'EXPERTS' KEEP EYE ON ECONOMY SMALL FIRMS IN THE KNOW.

Byline: Brent Hopkins Staff Writer

You don't need a doctorate in international finance to figure out what's going on with the economy - just talk to Sally Bryant.

Bryant, one of the family owners of Quality Pet Shop on Balboa Boulevard in Van Nuys, has the economic future of the United States down to a science, one you won't find taught in the halls of academia or hear bandied about on Wall Street.

``When the economy goes bad, people don't seem to want to buy any dog bones or play-toys,'' she said. ``They say pet stores do OK no matter how bad the economy goes, because people love their animals as much as their kids. But if they don't have money for a bone, they won't buy it.''

These are the nuances picked up running a small business, not as fancy as an analyst's chart or a Wall Street broker's portfolio, but just as accurate a gauge as any. Bryant can speak with authority, too - her family has been running the business since her father bought the wrong canary for her mother way back in 1958. After trying to swap for a more musical male bird, he became intrigued with the business and they've been at it ever since.

Bryant and her mother, Betty Landress, have all the keen business acumen it takes to stay afloat, but they've picked up the little things over the years to keep them competitive in the face of corporate big-box retailers. Landress can rattle off the latest news of the Fed's activities as quickly as any market watcher, but she also knows to keep an eye on the customer, rather than the latest news from Wall Street.

``We've been in the business so long that we can give good service to everyone who comes in,'' she said, a symphony of birds chirping in the background. ``Bigger stores can't always hire a qualified staff like that.''

As the savvy small-business owner knows, that good service goes a long way, keeping customers coming even when the economy is rocky. And knowledge like that keeps businesses alive.

George Kaye, owner of Kaye's Music Scene in Reseda, isn't shaking just yet over news of a jumpy stock market. After 31 years of selling electric guitars and drum kits, he's noticed an alternate way of financial forecasting.

``In the past, I often see that when the economy goes bad, people get more heavily into playing an instrument,'' he said. ``They don't have discretionary funds to go see a movie, but if they have $100, they can buy an inexpensive guitar and take lessons.

``Some people will actually invest in the lessons or a video, because it's something they can do at home and isn't too expensive. They have a new hobby that doesn't cost as much.''

And though people might be willing to spend on a new hobby, they cut down in other areas. Victor Tekmar of Shammy's Market, Deli and Grocery in Woodland Hills doesn't need Alan Greenspan to tell him that times are tough.

``People can't party, so they just buy food,'' he said. ``No beer, no wine. People buy only to live.''

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Photo: (color) Sally Bryant and Betty Landress say their store, Quality Pet Shop in Van Nuys, doesn't sell nearly as many dog bones or other non- necessities when the economy's in the doldrums.

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer