Tizz Guisti has been designing, cutting, sewing and selling lovely evening dresses at the same location on Queen Street East in Leslieville for the past five years.

Just a little over a half year ago, he was so busy he had to turn away customers who wanted custom made dresses.  Today, he's struggling to make ends meet after an economic downswing that's taken a huge chunk out of his pockets. 

When times are tough, people just aren't forking over money for fancy dresses.  

Tizz's dresses sell for up to $500, and he used to sell 4-6 a week.  These days he's lucky to sell one or two in the same time span.

On Wednesday he put on the first sale in his store's history. 

"It's hard for me to have a sale because it cuts into my profit margins," he admits.

"The regulars are saying that they will wear last year's dress.  Instead of ordering four dresses this Christmas season, they will only order one.  They've cut back, people have cut back."