Retail Nostalgia

Many retailers are finding that they are steadily becoming obsolete, or are already so, according to market standards. One such recent announcement in the retail community made me worry about what the "face" of consumer products will be like in the future.

Disney announced last week that it is no longer in the fairytale making business. This according to an article I read on the National Public Radio website. Disney claims losses in this sector and admits the company is thinking about reworking its image. It's thinking about collaborating to make more of the digital animation movies and 3D films. So not only will the look and feel of a Disney movie be distinct, but so will the plot.

Borders bookstores is another enterprise that reminds me of childhood. It's also struggling in the new retail climate. The New York Stock Exchange warned that due to slow earnings Borders may be removed from its listings. How can this happen? How can two important conglomerates like Disney and Borders be in trouble? Two companies integral in shaping the world of retail are slowly disappearing.

Devices like the Kindle that allow you to buy books directly online and read them from the same device make the bookstore superfluous. This past holiday season more than one family and friend received a Kindle. They went on and on about how much more convenient it is than real books. For example, if you are travelling, there's no need to find space in your luggage. If you don't have time to go to a bookstore, than in a few minutes you can buy that book you want. The positives outweigh the negatives because it is the newest gadget and everyone wants to get one before anyone else.

I like a paper copy to read. So the negatives, restricted book availability, caught my attention immediately. It wasn't possible to purchase books from my favorite author: Isabel Allende. In addition, the "convenience" of not carrying books with you on vacation was not that convincing. I mean, how many books can you read, and do you read, on vacation? With one or two at the most you have more than enough reading material. Anyway, I like showcasing my books in my home. Not only to show off, but maybe a friend wants to borrow a book. How can you lend books with a Kindle? We will all just have to buy our own because the act of sharing is obliterated.

What is happening to Disney is a bigger travesty. Only because it proves that the minds of young people are manipulated by the people who sell products to them. Children now want to see Hannah Montana not Cinderella. With these adult-like themes on so-called children's programming, it's no wonder fairytales aren't attractive - maybe even seen as silly to children. Children who don't want a princess gown for Halloween, instead they'd rather the parent purchase Hannah Montana short shorts.

I do realize I'm ranting a bit but underneath it's interesting (scary?) to see how retail will be different in the future. While some things disappear others are created. The circle of life I suppose.

By: Samantha Taylor

Samantha is a Boston, Massachusetts native. Her studies have taken her from Ohio to England, where she lived for two years. Currently, Samantha lives in Andalucía, Spain, with her husband. She is a writer for Nexxt and contributes to one of its many blogs: retailgigsblog.com. She also works as an English teacher and personal trainer in her spare time.