Endangered Vermont
The National Trust for Historic Preservation has released its list of top endangered historic things recently.
NY-Times
On that list is the State of Vermont. Yep, a whole state. The reason it is on the list is because WalMart (and other big-box retailers) will be pushing into the state in a big way, and that really threatens the 'quaint' feel of smalltown Vermont.
There is a real reason to fear just that. WalMart made its reputation by pushing into 2nd tier cities and rural settings, and in the process greatly undercutting "main street" businesses in those areas. WalMart has proven to be a big competitive threat to the Targets and K-Marts of the world, so such higher operating cost stores like Walt's Drug and Gifts have even less room to compete.
People LIKE the convenience of the big box retailers, but they don't do a lot to add to the cultural land-scape. In fact, they can do lots towards removing such cultural 'landmarks' like the family run Hardware Sales store that opened in 1941 and led two generations of families through home renovations and repair, Walt's Drug and Gifts where generations of teenagers have worked after school and during the summer, and the Benjamin Franklin.
It is an unfortunate fact that WalMart does lead to lower prices all around and slightly lowers the cost of living in those areas. The fact that WalMart itself feeds on teenagers and retierees for an employee pool help in that aspect. But... that isn't just it. You can't LIVE on your WalMart wage, and too many people are trying just that.
My sister recently moved out to a town on the Great Plains. There literally was no other general store but WalMart in that town, which made it very difficult to stick to principles in where you shop. The nearest store of that kind was a good 40 minute drive away if not more. Which if all you need is a cheap microwave stand, is too far to justify the drive.
WalMart claims to have cleaned up its act in this regard, but there are certain economic realities involved. Perhaps they can tune their offerings so as to keep out of Main Street's bigger store's market. WalMart's bread and butter are 'cheap plastic crap' which makes our lives easier, something that is harder for Main Street to keep up on. Enough lost profit margin to WalMart can put a struggling business, pre-WalMart, out of action completely.
Yes, WalMart and the retailers it represents are a threat to the rural character of Vermont.
NY-Times
On that list is the State of Vermont. Yep, a whole state. The reason it is on the list is because WalMart (and other big-box retailers) will be pushing into the state in a big way, and that really threatens the 'quaint' feel of smalltown Vermont.
There is a real reason to fear just that. WalMart made its reputation by pushing into 2nd tier cities and rural settings, and in the process greatly undercutting "main street" businesses in those areas. WalMart has proven to be a big competitive threat to the Targets and K-Marts of the world, so such higher operating cost stores like Walt's Drug and Gifts have even less room to compete.
People LIKE the convenience of the big box retailers, but they don't do a lot to add to the cultural land-scape. In fact, they can do lots towards removing such cultural 'landmarks' like the family run Hardware Sales store that opened in 1941 and led two generations of families through home renovations and repair, Walt's Drug and Gifts where generations of teenagers have worked after school and during the summer, and the Benjamin Franklin.
It is an unfortunate fact that WalMart does lead to lower prices all around and slightly lowers the cost of living in those areas. The fact that WalMart itself feeds on teenagers and retierees for an employee pool help in that aspect. But... that isn't just it. You can't LIVE on your WalMart wage, and too many people are trying just that.
My sister recently moved out to a town on the Great Plains. There literally was no other general store but WalMart in that town, which made it very difficult to stick to principles in where you shop. The nearest store of that kind was a good 40 minute drive away if not more. Which if all you need is a cheap microwave stand, is too far to justify the drive.
WalMart claims to have cleaned up its act in this regard, but there are certain economic realities involved. Perhaps they can tune their offerings so as to keep out of Main Street's bigger store's market. WalMart's bread and butter are 'cheap plastic crap' which makes our lives easier, something that is harder for Main Street to keep up on. Enough lost profit margin to WalMart can put a struggling business, pre-WalMart, out of action completely.
Yes, WalMart and the retailers it represents are a threat to the rural character of Vermont.
posted by Corwin at 12:31 PM
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