The Personal, the Political, and the Economic
A Small Victory has quite a discussion about WalMart vs Target. Here is my take cross posted in her comments:I just can't go to WalMart. I saw a business documentary on PBS (can't find it now) some years ago that told a glowing story about Sam's "brilliant marketing plan." It involved putting in a WalMart every 10 miles or so along an interurban highway and then, when every Mom and Pop hardware store, dress store, grocer, shoe store, etc. went out of business, selling the WalMarts off 'til there was only one every 50 or so miles.
Wow, I thought. That's just wrong. Who would do such a thing? And who would let some PBS types make a documentary about it for everyone to see? Can't be right... Or *right*...
Then I watched them do it right here in NoCal. Repetedly.
I've made a few friends going only to local stores. And I feel a part of a community, even tho this is just a "bedroom community" lately. And in the long run, things are not more expensive because the relationships I have with the local merchants seem to include a "friend discount." I rarely pay the price marked on the shelf. It just comes up cheaper when I check out.
Victory also has a poll about male vs female bloggers. Something to contemplate.
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