I know what shoes I like, and I have them resoled by the factories, part of why I buy a quality shoe.
For years I would go retail stores to buy, until I found Zappos. Zappos was just bought by Amazon, which is a stock we own at www.bluechipoptions.com
When I order from Zappos they pay the freight, there and back. It gets here the next day. Returning something is easy.
Why would I go to a retailer? The price is lower (same shoe, less distribution cost), the shoes come the next day, and I don't have to go to the store. In fact, the store has less choices of shoes.
Of interest, Zappos has most every shoe in the world, but not Johnston and Murphy. This company chose, 100 years ago, to be a "factory direct" product, with their products only sold at their stores, and/or through their catalog or website. They've struggled with the model in recent times.
My point is simple. The entire way we do business in this country, and in the world, is changing.
The models we as consumers know are changing, and the models of HOW we consume are.
Money has become a world currency, whether one or not, of STUFF.
Prices are known, ending an age old tradition of published prices that assured margins, and a business society in which doing a profit and loss by job, a key to manufacturing, can almost assure most manufacturers they are going broke, as they now make their net net earnings from rebates earned from manufacturers for selling their goods, and more products are sold at cost.
The vehicles that drive these changes will make money long term. This is what we must learn.
When Amazon reinvents how books are read with the Kindle, a major change and shift in society takes place, but it does not mean Amazon could be with winner in the game, but perhaps only the "change maker".
All I know is that I am astounded by Zappos. I am truly a satisfied customer, and wouldn't enter a retail store for shoes again.
