In a shopping centre, as in a high street situation, small business competitors usually respect each other so that each business grows. I have experienced a situation recently where a competitor retailer in the greeting card category has moved their outpost to within a few metres of the front of one of my newsagencies. This makes me less inclined to consider them before selecting products or undertaking marketing. While the landlord has played some role in facilitating this, the retailer has the ultimate decision as to whether trade in n outpost location or not.
It has surprized me that a chain ala Calendar Club haven’t done this anyway. Cards, if volume is there, can carry as much margin as Calendars and the outposts could be brought in a 2 week block. Not telling anyone how to do it but with times such as they are someone will break the unwritten rule in ethics.
This retailor may see it as a last opportunity to grab quick cash flow dollars before things get tight in June July. We have similar issues with a fellow retailor, dialogue is a waste of time as their motivation is no different from us, survive the next quarter, next month, next week. It is how we do this is the key. Ethics may also not have a role. But you still have to face people when you come back out the other side.
Mark
If you can find out how long this is going to be happening it could determine your decision making process.
What does this mean “This makes me less inclined to consider them before selecting products or undertaking marketing”
Brad’s comments reminded me on how most of us think about how to survive another day.
Also his comment “It is how we do this is the key” is very wise!
I’m fighting a similar one here, flower sellers on the side of the road are illegal in Qld, have been for years but it is never policed. I’m selling flowers for Mothers Day but find I’m cometing with fly by nighters who have no shopfront, no insurance, no nothing sitting on the side of the road in front of the shopping centre taking our business. The police say its a council problem, the council don’t work on weekends.
Derek,
It was for the Mother’s Day season. I have ranged cards and gifts in a way which respects their reliance on these categories. I am less inclined to consider them as much as we have in the past.
Thankyou Derek