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New Customer Lures

New Customer Lures

During the Depression business stalled and "inventory was low," says sixth-generation Bixler Joyce Welken, Bixler's current president. "What they did was to open a lending library to bring people to the store. The Depression was pretty tough and it created another avenue to get people to see what we had." Welkin says what ultimately got the family business through the Depression was "patience and persistence" and "being very careful about their own buying and not getting overextended."

She says those principles have remained in place and have helped retain customer loyalty through the generations. "We try to get the best value for the money and to give the best," says Welkin.