Sequestration Cuts May Impact Small Businesses Near Sheppard
By: David Gonzalez
Updated: March 20, 2013
Nearly three weeks after $85 billion dollars in automatic military spending cuts went in effect on March 1, the trickle down effect of the sequester is being felt nationwide and in Texoma.
While the changes are impacting military installations, small businesses near bases are now wondering how they will be affected.
For example, Angela Ward has been the owner of Crazy Beautiful Salon for the last eight months.
She says she has not noticed any effects yet but has definite fears.
Ward's salon is located about two miles from Sheppard Air Force Base and military and civilian employees make up about 75% of her business.
Ward says consequences from future furloughs for civilian employees could impact her business.
"There is definitely is always a fear that that can happen, especially being this close to the base and that much of our clientele," Ward says.
However, Ward is getting creative. She offers incentives like a 10% discount to all military customers.
"Yeah, we definitely do. Right now, we are offering specials for men's haircuts just to bring in a little bit of the men into here," Ward says.
Even though Ward says business is steady, he says the ripple effects of the sequester will soon be felt.
"It will probably just decrease in our business," Ward exclaims. "Hopefully it wouldn't be too bad. We're hoping that we can just stick around in there and just hang in there still have the business that we have."
A business that will continue to avoid shaving off any profits.
Ward and other businesses are staying positive about what the future may hold despite the sequester and hope something will be done to avoid further cuts.
