Around Edmond: Governor rejects commutation hearing recommendation from PPB, waits for clemency hearing recommendation for Julius Jones case October 26. Corporate vs. Independent retail post Covid lockdown.

Hi everyone. Hoping all of you are doing well and getting settled into your Fall routine. In just a little over two weeks, it will be Fall Break for most of your kids. With almost everyone who follows EdmondActive at Instagram and Facebook, it appears we all took off on some sort of adventure outside of the State this summer and early Fall. Most everyone drove and arrived at a location that required very little contact with anyone outside of our circle we traveled with.

For my husband’s 55th birthday and our 31st wedding anniversary, we chose to fly to San Diego for the weekend, and pricing allowed us to do so, with flights, hotels and rental cars finally tapering back down to better than pre Covid rates. We don’t travel often, because we work, but this was a wonderful visual break from the everyday, after all of the fun that the Covid pandemic has not been over the last 18 months.

We drove to Florida for my birthday and to celebrate our 30th Anniversary in May, and there was quite a juxtaposition between the two coasts, for certain. My takeaway is that I like Florida for swimming in the warmer ocean, and California for the ocean air scent that is clearly missing on the western gulf coast of Florida, something that completely took me by surprise, and was due to lack of decomposing material in the Florida ocean and beaches. I never knew this because I had never visited Florida before, but that won’t keep me from returning in the future.

If you are looking for a fall getaway in Oklahoma, there are many great options to choose from at TravelOK.com, including a fall color day trip that is absolutely stunning! Also, if you haven’t been, and are looking for a getaway outside of Oklahoma with your kids, be sure to check out the Dallas Arboretum’s ‘Autumn at the Arboretum’ display that runs until October 31 at https://www.dallasarboretum.org/

Governor Stitt postpones decision on Julius Jones case to wait for clemency hearing October 26

Yesterday evening, Governor Stitt made an announcement to disregard a Pardon and Parole Board commutation recommendation for Julius Jones, in the case of Paul Howell’s murder. The commutation hearing was an appropriate venue, however new as opposed to what has always been done in a clemency hearing in the past. The Governor refused to decide whether he would grant commutation for Julius or not  and clearly disputed the two AG’s citing this hearing held September 13th was an appropriate venue to hear Julius’ argument, who stated clearly a commutation hearing was allowed for any inmate, per the Oklahoman July 1, 2020:

SHOP EDMOND National vs. Independent Retailers vs. Online Shopping

More for less almost always means less quality, and lower quality home accessories, for instance, this means there is a high possibility you will be replacing the lower cost items you purchased at Target, Walmart or Kohl’s much sooner than you would have had you purchased a higher quality like item. I certainly know this isn’t always the case but most times it is, and that is when shopping sales at higher priced retailers, no matter whether they are national or independently owned retailers, is a must. And this also brings the value of retailers like 2 Doors Down on 150th Street, who consign gently used high end items and whose inventory changes regularly.

I love Target, except when Target buyers focus on really unappealing trends, like the whole prairie dress trend right now. They are cute on some but look like unappealing bags to me. Also, I love lots of color and textural interest. This year it appears their national buyers are, too, very tired and uninspired. Same goes for Home Goods and At Home.

Most everyone that I know, however, is happy with whatever they can now purchase online. We did see a store pivot completely when the 2020 shutdown happened at Plenty Mercantile. Not only did they offer curbside pickup, but began shipping items from posts on social media to very quickly offering every single item in store online for purchase. On top of that, they expanded with a mini store at Chisolm Creek, between their Automobile Alley and Edmond stores. This was one of the most magnificent pivots I’ve seen by a retailer in the 13 years of publishing my Shop Edmond feature section. Cultured Clothes did the same with Instagram shopping and by opening a second location in Chisolm Creek besides its flagship Edmond store.

I am hoping that more locally owned independent retailers do the same and capitalize on the online sales they may be missing solely because because they do not have Instagram shopping set up or an online store. I promise this online shopping trend is here to stay and it’s definitely worth the pivot as a secured second expanded source of income for retailers. 

I realize that shopping is personal whether due to taste or budget. I realize some whom can afford more choose to save money where they can on items they deem so temporary they change the item out every three or four months. I also realize there are many who can only afford so much when it comes to clothing or decorating your home.

My why in starting Shop Edmond was not to pit businesses against businesses nor to only cater to one wealthy demographic ( and to be honest most retailers/businesses only want to advertise to those they perceive as wealthy, sadly, as if somehow you aren’t their likely consumer should your household make less than $100,000 per year), and even in knowing my opinion is one in thousands, I have brought my opinion all of these years simply to bring to light what is unique in Edmond. More retailers who care about their businesses effect on our community, not only with their giving actions but their choices of products and services they offer us, certainly means the better the offerings will be available to all of us, due to healthy competition.

In the case of less competition, you simply find higher prices at locally owned boutiques because of the rent they are being charged from $3,000 to $4,500 per month by developers, and without a great selection to choose from at the boutiques, this causes price conscious consumers looking for more for less to shop with national discount retailers. If you LOVE a local independent retailer, do them a favor, and yourself too, and shop with them at least twice a month or more if you can afford to do so. This will ensure a local retail environment that reflects the rich diverse community we all love. 

We all have certain national retailers we will shop at because in fact local retailers just do not fill the need for certain items we use and or are looking for daily. A good example of certain niches that could be filled by independent retailers: the only place you can buy clothing for little boys (I’m a boy mom) is at Kohl’s, Target or Walmart, or at the mall. A hard lesson for some new retailers who start their business because it is their dream, and who open their doors in extremely expensive spaces that cause an extremely high mark up on pricing, is doing so without thinking about consumers needs in the general vicinity of where their brick and mortar is located.

A great example of this great combination are two retailers in particular, Emory Anne Interiors and Cultured Clothes. Both have high end items to be sure, but for the most part, both owner’s take time to understand what is already available here in Edmond when they are at market and they select items that are truly unique. 

I’ll be out starting October 1, in search of that uniqueness for the holidays. My very first retailer visit in 18 months will be to Emory Anne Interiors and Botanical Bar on 150th se of Santa Fe and I can’t wait to be inspired by Anne McCarthy’s sense of style and whimsy!

Have a good week, and be sure to stop by Friday to see what’s happening in and around Edmond for the weekend!

Sherri