http://www.specialty-retail-blog.com/blog/2009/06/28/our-culture-has-changed/ A blog on retail issues, by retail consultants Fri, 23 Apr 2010 00:17:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 http://www.specialty-retail-blog.com/blog/2009/06/28/our-culture-has-changed/#comment-635 Evan Wise Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:48:15 +0000 http://www.specialty-retail-blog.com/blog/2009/06/28/our-culture-has-changed/#comment-635 Ted I hope you are right but it is way too soon to tell. We try to look at all possibilities so that our clients are the first to adapt to both temporary and permanent changes. Every crisis changes Americans in various ways and to a different extent. A lot of people have been affected by this recession and many others are fearful. The fear will dissipate. The changes will be overcome. The changes to the psyche, propensity for risk, and even consumerism are difficult to know right now. Thanks for commenting. Let's get back together in 5 years and look at what has and hasn't changed. Evan Wise Ted
I hope you are right but it is way too soon to tell. We try to look at all possibilities so that our clients are the first to adapt to both temporary and permanent changes. Every crisis changes Americans in various ways and to a different extent. A lot of people have been affected by this recession and many others are fearful. The fear will dissipate. The changes will be overcome. The changes to the psyche, propensity for risk, and even consumerism are difficult to know right now. Thanks for commenting. Let’s get back together in 5 years and look at what has and hasn’t changed.
Evan Wise

]]> http://www.specialty-retail-blog.com/blog/2009/06/28/our-culture-has-changed/#comment-632 Ted Hurlbut Mon, 29 Jun 2009 02:21:31 +0000 http://www.specialty-retail-blog.com/blog/2009/06/28/our-culture-has-changed/#comment-632 I always stop for a second when I start reading about a change in paradigm. I feel like we're swinging on a pendulum, with "luxury" on one extreme and "value" on another. Yes, the customer is extremely cautious, we're still bumping along the bottom, and the recovery when it comes is likely to be a slow and gradual process. But the fundamental nature of the American consumer hasn't changed, because that's grounded in basic American qualities. We're innnative, resourceful, optimistic, enterprising and aspirational, to the core. This will pass, most likely not quickly, but I really doubt that it represents a permanent cultural change. We're a consumer society, and have been for decades. Let's recognize that the steps we are taking now as retailers are necessary to respond to the current situation. It doesn't necessarily mean that this is the way they're going to be ten years from now, five years from now, or even two years from now. I always stop for a second when I start reading about a change in paradigm. I feel like we’re swinging on a pendulum, with “luxury” on one extreme and “value” on another. Yes, the customer is extremely cautious, we’re still bumping along the bottom, and the recovery when it comes is likely to be a slow and gradual process. But the fundamental nature of the American consumer hasn’t changed, because that’s grounded in basic American qualities. We’re innnative, resourceful, optimistic, enterprising and aspirational, to the core. This will pass, most likely not quickly, but I really doubt that it represents a permanent cultural change. We’re a consumer society, and have been for decades. Let’s recognize that the steps we are taking now as retailers are necessary to respond to the current situation. It doesn’t necessarily mean that this is the way they’re going to be ten years from now, five years from now, or even two years from now.

]]>