Can We Please Teach the Underdog New Tricks?

hey is this gary cause i accidently sent corked to corked and the girls or who ever recieved it metioned oh the wine dramais getting so bad you know i just had a friend request form a chick in conn who claims to ve from italy and distributes wines.i [pressd ignore delete what ever i am loyal when i finally get monsy your my wine guys ok

Interesting blog. A couple of things pop into my mind immediately. Are you old enough to know the history of this small grocery store? Walmarts come along and DESIMATE small businesses in their wake. How badly can a Walmart desimate a small business with their buying power and their ability to cater to lazy people who don't want to go to different kinds of stores you ask? Enough for small businesses to BARELY be able to pay rent, let alone replace all the flourescent bulbs. Enough to not be able to even buy all the groceries they would like to sell. The people they buy groceries from have minimums. Enough for them to have to jack the prices sky high to make up for the incredible drop in their walk-in traffic when Walmart moves next door. Now this is just the grocery section of Walmart. Imagine what the auto parts section has done to the local auto parts store. What has the Walmart sports section done to the local sporting good store? Appliances? Electronics? Sporting Goods? Opticians? Pharmacy? and it goes on and on and on. All of these Walmart departments have a local-business counterpart that gets HAMMERED. The owners of these establishments end up behind on rent, firing employees, having decreased volume-based buying power, get behind on home bills and rent and can't afford to renovate.
It was WAY better when there were several small businesses that competed against each other with service, quality, selection and price. The consumer always won and the only ones that went out of business were the ones that were slackers. Now PERFECTLY good businesses go to the wayside and the consumers are the big losers too. I dare you to go to a Walmart, buy a bicycle, use it and then when something goes wrong go back to Walmart to see how they can help you. Oh, that's right, you can go to the bike shop for that, right? You know, the bike shop that you didn't buy the bike from and they didn't make a dime on the purchase that didn't exist cause you sold out to Walmart and now the bike shop is struggling themselves and probably won't be around too much longer either. Fuck Walmart.
Now this isn't to say that there are small businesses that would just plain suck with or without a Walmart bye them. There are bad businesses everywhere. But for crying out loud, at least let another business of the same type put them under so the better business could succeed and the end user could win. Walmart takes away from them too as well as the butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker and every other business under the sun. Guess you should have gone to that small grocery store and tried to help them, don't you think? See you guys on Friday for lunch that will be made from your local deli, or do you maybe want me to buy your sub at Walmart and bring the rest of the guys subs from my place? LOL Be well.
p.s. Nice Blog as usual. Vaynermedia has very good blogs. Can't respond to all of them cause most are tech related. I'm a people guy.

The problem is, I don't believe this grocery store had any real history, and it certainly didn't have any real character. I understand that Wal-Mart has huge buying power and can offer products cheaper, but I also believe that even in a rough economy, money isn't always the bottom-line. Stepping away from the poor lighting and lack of selection, why wouldn't this grocery store leverage resources like the university that was 0.2 miles away from it? Why weren't they on Facebook or Twitter?

We all get nostalgic for the small-town, small-business idea, but Wal-Mart really isn't in the wrong. Anyone running Wal-Mart would follow the same strategy they are right now, because it works and it works well. They were a small business once too, but they were smart and innovative. I actually think big-box stores often give small businesses an advantage! It's their time to shine and be unique, make the customer feel wanted which the big guys rarely do.

If I did college all over again, I'd STILL avoid that grocery store because they just weren't trying. I certainly don't want a wal-mart sub over a Great Wazu sub and that's my point! I think the Great Wazu is creative and innovative. You have interesting menu items, a good website that allows me to check out the menu before I go to the store, and a GREAT social network presence. If that grocery store did half the things you do, it would be a different story (and I'm not just saying that because you're bringing us food – see you friday!)

This thought process has great potential. My thinking is if one knows of a solution that would help the little guy stay afloat with the giant, then why not be proactive and go offer your services. Get a group of friends, band together and crush it for the little guy.

See the problem lies in that the store owner may not be current on the true power of social media. Sometimes they need to be shown the alternative route. Just think what you would be doing if you took charge and showed them the way.

I only have a few minutes here…Well Caleb…rather than retort with a lengthly point by point debate I'll say this…Most pre Social Media establishments are JUST NOW getting the grasp that it even exists. Even I have just just begun to grasp it. Gary is the one who started the revolution and its still verrrry young but gaining steam exponentially. Saying that Walmart gives small businesses a time to shine and be unique does have some creedence but when you can get everything from milk to tires to glasses to panty liners under one roof, people tend to go there…and in this rough economy they need to go to the cheapest place to boot. You think they'd go to Walmart if they were loaded? I wouldn't Do I go to Walmart? Begrudgingly, yes because sometimes there is no where else left to go for some items. I don't totally disagree with your points by the way I just like to show the other side so that both parties walk away a little more enlightened afterwards. I do. While it's true that Walmart started out small, I doubt that that a TALLMART moved next door to them where ever they opened up a new location. I'll still stick by my post, overall. Youth sees things from the point of their self awarness to the present. Age has history, the present and a better view of whats going go happen next. That being said….I'D RATHER BE YOUNGER LOLOOLOL….See you guys tomorrow. If Sitmo doesn't call me its gonna be my choice on what to bring…be well…ps. you look just like my son….its scary…………..Gerald

This is a business model I have shown my friend Jeremy Aragon. I will be crushing the hell out of it for little businesses as soon as mine is set up. Not far away. It's definately a bonified career title.

There is little doubt in my mind that you will crush it! Even if one was to fumble just a bit in the beginning the very concept of playing with the “big dog” is enough to light the inner fire. What mom and pop store, if shown the light and becomes a believer, is going to turn their nose up at keeping the doors open and making a living. Small business is the back bone of our country so go and show them the way!!

Best of luck to you and enjoyed the conversation.

Caleb, I wanted to let you know this is a fantastic site. Having seen so many others it's great to find one with great content. Looking forward to other post and glad we could connect here.

Glad you're enjoying the Vaynermedia blog, Steve!

It is my pleasure. My twitter handle is @steveelerick it's a lot easier to reach me using the @steveelerick as many get lost in all the spam. My blog is http://SocialVideoLabs.com I will be following you back. I'm Looking forward to it.