Tweet

Big Box Backlash - In Reverse

Written by: Zachary Conen

Article Overview: Why are ubiquitous "big box" retailers and service providers taking over the landscape and thriving. Because, at the very least, they pick up the phone when you call. One would think that "Mom & Pop" would provide great service...but sometimes they are asleep at the switchboard.

Big Box Backlash - In Reverse

To paraphrase (and mangle at the same time) Shakespeare, I write not to bury Home Depot and its kind, but to praise them. Unlike many screeds of this nature decrying the “strip-mall-ification" of America and the related decline of "Main Street" proprietors, I'm casting a vote in favor of this trend based on one simple factor. There's always someone there when I call.and they're always home.

Believe me, this was not a conclusion that I arrived at easily...nor that I am comfortable with. I have long been of the school of thought that chain stores, malls and - to some degree - the internet, have sucked the personality out of even the most staunchly individualistic and culturally-rich communities. (Look honey - Starbucks, Borders and Best Buy! Are we in Des Moines or Dakar?) Faced with the choice between Martha Stewart and "Mom & Pop," I would choose the latter every time. If I could, I would get an all-purpose "guy" to do my lawn, my dental work and my taxes.

But something happened. I called Mom & Pop.and no one answered. I left a message.and no one called back. My backyard fence fell down two weeks ago - literally - and I reached out to a local guy. I actually spoke to him on the phone and he said he'd swing by, eyeball it up and give me a quote via email. Despite three pleading phone messages, I haven't heard from him since. He literally drove me into the waiting, and, more importantly, available arms of Lowe's to get a quote. Why - because they were there.

That's the threshold of what makes me happy as a consumer these days. Call me back. Be there. Seem like you care. If Main Street America is worried about being squashed by the "big box" - who are all at least addressing these issues, if not solving them - let this serve as the first piece of advice in your plan to fight back.

Call me back. Please.

Related Articles
  Lesson #5: Be Clear About Who You Are
  How to Determine if Your Sales Process is Effective
  You Can't Sell Anybody Anything… Until They Discover They Want It!
  Sales Training London: You Can't Sell Anybody Anything Until They Discover They Want It
  The two things that kill marketing creativity

Article Tags: backyard fence, best buy, dakar, dental work, des moines, eyeball, home depot, lowe s, mangle, martha stewart, paraphrase, phone messages, piece of advice, proprietors, rich communities, school of thought, screeds, starbucks, strip mall, time shakespeare



Related Forum Posts
Book: Comeback Moms - Comeback Moms: How to Leave Work, Raise Children, and Restart your Career even If you Haven't Had a Job in Years Monica Samuels and J. C. Conklin 2006 Jacket: Millions of educated, professional women are quitting their jobs to stay home and raise their children. That would never be you, right? You worked hard for your degree and even harder to get to this point in your career. Quitting now, even for a few years, would kill your career, right? That's what Monica Samuels thought when she found out she was pregnant... Over 60 percent of professional women who leave work to raise children want to get back into the workforce someday. If you even think you might want to go back to work, be it in one year or twenty, you need to lay the groundwork now for a successful reentry or your options will be limited. 1. Quitting: When is the best time to cut the cord 2. Feathering the nest: How to financially prepare before you quit 3. Departure strategies: leaving the office 4. Money and Power: Constructing a new life on the home front 5. Backlash: handling family, friends and angry strangers 6. One foot in, one foot out: How can they miss you if you don't really go away? 7. Part time: It ain't perfect, but it's doable 8. Going back: the when and how of returning to work full time 9. Career counseling: When you need a change 10. Entrepreneurs: True Stories Resources Index


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Getting The Media Attention You Deserve

Starting a Business with Bad Personal Credit

Why Small Businesses Don't Survive

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.