« Upscale Wal-Mart? | Main | Everyone's Space »
Thursday, August 31, 2006
The 'Small-Mart' movement
Source: Fortune
Photo by TheCoco via Flickr
Nationwide local groups are forming to fight against big box stores like Wal-Mart. The groups cite the "de-globalizing" effects of rising energy costs, inefficiencies of global distribution, consumer desire for personalization and the growing loyalty of workers to small, local firms. But it's a balance. Too much localism could lead down the slippery slope of protectionism…"slamming the door on exports from poor countries and hindering their efforts to grow." And "buy local" doesn't work so well when you want to buy a TV or an iPod or use Google. But it sure does work for food. Go buy some local tomatoes.
Posted by mwelch at 11:40 AM
