I am not an economist; I am a regular person trying to figure out the mess we're in as best I can. The one thing I have consistently noticed is that the bankruptcies and closures have followed the same pattern as the banks. All of these companies were based on the bigger the better, the let's-gobble-up-other-companies mandate in their rush to become a behemoth. And in every circumstance, this build-up was based on an inverted pyramid. There was no foundation; these companies, whether department stores or product companies, were increasingly top-heavy. And the companies were all skating on thin ice for some time.
Perhaps the good news in all of this is that finally there can be a return to the smaller independent store and the smaller manufacturer. Boutique and independent stores need one thing only - customers. Yes, that's an important piece of the puzzle, but it's a simple mathematical formula. Eliminating much of the behemoth competition is a good thing for the small guns, as it can bring a return of customers.
The crucial part is that customers need to take the initiative, support the independents - and BUY!
Likewise, hand-crafters and small manufacturers (like us) have low overhead so can basically chug out the bad times. And they usually have better customer service. Broken Heart Dolls is small, but our pyramid is sound and stable - as is the case with most other small manufacturers and hand-crafters.
The simple dynamic is three-fold: boutique stores support small manufacturers, and customers support boutique stores. Bring a mix to the marketplace and override the conglomerates.
So Customers Unite! Let's hear it for the small stores and manufacturers! Break the tyranny of the conglomerates that have helped get us in this mess to begin with.
Let's hear it for the return of the small guns!
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