What's up with Lakes Region Merchants?

[sky_nh]

Originally Posted by Argie's Wife

Funny thing... we got by ok back then, ya know. Our groceries and clothing were bought and our gas tanks were full. Most of our stuff was made in America, too. We knew the names of the store owners or the employees and they knew our names. Credit for purchases were on a 3"x5" card kept by the cash register. Sunday afternoons weren't for shopping - they were for going for a drive or a family outing. We didn't mind the stores were closed.

Sadly, times change and retailers need to change with them. Back in the day most women did not work and there was time to get to the store during the day. Now, most women work in order to allow us to make ends meet. In the meantime, many local retailers have not changed their hours to reflect the new reality.

I teach graduate marketing and advertising classes. Every term I ask my students about local retailers and what they can do to survive in a changing marketing landscape. Most of these "kids" have grown up shopping online, checking out products and pricing online, and expecting 24/7 convenience.

For most of them local retailers don't have a clue, are stuck in the past, and try to make consumers feel guilty because they shop in chain stores and online. They don't use modern communications tools like social media, email marketing, and web sites to reach out to current customers and win new customers. That's not the way to win someone's business.

It's sad to think that the days of the mom and pop local store could be gone forever. I hope not.

Sky