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So many shops; so little variation. How?

mydogminton

Posted by mydogminton about 1 year ago
Last active about 1 year ago 8 responses

Yo!

I haven’t spent much time of the logistics or economics of this, BUT….

How do so many shops selling identical produce survive? I’m sure there are thousands of examples around but fried chicken and “corner shops” spring to mind as the cliched, obvious ones.

On the 4 minute walk along the main road between Tooting Broadway and the turning down my road, there are now 6 shops selling dodgy alcohol, unidentifiable vegetables and huge sacks of onions/spices/frozen fish. How the hell do they all manage to survive? Some of them within spitting distance of each other (some of the local alchies seem to have verified this). Same with KFC imposters.

I know there’s a lot of people in London and all that but I really am surprised and perplexed at how so many, ostensibly identical, shops survive. There almost seems a shop per hundred people or so which surely can’t work out financially.

Does anyone know anyone who runs one of these? Are any of them really there in the cold light of day?

Oh. And what’s the proper name for the bit at the back of your knees?

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8 responses

Ian

Supply and demand is the boring and yet factual answer. Corporate giants have marketed their wares to the awaiting masses who have lapped them up and can’t get enough! I work for a FTSE250 retailer who are about to open their 7th shop on Oxford Street alone!! It upsets me that independents can’t afford to compete which inevitably leads to less choice rather than more (which is what the big conglomerates would have you believe when they’re “slashing” prices”)

Have a read of “No Logo” by Naomi Klein or “Culture Jam” by Kalle Lasn – they do a far better job of explaining the phenomenon than I ever could. Basically, the majority of the general public in the western world have been seduced and hypnotised by the marketing men of conglomerate America.

I’ve had one too many glasses of wine and am feeling brave! I will now duck for cover and stand to be corrected…

Posted about 1 year ago by Ian

mydogminton

Yeah. I’ve read no-logo and I can understand (and hate) the cluster approach of just swamping an area with your stalls so that the competition goes out of business. The particular example I’m thinking of are little, independant cornershop-type things and I jsut don’t understand how there’s enough business spread between them to keep them all open.

But I guess I’ve just answered my own question there. Clearly there is enough and it’s fairly well spread!

Posted about 1 year ago by mydogminton

themanwhofellasleep

Yes. I think that’s the answer.

Someone should open up a shop that only sells things that other shops don’t sell: crisps in the shape of Hitler, piss-flavoured washing up liquid, vinegar paste, walls, hot dog dildos etc.

And then you should see if the shop is a roaring success or not.

Posted about 1 year ago by themanwhofellasleep

rhodri

We must live fairly proximitous to each other. I was astonished when yet ANOTHER Sri Lankan restaurant opened up a few weeks back. But, incredibly, it’s busy. I’ve also got a theory that a lot of the Sri Lankan shops have the same owners. Yes, there are a lot of them. But then again, there’s a lot of Sri Lankans.

Posted about 1 year ago by rhodri

flippypremium

Google fails me, which leads me to the conclusion that it’s called “the back of the knee”. If you shout loud enough, maybe you can get it named ‘mydogminton’.

I now know all the internet has to teach me about Baker’s cysts, if that’s of any use.

Posted about 1 year ago by flippy

Mockernee

It’s got a name, it’s the popliteal fossa, sorry.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popliteal_fossa

Posted about 1 year ago by Mockernee

flippypremium

I bow to your superior skills!

Posted about 1 year ago by flippy

mydogminton

Good stuff Mocker-knee.

I’ll get my coat.

Posted about 1 year ago by mydogminton