OT interesting article about Wal-Mart

[632 Regal]

I own a small printshop, I live in a small town with small businesses. Whenever some store thinks theyll corner the market closing all the local yokles out it seems that the whole town boycotts them and goes in flocks to the small mom n pop stores.

Typical example; ace hardware moves in (chain store) and trys to draw all the bus. from the local Thompsons hardware (Ed & Arlene), most the people that go to Thompsons buy stuff they dont even need at the moment to show support. Ace loses money over the years and scaled down and raises prices above Ed & Arlene's...who wins? Everyone but the conglomerate that tried to change a small town.

Who supports me? all the locals including the small little hardware store that you can get anything within a day and will personally help you through your projects (using your name) and asking how it turned out the next time you stop in. Kinda like I run my own place, courteous and helpful, make a living but will point out where my customers can save money, even if it sends them to Office Max. All in the best interest of people, not conglomerates. Wouldnt it be nice when you need to get or order something and walk in the door and you get greeted with your name? Even when you havent been there for months? I think it's coolies.

My logic has always been off the beaten path but thats how I feel about it.

Kinda like the old board? J/K, I still know your names.

[DueyT]

This will be interesting!

The "associtates" at the Wal-Marts in Quebec are working on unionizing to conform to Quebec's labour code! This will be a good one to watch, folks. Maybe it will lay the ground work to take the "Wal-Mart" brothers down a notch, to a more humble position?

http://www.ufcw832.mb.ca/spec-4.html

Cheers,
Duey

[AllanS]

I think print shops will always be locally owned/operated, because Kinko's doesn't really want to have 9 different maintenance contracts on Fieries and a big press in the back. That's not what they're in business for.

Now, around me, Ace Hardware is the small local hardware store- it's a franchise, yes, but it's about 900x smaller than Home Depot up the road, and more resembles a typical local store than a real franchise. I hate HD with a passion, and luckily have little reason to shop there- if I need something asap, I go to Ace or Dill's (semi local chain in NY), or I order it from McMaster Carr.

[632 Regal]

I was in the big city, never ever go back. I'll move further and further till im non existant if I have to.

[AllanS]

I wouldn't go so far as to call Brewster NY a city, but it's slowly getting there.