Businesses Try To Reassure Consumers

By Latoya Silmon, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Businesses in Oklahoma are keeping an eye on what's going on in Washington, D.C.  As lenders limit credit, some smaller companies say they're having to change the way they do business.

Credit lines are life lines for many small businesses in Green Country.  And, now that some banks are pulling the plug, some owners are forced to get creative to stay competitive.

Wall Street worries may be trickling down to Main Street.

"We all go through cycles.  Business cycles are something we all expect; however, I never thought it would be this tough.  This hard.  The last time I was concerned like this was after 9/11," said Bob Mulkey.

Bob Mulkey owns Regal Car and Credit.  But, credit isn't so easy to come by these days.  Lender limits are affecting his customers and his business.

"I was telling somebody else I'm getting a flat nose by all the doors being slammed in my face," said Bob Mulkey.

Mulkey says it will affect future expansion at his business, but his 94 employees are safe.

"And they all will be paid on Friday," added Bob Mulkey.

Payday will go on as planned at Camperland, too.  But, like Regal, the credit crunch is driving the way it does business.

"Definitely it changes the game.  Use to a 700 credit score would be a no brainer.  Now, we see that challenged more than it used to.  But, we're still able to get them done just with different lenders and different down payments, less expensive products," said Camperland's Kim Siex.

The company is also marketing on the Internet and hoping the Tulsa State Fair will bring in new customers.

Both businesses say this is just a financial bump in the road and they're confident they'll make it over the hump.

But, both also say it's important to keep consumer confidence up.