This Week's Herman Trend Alert Purpose Emerging as Important Driver of Engagement

The Herman Trend Alert November 9, 1999 "Big Boxes" on the Web 52 days until January 1, 2000 418 days until January 1, 2001 For years, retail stores were modest in size. Some were general merchandise stores; others were specialized boutiques. Then mass retailers came on the scene. They built huge stores, compared to facilities operated by long-standing retailers in the community. These enormous structures became known as "big boxes," reflecting their size and appearance. Service wasn't equal to standards established by smaller merchants, but the big boxes promised significantly lower prices and larger product selection. Customers were attracted away from merchants they'd patronized happily for years as cost-conscious consumers sought better deals and greater choices. As big boxes invaded town after town, existing retailers attacked their impersonal nature and warned of impending doom. The Wal-Mart Scare forced smaller chains and independents to re-think their strategies to offer products, services, and convenience to combat the foreign scourge. The locals warned the buying public that the big boxes would take their money, give nothing back, and essentially become parasites-sucking the lifeblood out of established businesses and forcing landmark stores to close. They'll fail eventually, merchants warned, but by then familiar merchants will be gone. Indeed, some locals that lacked resilience, creativity, or fortitude did go under. Others thrived as consumers discovered they had choices and decided to shop where they could find knowledgeable clerks, quality merchandise, high levels of service, and companies that cared about their community. The prophecy may be coming true. Some big boxes are closing, leaving large buildings-eyesores and blights on communities. Some big boxes have proven to be wonderful corporate citizens: once-feared Wal-Mart has proven to be a beneficial partner in the communities it serves. Others have indeed become parasites. Now the internet retail world is exploding. Consumers are shopping at the boutiques, the specialty on-line stores. And the big boxes are moving in. Amazon.com is expanding to sell practically everything. Big box mentality at the outer limits. Some mass retailers, like Wal-Mart, will continue to be customer-friendly on-line, even local in their orientation. Watch for the good, the bad, and the ugly in internet retailers. The trend we saw with big boxes will be seen again . . . on-line. © Copyright 1998- by The Herman Group, Inc. -- reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists. (800) 227-3566 or http://www.hermangroup.com. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group, Inc." WHO SENDS OUT YOUR NEWSLETTERS? We are convinced there is no better choice than ours! We have happily used DataBack Systems to deliver The Herman Trend Alert for over 10 years and. Visit their website (http://www.databack.com) or call Byron directly at 503.941.0427. You'll be glad you did. IS YOUR EMPLOYER AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE®? Our effective, onsite seminars, workshops, and consulting can help you get there. We offer 1-, 2-, 3-hour, and full-day programs to help you communicate what it takes to become an Employer of Choice® and inspire your folks to get it done. In the future, being an Employer of Choice® will not be optional. Call Carol at 336-210-3547 to arrange a no-obligation conference call. Or order the electronic version of the Employer of Choice book on your desktop for only $17.80 @ http://hermangroup.com/store/books_all.html#2. STRUGGLING TO FIND THE PEOPLE YOU NEED? VETJOBS CAN HELP! Recently, hundreds of thousands of jobs remain unfilled due to a lack of capable people. If you are looking for qualified candidates, you need to hire a veteran using VFW-sponsored VetJobs, the largest military employment site on the Internet. Thousands of returning veterans are looking for good jobs now. Mention this ad in The Herman Trend Alert and receive a 10% discount on job postings. Call Ted Daywalt at 877-838-5627 or inquire at info@VetJobs.com. Herman Trend Alerts are produced by the Herman Group, strategic business futurists, Certified Management Consultants, authors, and professional speakers. New subscribers are welcome. There is no charge for this public service. The Herman Trend Alert is received by over 30,000 subscribers in 78 countries, in addition to other websites and printed magazines. Do you enjoy receiving this weekly e-mail update? Contact us about our co-branded Trend Alert service. Click here to sign up for the Herman Trend Alert. Subscribe or Unsubscribe to weekly Herman Trend Alert View this week's Herman Trend Alert Archived Weekly Herman Trend Alerts

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