Over the past fall, the nationwide economic downturn has definitely been felt in Sacramento's small boutiques. While some have gone out of business completely, and others have been forced to close some locations, many shops are adapting to leaner economic times by diversifying and changing their businesses. Recently, the Sacramento Press talked to Liz Liles, owner of 21st street's Buffcastle boutique, asking her about the recession's effect on her business and others.

Was it hard opening in this economic climate?

Well, we opened in about July, during the summer, so all the kids were out and about. It wasn't bad when we opened at all, actually suprisingly good. So we were excited about it, but the past three months have been not that great, and this month in particular has been really bad. So yeah, we're feeling the economy.

You say that there's been a lot of difficulty lately - is that just the fact that there's not as many customers?

Yeah, it's pretty much just the streets have been dead. I've talked with a lot of other business owenrs and they're all feeling the economy. My parents actually own their own business in Sacramento, and they're having a really bad time as well.

Dara Denim has closed its Granite Bay location, Blush Boutique is shifting to an internet-based business plan, are there any changes you'll be making with Buffcastle?

We're going to be doing a lot more intenet based work, because that's where more of a profit is. We're still going to keep the shop open, but also try to do more online. We also put an advertisement in midtown monthly - People could get 20% off when they brought in the ad, which is a lot. We're just trying to make people come and buy stuff. Since we don't have that much money right now, we havent' been able to advertise as much as we want.

Have you heard anything from other boutiques around town?

Yeah, I've talked with the owners from the other boutiques that are similar to me, the vintage clothing stores, and they all have been experiencing really slow business as well. I think we're feeling it the more than others because we're still so new, and there's a lot of people who don't even know we exist. I'm pretty sure everyone is feeling it, but retail shops have definitely been feeling. And there's actually been robberies in boutiques because people are desperate. You know United State, on 24th street? They just got robbed like, really badly by these two women.

So given all these unpleasant things and the general downturn, what do you think your business will be doing in the near future?

Well, like I said, we'll be focusing on internet sales. We're going to try to host more events at the store. Second Saturday is when we make the most money, because we have bands come from out of town, and they play, and we have fun. A bunch of kids come from all over, they see the store, and they buy stuff. We always count on Second Saturday. Last Second Saturday we had about three hundred people here, it was crazy.

Buffcastle is located at 1115 21st street, in between K and L streets.