Are the Services You Provide a Non-essential Purchase in Today's Economy?

http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/18/news/companies/starbucks_closures/index.htm?postversion=2008071814

This article discusses Starbucks and why the company is closing hundreds of locations:

The Seattle-based coffee company has said the cutbacks reflect a difficult economic environment in which rising gas prices and unemployment, as well as falling home values, have consumers cutting back on nonessential purchases like premium coffee.

Think about the services you provide as a small business owner or as an attorney. Are you providing a non-essential service or product?

I am not a Starbucks fan even though I really like the Strawberry Frap. I prefer coffee from White Castle. I used to tease one of my cousin's about drinking Starbuck coffee everyday for the last two years. After she closed on her house and had a baby this year she switched from Strarbucks to Dunkin Donuts coffee. I really like the Strawberry Banana smoothies at Dunkin Donuts.