another low
Neidigk Lumber Co. has seen its share of ups and downs since 1956, said owner Beverely Helmick.
Helmick said she hasn’t really seen any effects of the economic downturn and if there are effects, she doesn’t see any that she can compare to what she’s seen in the past.
“I mean, we’re a small business though,” she said. “Maybe the big stores have noticed (effects) but I haven’t. The front parking is still full of cars.”
New business owner questions how to gauge success
Deneile Fourrier has only been in business as owner of Fourrier Factory Furniture since June 1, so she said it’s still hard to judge how successful her new business is.
“You have a good week, you have a bad week, and there’s no rhyme or reason that I’ve seen yet,” she said.
She doubts her business is affected by the national economy, though because of Houston’s key industry.
“We’re so energy-driven here, I don’t think we’ve reached the point where we’re affected by the national economy yet,” she said.
From what she can tell, her business is going well right now.
“We’re holding our own,” she said. “I’ve never done this before but we’re paying the bills and a lot of furniture is going out the door.”
According to the Texas comptroller’s web site, Texas accounts for 45 percent of entire job gains for all states and in the past five years, Texas added 1.3 million new jobs to the economy.
Texas’ unemployment rate has been lower than the national rate for 20 consecutive months, according to the site.
Bruce Hillegeist, president of the Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce, said Tomball is in better shape than most cities because of its proximity to Houston, and Houston’s economy is in good shape because of its diversity of jobs.
Grocer hears chatter but sees no differences
Jeffrey Klein, manager of Klein’s Super Market in Tomball, said he believes a great way to gauge the state of the economy is to listen to people talking at the grocery store.
He said he hears people concerned about the stock market and tax increases, but just as significant as the economy is the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, even more than one month after Tomball was hit.
“People are restocking as pay allows,” he said.
Other indicators of a weak economy, he said, would be people overwhelmingly buying store-brand products rather than name-brand products, or a significant change in order sizes at check out. He hasn’t seen either of these occur.
Part of the store’s business, the bakery, was as busy as ever baking wedding cakes for the weekend.
“That’s one thing that doesn’t change,” he said.
Overall, he said, his business is stable.
“This isn’t a real downturn,” he said. “People are still concerned but they have to eat.”
Restaurant manager: ‘we are blessed’
Kathy Schmidt, manager of Goodson’s Café, said though the restaurant’s costs have gone up, business is still strong.
Any recent slows in business, she said, are not attributed to the economy.
Once school begins in the fall, business normally slows, she said. The aftermath of Hurricane Ike caused additional slows; however, business is back to normal and busy.
“I know a lot of places are slow, but we haven’t personally seen any change because of the economy because we’re well-established,” she said. “We have been very blessed.”
Salon still doing well
Joyce Butler, co-owner of Trendsetters salon, said despite the national economy, her business is still doing well and still taking both referrals and repeat customers.
The cost of the products the salon buys has gone up, she said, but the cost has not been passed on to her customers.
After 53 years in business, this is just another low
Neidigk Lumber Co. has seen its share of ups and downs since 1956, said owner Beverely Helmick.
Helmick said she hasn’t really seen any effects of the economic downturn and if there are effects, she doesn’t see any that she can compare to what she’s seen in the past.
“I mean, we’re a small business though,” she said. “Maybe the big stores have noticed (effects) but I haven’t. The front parking is still full of cars.”
New business owner questions how to gauge success
Deneile Fourrier has only been in business as owner of Fourrier Factory Furniture since June 1, so she said it’s still hard to judge how successful her new business is.
“You have a good week, you have a bad week, and there’s no rhyme or reason that I’ve seen yet,” she said.
She doubts her business is affected by the national economy, though because of Houston’s key industry.
“We’re so energy-driven here, I don’t think we’ve reached the point where we’re affected by the national economy yet,” she said.
From what she can tell, her business is going well right now.
“We’re holding our own,” she said. “I’ve never done this before but we’re paying the bills and a lot of furniture is going out the door.”
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