Consumers Too Bored to Shop
By George Anderson
According to The New York Times, “Many pollsters and analysts blame the recent holiday retailing debacle – one of the most disappointing seasons in at least 10 years – on the inability of merchants to set themselves apart from their competition and generate enough excitement to make customers leave their houses and spend.”
Moderator’s Comment: Do you agree with the Times that
the reason consumers do not shop more is that they see all stores as essentially
the same?
Lack of identity (or a poor perception) may explain why
some retailers do not excel. It is not correct, however, to assert that consumers
have stopped shopping. The numbers simply don’t support the assertion. (See
RW, Forget What You Heard/Read,
Business Is Good) [George
Anderson – Moderator]
