so for this service, I would call it:

JUST LOOKING!!!!

(anyone?)

Great post, as always. I agree with you and see what some (like Nick above) are stating, in playing somewhat of a devil’s advocate. The biggest thing for people to remember is, these are new times and just because something worked for you or your business in the past, that doesn’t mean it will keep up. The reason it worked then is probably because it was innovative and you were ahead of your time and implemented it with perfection.

Knowing that, apply that same way of thinking to the new times, and as your example above: adapt!

Thanks,
Fred, Jewelry Buyer

1. Web traffic isn’t easy or cheap to get via PPC as Google caters to the larger companies who can afford the advertising. Good luck with SEO for organic listing.

2. Many books and web sites point out how free trade and health care costs have caused a net loss in jobs:
http://www.avaresearch.com/article_details-444.html
http://www.hsdent.com/the-dent-method/#The Spending Wave

3. Middle management is vulnerable to job loss in the event of restructuring. Typically a reconfigured company sheds forty percent of its jobs. The computer revolution is most pronounced in the manufacturing sector. A world with fewer and fewer workers is a disturbing trend:
http://www.amazon.com/End-Work-Jeremy-Rifkin/dp/1585423130/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

3. Jobs are not coming back anytime soon:
http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-376541

The internet business model is still based on one of consumption. You still need a product or service and a consumer. The problem being that the bulk of economic growth in the last 10yrs was based on easy credit and consumers using their home equity as ATMs. Now that has dried why do you think the internet will save small business? How do fight the increasing fees, taxes, workers comp, insurance costs? Not no mention the new health care bill that will hurt business large and small.

I don’t see an advantage to being a small “anything” as the larger goliaths create very aggressive competition. This benefits the consumer not the small business.

Sorry for the doom and gloom guys but a lot of my friends have lost their business or jobs or homes so I am not seeing the cup 1/2 full at the moment.

I agree. There are quite a few empty storefronts in my town too, people blame the mall nearby or the economy, but I felt the same way about all the shops that closed as you did. Either they were out of touch with the changing demographics, too expensive, or just plain rude. There are plenty of shops in town that seem to be doing really well, and they all have fresh ideas and merchandise and friendly service, and are doing interesting events and community things to get us into the shops even if we may not need something there.

I would TOTALLY pay $35 for an hour with someone who really cares and can tell what shapes/styles look good on my face and let me walk out with a print out of all the models so I can buy them wherever. I’d be willing to bet a lot of people end up buying them from the place just for convenience.

The downside is that this place would have to have a really good selection – the local shops I’ve been to, even the nicer ones, for the most part, have very small selections of eyeglasses, which I can understand to a certain extent, small businesses don’t have a lot of money. But sometimes you have to invest to make money.