Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Walmart: 1900

The real, the vital count against the department store is that it viciously demoralizes values in the public mind. It is immoral to sell a book, or a pair of shoes, or a handkerchief, as a bargain, so low that if everything were sold on the same basis you would go into bankruptcy. Whatever reductions in prices come from lucky purchasing, from better system, from clever advertising, is legitimate and proper. But every article ought to bear its fair share of all fixed expenditures, and carry a- margin of profit as well.
--From American druggist and pharmaceutical record--

 Department stores are shells of their former greatness, but small stores are still around complaining about the next new retail trend that is going to put them out of business.

3 comments:

chickelit said...

Department stores are shells of their former greatness, but small stores are still around complaining about the next new retail trend that is going to put them out of business.

Medicine and law will be next.
We need more Law-Marts and Rx-Marts, at least for the routine stuff that everybody should have.

Trooper York said...

The thing about having a store is if you have something people want, they will buy it. Recession or not. It could be donuts or pastry or sausages or plus size clothes.
If people like what you are selling you can make a living.

Trooper York said...

What you have to sell in a small store is more personalized service and a friendly atmosphere.

We recently had a new customer who was used to shopping at departments stores. She took the clothes into the dressing room and when she was done trying them on she threw them on the floor.

My wife almost decked her.