The federal government announced recently that the initial tax rebate stimulus checks would be mailed about a week earlier than originally planned. In fact, some direct deposit stimulus check recipients will get their money as early as next Monday.
The Bush Administration is claims that mailing the checks ASAP will help American households deal with rising fuel and food prices. Economists and business owners hope that the tax rebate checks will stimulate the economy in the same fashion that previous tax rebate programs have.
Unfortunately, some observers feel that a significant boost to the economy isn’t likely because the prior tax rebate coincided with Bush’s semi-permanent tax cuts, but the current tax rebate is a stand alone measure.
Assuming that costs for food and fuel continue to rise, the tax rebate stimulus checks will only postpone Americans feeling pinched in their pocket books.
What will the reduction of real purchasing power do to the spending habits of Americans? Experts forecast tough times for luxury goods makers ahead.
Some luxury retailers, however, are bucking the trend. Tapping a loyal client base and the power of their brands, some top tier luxury retailers are still finding a way to thrive. For example, Neiman Marcus defied the trend and posted much better than expected earnings for this fiscal quarter.
“Sometimes small businesses that develop a deep relationship with their customers can weather economic storms, even when their goods or services are not considered ‘needs,’” says entrepreneur Ron Sturgeon. Sturgeon operates a Texas-based family of exotic car businesses that cater to higher-than-average income earners.
“In a way, our exotic car club actually saves our clients a great deal of money when you compare membership versus the cost of direct ownership,” reports Sturgeon. “Membership in a car club can be a very cost effective way to drive a variety of the world’s best exotic cars,” says Sturgeon.
Members of the club pay a flat monthly fee that ranges from $750 to $3,000 for a set number of driving days in the Dallas car sharing club’s vehicles. Membership is capped so that their will not be more than five members per vehicle. “The point of the club is to enjoy the cars, so we have to keep the number of members low so that members can reserve our cars when they want them,” says General Manager Tom Warren.
“Membership has let me scratch my exotic car itch without plunking down the six figures for a Lamborghini Gallardo,” explains Derek Chase, a DFW-based audio engineer and DFW Elite Car Club Member. “Once you get started driving a Ferrari F430 and Lamborghini Gallardo, it’s not hard to find other club cars that you want to take for a spin.”
To learn more about car sharing clubs, check out an excellent article that appeared in a recent issue of the Robb Report Collection. If you are in the DFW area, check out http://www.dfwelitecarclub.com for a peak at the club’s exclusive collection of cars. If you’re outside of Texas, consult an online directory of exotic car clubs, such as www.exoticcarclubs.com, to find a car sharing club in your city.
“With one phone call, the car I want is delivered—fueled and ready for me to drive. It’s fantastic not to have to worry about depreciation, maintenance, or any other exotic car ownership hassles. All I have to do is enjoy the experience of driving the newest 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo,” says Mr. Chase.
Written by G.D. Gregory. If you are interested in having me write stories for you or seeing my portfolio, please contact me at ggpsu@yahoo.com.
