Comments on: innovation and commoditization http://cultureby.com/2005/03/innovation_and_-3.html This Blog Sits At the Intersection of Anthropology and Economics Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:43:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Johnny http://cultureby.com/2005/03/innovation_and_-3.html/comment-page-1#comment-6676 Johnny Thu, 03 Mar 2005 13:18:53 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=1004#comment-6676 Although I agree with Hanft, concerning the inability of Grocery stores to respond to consumers. It is odd however, that he uses that example, the 10 item (or 15 or 20) check out line is not a reward, but a market response to contain market share in concern for the consumer willing to spend more for the convinience of "running in and out" at the local southland (or whatever chain or small store). I was however recently talking to an Albertsons (Jewel subsidiary in this case) manager concerning her difficulty in getting the products her customers most want. They are gathering enormous amounts of info, but not yet using on demand programming. She was talking about being at the mercy of a very 1950ish kind of delivery to the store, a sort of, yea...if we feel like bringing it attitude. However, it is much better than the other chain that we have here in Chi-Dominicks-a Safeway co. They have thrown in the towel completely since they first tried to break the union and failed, then tried to sell the company, but the union strife, and overt employee hostility that the battle caused lowered the value. I suspect that they are just waiting long enough to close Dominicks till they can avoid any kind of RICO charge or FTC investigation. The funny thing is that they are profitable. However apparently profitable and strong union annoys Safeway more than profit pleases them. Very, Very early 1900 attitude. Although I agree with Hanft, concerning the inability of Grocery stores to respond to consumers. It is odd however, that he uses that example, the 10 item (or 15 or 20) check out line is not a reward, but a market response to contain market share in concern for the consumer willing to spend more for the convinience of “running in and out” at the local southland (or whatever chain or small store).

I was however recently talking to an Albertsons (Jewel subsidiary in this case) manager concerning her difficulty in getting the products her customers most want. They are gathering enormous amounts of info, but not yet using on demand programming. She was talking about being at the mercy of a very 1950ish kind of delivery to the store, a sort of, yea…if we feel like bringing it attitude. However, it is much better than the other chain that we have here in Chi-Dominicks-a Safeway co. They have thrown in the towel completely since they first tried to break the union and failed, then tried to sell the company, but the union strife, and overt employee hostility that the battle caused lowered the value. I suspect that they are just waiting long enough to close Dominicks till they can avoid any kind of RICO charge or FTC investigation.

The funny thing is that they are profitable. However apparently profitable and strong union annoys Safeway more than profit pleases them. Very, Very early 1900 attitude.

]]> By: Richard Furash http://cultureby.com/2005/03/innovation_and_-3.html/comment-page-1#comment-6675 Richard Furash Wed, 02 Mar 2005 18:59:36 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=1004#comment-6675 Traditional supermarkets, like Winn Dixie, are more concerned with extracting money from vendors than satisfying their customers. The zillions of bits of information they get from shopper cards go unanalyzed. Watch for a new wave of mergers. And a few more failures. Visit my blog: www.distancelearningventure.blogspot.com/ For more insight. Traditional supermarkets, like Winn Dixie, are more concerned with extracting money from vendors than satisfying their customers. The zillions of bits of information they get from shopper cards go unanalyzed. Watch for a new wave of mergers. And a few more failures. Visit my blog:

http://www.distancelearningventure.blogspot.com/

For more insight.

]]> By: Sylvie http://cultureby.com/2005/03/innovation_and_-3.html/comment-page-1#comment-6674 Sylvie Wed, 02 Mar 2005 16:02:16 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=1004#comment-6674 How absolutely refreshing to look at commoditization as a fabrication, born of complacency most likely, or perhaps arrogance from players too self-involved to take the time to understand their consumer. I find this empowering, the answer is there for the taking. How absolutely refreshing to look at commoditization as a fabrication, born of complacency most likely, or perhaps arrogance from players too self-involved to take the time to understand their consumer.
I find this empowering, the answer is there for the taking.

]]> By: AH http://cultureby.com/2005/03/innovation_and_-3.html/comment-page-1#comment-6673 AH Tue, 01 Mar 2005 19:42:17 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=1004#comment-6673 Major contrast between shopping at local supermarkets (especially Randall's/Safeway) and almost anywhere else. It's the old paradigm of "we carry what it's convenient for us to carry, the bosses tell us what kind of potatoes we will have, if you ask for another kind you're harrassing us." Not only does it drive me to specialty markets, it takes so much fun out of being an at-home foodie you just order pizza. We still have a cornucopia of wonderful food available in this country, but the experience of consumers having to handle the last leg of distribution could be much, much better. Major contrast between shopping at local supermarkets (especially Randall’s/Safeway) and almost anywhere else. It’s the old paradigm of “we carry what it’s convenient for us to carry, the bosses tell us what kind of potatoes we will have, if you ask for another kind you’re harrassing us.”

Not only does it drive me to specialty markets, it takes so much fun out of being an at-home foodie you just order pizza.

We still have a cornucopia of wonderful food available in this country, but the experience of consumers having to handle the last leg of distribution could be much, much better.

]]> By: gary http://cultureby.com/2005/03/innovation_and_-3.html/comment-page-1#comment-6672 gary Tue, 01 Mar 2005 15:37:57 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=1004#comment-6672 In view of Publix's success amid Winn-Dixie's failure, it is churlish to tag all supermarkets as lacking in something or other. As for this--- (What other industry rewards those who spend less, which is what the 10 items or less Express Lane does?) If not for the express lanes, the 10 items or less people would be shopping at convenience stores, so the supermarket is actually getting sales it would not otherwise have. In view of Publix’s success amid Winn-Dixie’s failure, it is churlish to tag all supermarkets as lacking in something or other.

As for this—

(What other industry rewards those who spend less, which is what the 10 items or less Express Lane does?)

If not for the express lanes, the 10 items or less people would be shopping at convenience stores, so the supermarket is actually getting sales it would not otherwise have.

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