We sat down recently with Jason Suttle, president of Constellation Home Electronics, to talk about his company, why he moved to Santa Fe and the city's business climate.

Question: How's business been this year for you?

Answer: This year has been OK, but not as good as expected. Winter '10 into spring '11 was very encouraging and sales were strong, but the summer was much slower than usual. My theory is that the fires had something to do with that, but I also think that the economy is still in some distress and we are just dealing with that. This is my 11th year in business, and this has been one of the toughest years so far, but we are happy to be here and growing during this challenging time. Others haven't been so fortunate.

Question: Where are sales stronger, home electronics or service?

Answer: If your question is "do we sell more equipment or service?" it is about equal, but service drives more sales than the retail store right now. The store has been a great asset, and I don't regret at all opening it during the recession, but it is part of a long-term plan and we understand that this is a rough time for retail in all industries. The retail store provides a way for the community to come in and see us and experience what they are buying, which is essential.

Question: Is the company profitable?

Answer: We have a high overhead and have been up and down over the last three years as the recession really settled in since the store opened. It is tough to maintain profitability every month, but yes, it is a profitable venture and our outlook moving forward is very positive. We have had enough time now to get adjusted to the "new" economy and we have a great team in place and a top-notch facility. Our expenses and costs are now very consistent, and we have been able to adjust to changing demands from the market while maintaining our margins.

Question: When did you move to Santa Fe and what brought you?

Answer: I moved here in '92 and can't really say what brought me. I found it to be such a beautiful and peaceful place, but cosmopolitan at the same time. Another big factor was that there was opportunity here in my industry and I have found it very easy to advance in my career here. I have always felt lucky to be able to provide a service that I am good at to a community like Santa Fe that really needs that service. It is really nice to be able to live here, making a living doing what I love for almost 20 years now. Santa Fe has provided me with many opportunities, and I am very thankful for that.

Question: What's your impression of Santa Fe as a place to do business?

Answer: Santa Fe and New Mexico in general aren't very business friendly, in my opinion. I would like to see that change, though, and hope to be a part of it by growing a business here and maintaining high standards. I think that in general, businesses are not made to feel welcome by the state and local governments. There are many impediments to doing business here and not as many incentives as there are in other places. It's also a relatively small market with a lot of seasonal shoppers, which makes for a somewhat inconsistent business cycle. When you add to that the difficulty of finding talented employees and a sometimes obstructionist state and city government, it can make for a frustrating experience at times. On the other hand, it is a wide-open market with a nice percentage of higher net-worth customers and less competition than you will find in larger cities. A smaller pond makes it easier to be a big fish.

Constellation Home Electronics is in two buildings — 215 and 220 N. Guadalulpe St., on the city's northeast side. One building is a showroom, the other the company's service center. For more information, call 983-9988 or visit www.constellationsantafe.com.