Inspired by Economics

I live in a town of about 50,000 people. I moved here about 2 years ago from Phoenix Arizona and I have to say life is pretty different here. Besides the culture shock of being in a smaller town, there was a lack of selection in regards to shopping. What you see is what you get unless you want to drive an hour and a half to the next major city. I constantly cringed at having to shop in the only two grocery stores in town. They were horribly over-crowded and filled with exhausted and overwhelmed employees. I heard they were the highest grossing stores for those chains in the entire state. Well no wonder. When you have to buy groceries, what other options to you have?

Rumors circled and council members did everything they could to prevent Super Walmart from opening. But economics prevailed and consumer demand won out over politics. I suspected the prices at both stores were inflated. It was always so crowded, there was hardly room to maneuver your cart. They were making bank.

Super Walmart opened up less than a week ago and I already see the impact. I went into one of the grocery stores today and found something amazing had happened. The store was cleaner, the carts were all put away and the prices were lower. I smiled. One has got to appreciate how economics keeps the playing field level.

Anytime economics is tampered with, the consumer loses. Government entities trying to protect small businesses, only end up hurting them more. They become ill prepared for when the large corporations move into town. They close up shop and good people lose out. It doesn’t have to be this way. There is a place in the market for every company. If not, then that company is no longer servicing the needs of the consumer and needs to dissolve anyway. Focus on the customer and they will come back, time and time again. Have outstanding customer service, sell brands the other stores don’t, and pay attention to the bottom line and the little man can survive.

Change is difficult but unstoppable. Welcome it, embrace it and find a way to prevail. It inspires me to accept the changes in my own life. Accepting what is to be and releasing what has been. Keep looking forward and use the lessons learned from the past to direct your future.