Thursday, September 11, 1997
Businesses experience ups and downs during
fair run
By BRIAN BETHEL / Abilene Reporter-News
Abilene's West Texas Fair & Rodeo may be a lot of fun,
but it also brings bounty -- and a bit of drought -- for local
retailers.
Although some businesses log a decrease in customers during
fair time, others find their coffers enriched by visitors to the
annual event.
"The fair does impact us very positively," said Tom
Drinkwine, general manager for Joe and Sharon Allen's restaurants.
"We do a lot of business, especially as the weekend approaches."
When business is slow, it usually picks back up quickly after
the fair is over, such as at the Mall of Abilene. The mall usually
sees a 2 percent to 3 percent drop in traffic during the fair,
said Andrea Zamora, marketing director.
"Economically, we're about even with where we were last
year growthwise," she said. "What we're dealing with
is one week or so out of a month, so that's not too bad."
Whether or not the fair impact is negative depends on how good
sales are during the rest of the month, she said.
A FAIR DEAL
The fair and its attractions bring 125,000 visitors on average
through the gates of the Taylor County Expo Center, said Tony
McMillan, the center's executive vice president and general manager.
Gross income is about $550,000, made up of entry fees, the
Expo Center's take from the Bill Hames Carnival and other income.
"The Expo Center is a year-round operation," McMillan
said. "But fair time is like harvest time for us, and it's
exceptionally good for the community."
An estimated 35 percent of the Expo Center's total income comes
from the fair, he said. But the center is not the only one that
benefits from the take.
About $350,000 the center receives from visitors is turned
back into the community.
"We generally spend the money right back here in Abilene,
and of course it turns over from there," he said. "We
also spend it in the Big Country. We buy all of our ribbons for
the fair in Coleman, for example."
The Expo Center is self-supporting and receives no money from
Taylor County, McMillan said.
"We try to keep the admission prices low so that everyone
can enjoy the fair," he said. "We're also responsible
for making sure we can meet our expenses. I think we've hit on
a good balance that helps the community, too."
MIDWAY MONEY
The rides and games of the carnival are a big attraction each
year, and they generate a good amount of money for both the Bill
Hames company and the Expo Center.
But carnival workers also do their part to help the community,
injecting an estimated $75,000 into Abilene during their stay.
"That's actually a low estimate, I'd say," said Melinda
Aten, one of the carnival's operators. "We make a point to
buy almost all of our supplies locally because we think that's
the right thing to do. That includes everything from parts for
rides and maintenance to hamburgers and hamburger buns for the
concessions."
There is a perception among some individuals that the carnival
comes, takes money from the community and then takes that cash
with it when it goes, she said.
"To some extent that's true, but we always try to spend
our money here in Abilene or whatever community we're in,"
she said. "For example, we just came here from Pueblo, Colo.,
where we spent about $20,000 on ice alone."
A good example of a business boosted by the fair is Tom's Tire
World.
Salesman Don Thomason, a fixture at Tom's for 16 years, said
that although the store loses some business during the fair, carnival
customers and livestock exhibitors help balance out the drop.
"When it comes to the carnival, for example, we know from
past seasons what they're probably going to need when they get
here," he said. "They know we know, and that's why they
come here."
The roads are still hot at this time of the year, meaning tire
damage to some larger trucks and trailers is possible -- and almost
certainly will happen.
"We also have a lot of people who come in for maintenance
on private vehicles," Thomason said. "There are a lot
of people who come here from out of town, and we try our best
to give them what they want and need."
VALUED VISITORS
In fact, many businesses are in a similar situation as Tom's
Tire World: The influx of out-of-towners helps offset what could
otherwise be a dip in business.
Obviously, there are certain things travelers want. Food, for
one.
"We look forward to the fair every year because of the
customers it brings in," said Rachel West, shift leader at
the Kettle Restaurant on U.S. Interstate 20.
A place to stay is often another desire.
Vincent McDaniel, Holiday Inn office manager, estimates that
fair traffic amounts to about 20 percent of his business this
time of the year. That business is important, he said, coming
as it does after the summer vacation season.
Management at Day's Inn said the hotel enjoys a moderate crowd
from fair-goers with more coming in for the weekends.
And because all those folks are going to a West Texas fair
and rodeo, a good portion of them want to get "duded up"
to look the part.
"In the past, business has been kind of slow during the
fair, but it's really picked up this year," said Ryan Shipp,
manager at Luskey's Western Stores.
"The rodeo has been a big draw, I guess. We get lots of
people wanting straw hats, boots and things like that. It's been
good for us."
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Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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