I was asked to read an
article that appeared in the New York Times, the most influential newspaper in
print in the World, although not asked for a reply, I decided to do it anyway.
Please read the
article, and then my short commentary;
My comments:
Amazon.com is a giant
with an enormous foot print, a running gate and speed of an athlete and out to
accomplish their goals, whatever they are. They are methodical and patient.
They will continue forward in their quest to dominate the markets.
Many people are
threatened by Amazon's ambitions and many business will failed because
Amazon.com accomplishment, but they are only using the same tools and their
business philosophy is not much different than most of the other capitalist,
growth-without-mercy companies operating in the Global market Today.
I've been in business
since 1971 and do remember the appeals from smaller retail stores no to sell to
larger chains and catalogs companies stetting up to dominate the market. I do
remember larger suppliers resisting to sell to the "monsters" that
would consume their smaller clients on their way up and task to dominate the
market.
I also remember the
failure of Eddie Bauer when it tried to expand to too many new markets....
Now, what did I learn,
and I assume that most of the suppliers learn from it? By adapting to the new
trends, by accepting that the large chains and box stores were dominant, and
here to stay, by finding a cooperative way to work with the
"big-foot(s)" we all could expand and not being stepped and/or
trumped by the giant.
That is all I have to
say. Look back in history and you will discover that I am right and that
the names of these gargantuan businesses are very well known to us, and some of
the less adept to changes have failed.
Mountain N' Air Books,
ourselves have survived many business changes, trends and economical pressures.
Many of our suppliers, fellow distributors and publisher have succumbed or
given up to the pressures of new challenges.
