A Tale of Retail and Woe

Recently in the news, there have been reports about the demise of Sears.  This American institution has been around for over 120 years, but mis-management and a failure to stay current has led to a probable liquidation at the hands of its creditors, forcing it into bankruptcy.  I for one am saddened by this news.  I like going to stores, physical locations, especially to shop.  When I was growing up, shopping trips were pretty much the only type my mother would tae me on.  Anything more than a day was too much for her.  That is a reason why many of my favorite memories are attached to physical objects as opposes to emotions and experiences.  Sears was one of those places.  While there was, and currently is, a Sears satellite nearby, the nearest full-service Sears were over a hundred miles away, at least the ones we would go to.  The closest regular Sears is just over 120 miles away, but I still go to it at least twice a year.  In fact, either me or my mother has bought something pretty much every time we go.  It is the only store I know of that carries the type of pajamas that I like, the ones without the drawstrings.  I prefer snaps.   It is also one of the few places that has had a great selection of Reebok sneakers.  I still have the black-and-white fashion pair I got about five years ago, although they will need to be updated soon.  For me, I have to go to a physical store for clothes.  Decades ago, my mom would sometimes order me clothes through a catalog, but frequently they would have to be returned due to the strange combination of measurements of my body.  Seriously, finding brands I like and fit can be a hassle.  I even wrote about it a few months ago.  Trying things on in store just makes things easier.  The fact that I didn't have a way to shop online until recently is beside the point.  I even ordered the core of my current weight set, the one to replace the one I lost in a flood, through the local Sears satellite store, although it now only can deal in major appliances and lawn care, maybe some automotive.   I might be even sadder because I am in the retail business myself, at least for now.  Within the month, I might have to close my own store, a great part of that is due to the changing face of business and the problems of keeping up to date.  For a culture that places greater emphasis on having experiences over that of the grind of everyday work, I don't see why more people don't want to shop at a physical store.  Shopping isn't a hassle.  It can be the challenge of the hunt trying to find exactly what you are looking for.  It can be the enjoyment of racking up a bargain or discovering the one thing you didn't know you were looking for.  It can be the thrill of finding something new and unusual.  Yes, lines can be long and other shoppers can be difficult, but even then, something new and different can pop up.  These are experiences that simply sitting at a computer and ordering with a pin and a click cannot duplicate.