Price is Price but Value is the Total Experience

Econoco provides the most value for your fixture and display dollars. 3000 inventoried products, trained and experienced staff, 87 years of experience, largest inventory in the US, continuous flow of new product designs are just a few of the advantages of being an Econoco customer.

While we recognize the importance of value, we see the continuing demand for low prices. Econoco management has made the pledge not to sacrifice quality for a lower price. Asian factories and US fixture importers have continually cheapened products by reducing steel thickness, use cheaper welding, inferior chrome and inconsistent quality. We firmly believe that in the long run, these companies will eventually go out of business because customers will realize that this trend cannot continue. Econoco will not gravitate to the lowest common denominator of low-cost, "poor boy" operations around the country.

Regardless of increases in the price of imported steel and plastics from China, importers are continuing the trend of lowering prices and accepting the shrinking profit margins in an effort to remain competitive. The larger wholesalers who maintain inventory and who are financially strong have led the way in dealing with Asian factories cutting out the traditional importer from the supply chain.

"Price is price but value is the total experience" writes Len Berry, Professor of Retailing Studies at Texas A&M. In an industry dominated by price we strive to provide value. We define value as the quality of benefits and services that accompanies a transaction.

This fact coupled with the significant increase in the number of small, low-cost Chinese factories looking to enter the store fixture market have added to the age-old issue of supply and demand. Demand for fixtures is down as there are 50% less independent retailers today than there were 20 years ago. This means that the traditional storefront distributor, catalog house and the newer internet sites are fighting for a bigger slice of a shrinking pie.

Small independent stores seem to be gravitating to the lowest common denominator like the use of low cost grid and outriggers for the wall instead of more attractive systems that may cost more but help a store obtain a more unique brand identity.

Econoco carries the largest inventories of store fixtures, visual displays including mannequins in the United States. Very often, an importer looking to gain market share advertises ultra-low prices but does not have stock. Many importers of fixturing have been reducing the quality of products by using thinner wire, inferior finishes, cheaper spot welds and lighter gauge steel. Econoco pledges not to cheapen the quality of its products in favor of lowering prices.

To insure product quality, Econoco has hired four QC supervisors to oversee manufacturing in the metal factory in China. The use of an independent team not affiliated with the factory assures that the merchandise shipped conforms to our specifications.