Geriatric Society & Business
We have more older folks than we used to, and this number of older folks will continue to increase.
Now back in the day, folks did not buy what they could not afford. They made do, did without, saved money or did Lay-a-way.
Folks were really not shoppers. I am not a shopper per se'
I/We/Folks of the day knew what they wanted, went out and got it, and that was it.
Marketing come on real strong. Malls were Outdoor type malls, more folks going to the city, either to live, or shop.
Montgomery Wards, Sears Roebuck, J.C. Penny Catalogs were real useful shopping tools , especially for the more rural folks.
In bold, as I will come back to this.
Hardware Stores sold guns, ammo, knives. Many of our Mom&Pop "Sporting Stores " actually started out as Grocery Stores, or Gas Stations, or Combination of Grocery/Gas/Bait/ Stores that sold guns , ammo, and added over the years boots, jackets, gloves, hats...
Running down the road hunting, stop in, get food, ice, ammo, and whatever.
Bigger Grocery Stores coming in, and Gas Stations, and to heck with that - these Mom&Pops started doing more Guns/Ammo/Fishing stuff - "Sporting Goods" if you will.
Geriatric Society & Business
Many of our older folks cannot walk very well. These Box Stores, with HUGE parking lots, even with Handicapped parking , means a pretty good walk getting into and out of a store.
This is not taking into account actually shopping in such a VAST and HUGE store.
The disposable income is with the young teenagers buying fads at Malls.
The money turns over.
There is not a outfit in a Mall my mom would be caught dead wearing.
She has Neuropathy in both feet, Asthma, and just had surgery.
No way she could do Target to look at this toy a grandkid wanted. The store was out.
No way for mom to even get a Gift Certificate for this grandkid or another one wanting some clothes she picked out in another part of the state at a Target where she lives.
Internet.
Just like the Catalog of "old" , I fired up the laptop, and went shopping at Target.
See the parallel ?
Mom is in her house dress, recovering from surgery, and able to use my laptop monitor.
I snatched the toy, only 4 in stock and verified and confirmed.
I also got the Gift Cert .
These mailed directly to grand kids in different households.
For Security Reasons, some time ago, I got mom to start going to Dollar General , Family Dollar, and Dollar Tree.
Close to where she lives, she can park right in front with handicapped parking, get her toilet tissue, paper towels, laundry soap and whatever else, faster, for less money, near where she lives.
Mom&Pop Grocery Store is near her too, and she is safer doing this, than the bigger franchise grocery stores.
About 3 miles down the road is a Feed&Seed store. Edge of Big City heading to rural area.
I can run in and get a box of shells, a Case knife, Lodge Cast Iron skillet, Bug Stuff for the house and yard...and a bunch of other stuff.
My point is, Society is going to dictate more of what stores are, product lines and inventory.
Geriatric Society has been playing a part already.
Internet is another big player.
How many folks here buy guns and ammo over Internet?
How many folks have had a local Mom&Pop go out of business?
Hate to say it, but a lot of the "Me, Me, Me" generation did this inventory selection to themselves.
Add Geriatric Society, Business savvy, Internet...
Anti-Gun. Heck if I know.
There is a lot more as to why a business does not carry the inventory besides being "anti" guns and ammo.
