To say Colorado is one tough State for any small business to make it with the current “State Management and Political Decisions” in Denver is a major understatement. For years I have assessed the “dying” auction & gun businesses in Colorado We went from over 30 live “auction houses” some 20 years ago to now fewer than you can count on one hand….yes…under 5. We have went from some 1000+ Gun Specialty Stores to now Under 100 and they close almost weekly in the past few months…I am projecting under 20 by the end of the year. Does anyone ever wake up or care? It doesn’t appear so.
Make no doubt about it…..it is impossible at this point to say Politicians up North have done nothing but destroy Colorado one layer at a time. Forced minimum wages have pushed most small businesses to the brink and done nothing but increase cost…no one is actually “making more money” as we are one the most expensive States to live in at this point. Forced minimum wage is truly a disaster…and I mean a complete disaster long term. Add in some of the highest Insurance & Tax Rates in the Nation, some of the most expensive utilities, and this all leads to some of the highest Commercial rent rates in the Nation. Regulation from Guns to Sprinkler Heads will only destroy the few businesses left standing…this isn’t doom and gloom…this is reality.
So what gives? By the actions of the current few weeks it is only getting worse. We are not far from waking up and having a nightmare and nearly no where just to buy a basic gun. It’s great to regulate everything to death…but the problem is that businesses still have to profit in order to stay in business and obey these crazy regulations that are nothing more than completely ridiculous. No gun store can possibly turn a profit when you have to have 3 employees just to process irrelevant paperwork. Great ideas don’t always mean feasible or great results. Colorado will become the poster child for this right on the heels of California. It is disgusting as a lifetime resident to watch them destroy so much for Political gain and regulation that does absolutely nothing.
I still hold out “hope” but I/Our business got lucky and saw this coming like a freight train. Many businesses were caught off guard or didn’t see this coming this fast and have crashed quickly. I can testify that the current environment is the “hardest it has EVER been” to stay above the red line in business in the current environment. We have been able to make big adjustments to our business model and been able to cut some costs or we would be another statistic. Even though we are on pace for a top 3 year in gross sales….our net is in the bottom 3 year to date. I have never seen costs of doing business explode this quickly. Breaking even is a very good thing right now as a small business….so if you are reading this and breaking even you are doing amazing!
The Covid giveaway windfall money is drying up for many businesses…and commercial vacancy is up over 5% in just the past 90 days. Alarm bells should be sounding and yet the clueless leadership just keeps the pen flowing and with that the businesses are going (going away that is). You may not care but this is nothing short of a long term disaster for the State….There is no stopping the train now. Not many will be left standing…and that is a sad reality. Where did all the workers go? Flipping Burgers for $22/hour won’t be a bad gig in a year but that isn’t a recipe for success. And it won’t be a recipe at all when there are no businesses that can pay $22/hour. Small businesses are vital when the inevitible downturn comes….Colorado will be crushed much harder than other States and many will then be wondering “Where did all the small businesses go?”. Leadership Matters. This was a choice.
