dpb wrote:
benick wrote:

"dpb" wrote in message
...
benick wrote:
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Not to hijack the thread but if the local business can't compete you
are only prolonging the agony..Their are plenty of ways for locals
to remain competive , starting a co-op to increase buying power ,
diversefing products , providing more advice ,being open on the
weekends ect. ,ect..

OTOH, if locals simply get into the habit of either going online or
out of town routinely, it doesn't matter what the local merchant
does, either.

As for the "agony" part, one soon can learn what real agony is when
there no longer is a local grocery, pharmacy, whatever, entirely.

At that point most gladly admit they should have been more aggressive
in supporting local merchants but it's too late.

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If the reason local folk "get in the habit" of going online or out to
the outskirts to Walmart ,Sears,Target , Cosco , Homedepot , Lowes
,Walgreens , Best Buy , or the mall , ect. is because said local
merchant isn't OPEN , doesn't have the inventory or is more expensive ,

...
That isn't necessarily the only reason at all...often it is simply a
habit that has become engrained or an attempt to save a few pennies by
avoiding local/state sales taxes; meanwhile actually spending as much or
more in either travel or shipping.

I used to live in a smaller community just down the road a half-hour
from a larger place--as just one example, people regularly complained
about lack of places to eat in town. Yet, now matter how many attempted
to cater to that demand over a 10-15 year period, the persistent habits
were never overcome and none managed to survive and yet people continued
to complain there was "nowhere in town" when it was definitely not true.
The same phenomenon occurred in other retail trades as well.


The biggest thing that locals have to contend with is few people
actually pause to think. They let all of the big box whatever marketing
do it for them. You could do a great job but the big outfits can buy
mindshare.

My friends' brother owns a local appliance shop. He is part of a co-op
so he is quite competitive. He and his staff are quite knowledgeable and
will do whatever extra it takes. They also open long hours just like big
box. The problem is big box tells everyone how wonderful they are with
constant marketing and folks simply drive the extra 10 miles to the mall
because locals "must be evil".

Or the local deli in my town. It is a true evil mom & pop place. They
make real soup instead of pouring it out of a bucket and make great subs
on really nice quality rolls baked by a local Italian bakery. I mention
the place whenever I have an opportunity and the usual answer is "but it
isn't subway.." When I think of subway I think consistent mediocrity.
Marketing tells another story.




And again, I'm looking at it from the viewpoint of smaller communities
that are, indeed, distant from other markets/larger communities where it
isn't just another couple of blocks down the street to the next
SuperCenter instead of Target or whatever.

If people aren't willing to support their neighbors and communities,
they can't complain when their community no longer can support the
amenities they would like.

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