My Laguna Office, located at 303 Broadway, has officially declared itself a “penny free zone.” Owner Tom Williams said that his store will no longer accept or give pennies, since they “are mostly a waste of time and an annoyance for most customers.”
Williams said that change at his store will now be rounded to the nearest nickel, in favor of the customer. He admitted that the store might lose a few dollars a week in this manner, but found consolation in the fact that he would no longer lose time counting pennies every day.

Gaining Ground by Losing Cents

While many store owners in Laguna Beach are experiencing slower sales due to high gas prices and the challenging economic situation, at least one business reports a boon from skyrocketing fuel costs.

Tom Williams, owner of My Laguna Office, reports that sales of office supplies and computer accessories have increased substantially because of fuel conscious customers.

Two years ago My Laguna Office created the "Don't Leave Laguna" sticker campaign, urging residents to spend their dollars locally by handing out almost 3,000 stickers.

Many local residents became more conscious of the role local merchants play in supporting the town's economic vitality, Williams said.

Spending dollars locally benefits the entire community and was the main goal of the sticker campaign, he said.

High Pump Prices Boost Shop Local Campaign