What bad economy? Wood is good

Word on the street is that come January, we’re going to see a few retailers on Upper King Street call it quits. The economy has been too much for them, one source involved in real estate says, and many of them were just hoping to soften the blow with high sales before the end of 2008 and before closing up shop in 2009.

It’s a local issue reflected nationally. Everywhere, retailers are slashing prices to boost otherwise terrible sales. Scott Krugman of the National Retail Federation told NPR over the weekend that retailers know there’s going to be damage. They’re just trying to minimized it.

“Retailers basically have a week to help make their sales projections for 2008,” Krugman said. “And I think they’re going to pull every stop. They’re not going to pull any punches in order to try to make this happen.”

Even so, some are opening shops on King Street, a move that would make many slammed by slumping sales nostalgic for the business-as-usual cycles of just three years ago. For Michael James Moran, a Charleston wood craftsman, things are looking up. He struck a deal with Johnny Tucker Architects to share a showroom for his hand-made furniture.

Moran has been working on a per-commission basis since establishing his shop in 2004. He maintains the integrity of the wood to make beautiful pieces. But not until now has he been able to put his work on display for buyers uninterested in the commission process.

“Some people don’t know what they want before they buy something,” Moran says. “This gives them an opportunity to see finished work.”

As for being hit by the crappy economy, Moran seems immune: “Business is good,” he says.

The showroom is 534 King St. It’s by appointment. For more, call (843) 793-9765. —John Stoehr