26. In retail, or "storefront," business, location is still a key ingredient of business 2 f* x0 p5 i0 x! x; g& X( j, b4 O
success. The extent to which this will continue to be true, given the inexorable growth
9 i' @9 R% T: }; U6 l$ d. o" Wof Internet commerce, will vary among industries.6 t9 Z' E8 T% m0 L* e8 Q
In more traditional retail sectors, such as clothing, cosmetics, and home ) m! A1 M* n: F+ h' S
improvement, an in-person visit to a retail store is often necessary—to try on clothes for
7 e5 ?, C1 m8 p! U* J) [fit, compare fragrances, or browse among a full selection of textures, colors, and styles.
, Z, a5 E0 ]* U, a: M0 h: }+ ~Also, activities such as shopping and dining out are for many consumers enjoyable
2 v. ?% D2 p! s: nexperiences in themselves, as well as excuses to get out of the house and mingle with 9 e) d9 q- T/ i+ n: [0 ?$ u
others in their community. Finally, shipping costs for large items such as appliances and ) H1 l5 I) P5 n, B% G2 O
home-improvement items render home shopping impracticable. Thus, burgeoning
3 C' n3 E! [/ H J+ k' N' \0 ~ ~technologies pose no serious threat to Main Street, and location will continue to play a
; ~0 W& r* ~1 i# Z' ?4 ^4 y- Q Ppivotal role in the fate of many retail businesses.
/ J0 w' q" L t& e" y Nevertheless, technology-related industries are sure to move away from physical ' K' e9 q0 c( c
storefronts to virtual ones. Products that can be reduced to digital "bits and bites," such # U8 \! o5 b8 {) {) l9 K, B
as books and magazines, recordings, and software applications, are more efficiently : p" u+ U' Z9 Q, Y
distributed electronically. Computer hardware will not disappear from Main Street quite
/ l. [+ z5 @ mso quickly, though, since its physical look and feel enters into the buying decision. & i& X5 `/ l7 }8 ^. U
Computer superstores should continue to thrive alongside companies such as Dell,
% S! S9 u, f ]& u; L1 s- V& b9 N kwhich does not distribute through retail stores.8 q+ N% i" O5 Y" y7 u1 n
In conclusion, consumer demand for convenient location will continue with " s4 C: v8 B- l' t
respect to certain tangible products, while for other products alternative distribution
3 c4 b- f: P, _7 \' ~. i: gsystems will gradually replace the storefront, rendering location an obsolete issue.- |
发表于 2012-8-15 21:50:16
