HONOLULU (KHON2) -- You can call it a "perfect storm" of negative events that's caused a tough time for local retailers. One local store came up with a "prime" deal to help stay afloat.
Martin & MacArthur has made koa pieces in Hawaii for more than 65 years. But the last three have been challenging. They said COVID, the Lahaina fire, and the weakening of the Japanese yen have been devastating.
"All of these things, one at a time, would've been something," said Michael Tam, President and CEO of Martin & MacArthur "But all three of them happening in three years has been challenging for all of us in Hawaii."
To boost the traditionally slower summer season, Martin & MacArthur's came up with a special sale for its furniture.
"All this furniture is hand-crafted right here in Hawaii by our own craftsmen," said Tam. "We've been working hard throughout the entire season to get the best furniture from special harvest from the Big Island and now it's ready."
This Prime Koa furniture sale coincides with another big online retailer sale next week. Tam said this is one of the many out-of-the-box marketing strategies they've had to come up with to survive.
"Prime Day used to be just one day out of the year, now it's 2 days," said Tina Yamaki of Retail Merchants of Hawaii. "And now a lot of businesses have that FOMO. We don't want all the business to go there. We wanna know how we can attract customers too."
Tam said after the Lahaina fire, they partnered with Art Maui to feature 150 Maui artists in its stores. They've also partnered with the USS Missouri and made gifts with teak from the ship's decking.
"Literally what we're trying to do is help our craftsmen and the artists of Hawaii survive during this tough time," said Tam.
"There's a huge competition going on right now and everyone is vying for that consumer dollar," said Yamaki.
The sale is for furniture in all of Martin & MacArthur's 12 retail stores in Hawaii, including its furniture shop in Kalihi.
"If you can support local craftsmen and local artists who are doing something that's their passion, then it's gonna make your dollar do something more than just pay for a product or a service," said Tam. "It's gonna pay for a lifestyle and it's gonna pay for a livelihood."