Hi All,

I have had my own small business in California for about 30 years. In the US
and particularly California, small businesses are threatened more now than
ever. Many are closing down because they just can't make things profitable
any more with constantly rising overheads like insurances, taxes and
benefits. Even is a good econmy things will be tough for small/medium size
businesses.

In the future in the US many will need to have a very small business with no
employees right out of their home so there is almost no overhead. The other
businesses will all have to be very large to compete by merging constantly.
Businesses will have to be extremely small and efficient or extremely large
and efficient to compete in today's world economy.

Most "mom & pop" stores like mine will never survive in today's market. I am
only still here in business because I have been in business for a long time
and have not debt service.

If you find a small business of any kind that really does a good job for
you, I would try to support and promote them as much as possible so they can
survive these times.

--
Bill Kiene

Kiene's Fly Shop
Sacramento, CA
www.kiene.com