Independents Get Weird to Compete--RetailWire Weighs In

RetailWire is a great website for retail consultants and retailers. One of today's discussions is on the same general "Keep [fill in city and state here] Weird" campaign that I commented on last week. They also have a link to the campaign in Raleigh.

It's worth reading through the comments (you might have to register) as some people have made some good ones, like this:

-----If I were to create the campaign, I would shine a bright light on the fact that these businesspeople differentiate themselves by giving the customer time and solutions. Their operations feature caring personnel that take the time to try to satisfy the customer's purpose for being in the store. This is true of the little hardware store we frequent, the "gourmet" grocery and a local bookstore where we look forward to shopping.

and this -----I divide independents into two classes - let's call them the "good" and the "bad". In the good category is my local 15,000 square foot hardware store, which is big enough to find what you need and able to compete with Home Depot by having very knowledgeable staff. In the bad category was a local IGA - just out of business - which never could understand that, with higher prices and smaller assortment, they needed to be a couple of levels better on customer service. Instead, they closed up shop and blamed it on an inhospitable landlord. Also in the good category is a local group of entrepreneurs who bought an abandoned downtown theater, refurbished it to the hilt, and now show art movies. The old line independents are just hanging on hoping retirement comes before bankruptcy, while the new thinking independents are looking for unmet needs and serving customers well.