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Could you share your thoughts about local shopping?

Essenobi_

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Most retailers keep track of inventory and in today's world most of that tracking is done on a computer with the help of a software program. There is technology available (though patented) that would allow retailers to upload that inventory to the world wide web which would allow customers to shop for products at a local store just as easily as they might shop at an online store. Therefore in addition to being able to order a product online they would also have the option of going to a store nearby and picking that item up in person.

Unfortunately this technology has not been adopted by a large majority of retail stores. As a consumer, would you like this additional option of being able to search for products and merchandise to be made available to you? If yes, how do you think something like this would affect your shopping habits? If no, why not?
 

Cary Grant

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Advertising costs money.
Bricks and mortar stores cost money.
Word of mouth is what keeps the local store going.

Mass-merchandizing has made it very challenging for the little guy (note this started in the 1800's). Centralized distribution is a big deal.

Most consumers don't shop the types of clothes being discussed in this forum. Unless you are in New York, Tokyo or similarly large city with enough client base in your niche, good luck.

Local stores can survive when they find their niche, mind it to the nth degree, and provide outstanding customer service- that will keep people coming back and talking it up.

Fashion brands make a few hundred or maybe a few thousand of an item... unlike say, a toaster... for which they make them in lots of thousands per buyer.
 

Essenobi_

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Thanks for the feedback and I appreciate the points you mentioned, I definitely didn't think of a few of those. I went back and changed the question, if you have time could you give me feedback on the new way I posed it? In my mind they sound like the same question, but I think this one gives more background info as to why I posed the question in the first place. (for anyone else reading this post you might not know what I'm talking about)
 

swiego

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Small business owners don't have the time nor budget to track the location and availability of every item they own on the internet. Nor do many of them want to do such a thing, because it would permit the creation of a large database in which their wares would be priced directly against other distributors and the lowest price would always win. Many smaller local shops survive, to be blunt about it, on the relative and happy ignorance of their customers about what bargains could be achieved elsewhere. Most owners of such shops are well aware of this and the last thing they will want to do is get into an online price war.
 

Essenobi_

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thanks swiego, the technology I was referring to doesn't require the retailer to do anything outside of what they normally do when they scan in inventory so i'm not sure about the "time and budget" arguement; however, I had never thought about it from the other point-of-view you brought up, pricing competition. I'll be sure to bring that up in future discussions with retailers to see how they feel about the potential competition that would arise from the larger database you spoke of.
 

Eccentric

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To answer the original post, the biggest problem in my area is the lack of selection. The best shoes I can buy locally are Cole Haan, hence I buy elsewhere. For suiting and sportswear, Hart Shaffner Marx is the best I can hope for, and that is at Dillards. The nicest jacket I have seen for sale in my city was RLPL at a consignment shop, and it wasn't even in my bloody size! I can't help but be discouraged, even if the selection is fine for most people.
 

Essenobi_

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hey Eccentric, thank you for your feedback as well and the examples you provided helped a lot as well ... i'll have to look into how the lack of selection affects people's local shopping experience as well, hopefully a solution to that problem will arise too
 

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