CNN Opinion recently had an article with the title "Will 'showrooming' kill businesses?" by Bob Greene. This is a very legitimate concern for brick and mortar retailers but is there a hidden opportunity in there? The owners of the store that pays rent and utilities, insurance and utilities, is actually having customers driven to their store by the internet retailers. I know from my experience and observations, sometimes you just want to see the item. I want to see the quality and features it may have. The opportunity here is I am standing in the store looking at the item. The clerks walk by me like I don't exist. I'll bet you $100 I can go in 5 Best Buy stores in the Los Angeles area today and in 4 of them, I am never spoken to by anyone unless I initiate the conversation. I know I speak highly of Starbucks, but when I get anywhere near the counter, someone gives me a very good … [Read more...]
