“It doesn’t take a majority to win, just a tireless minority that will keep starting brush fires in the mind and hearts of their fellow men.”

Samuel Adams

Saturday, April 08, 2017

Stores are closing at a pace that rivals the last U.S. recession

Stores are closing at a pace that rivals the last U.S. recession

Is the city of Peru preparing for this eventuality? Is it time to guard your finances for the absolute necessities?

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

The story is outdated and the only correct prediction is that things change.

The recent downturn with stores closing is a result of consumer buying options, not as a result of income losses. People are still buying. We are still going to grocery stores and restaurants. Peru still has plenty of those options. Unemployment is very low. Don't post the grim reaper at the door steps. Things will change and that has been the case for many years.

Anonymous said...

This is a very serious issue because brick and mortar distribution will not 'change" back- as the way people receive thing is going increasingly to a more centralized distribution (like the old catalog mail order... but where shopping will become virtual and delivery standardized within 24 hours). The issue again is so many jobs and careers will vanish, and the people in them will be hard pressed to find any other work they are trained for. You see the effects of retail losing health insurance now, and within 3-5 years very few retail stores that are not huge mutipurpose supply stations will be viable.

Manufacturing- distribution- wholesale- distribution- shopping retail is fading. Manufacturing/shopping- direct distribution is rising. Retail must change to become demo/value added selling and become much smaller. Even grocery is suffering under direct distribution. The reaper is not at the doorstep, he is in the house already.

Peru Town Forum said...

4:06 PM

You are absolutely correct. Last evening at Walmart. there was a sign relative to grocery shopping, provide them with the list and they will deliver. Hyvee already deliveries groceries. Maybe this will bring us back to the small specialized local markets that will supply us with good meat, milk and eggs etc. and maybe some good sausage makers.

Anonymous said...

What we will need to see is consolidation, and combination warehouse/display retail units. You will pay more for instant gratification, less for consolidated later delivery.

Retail square feet per capita in the United States is more than six times that of Europe or Japan. And this doesn't count digital commerce. There is a retail 'bubble", similar to the housing bubble. Grocery, particularly fresh foods is a very different model. Home delivery of fresh foods is not what I was talking about, nor is that more efficient.

Companies that are distribution specialists are surviving, like Wal Mart. Target is less so, and Sears is terrible at it. They have wasted space overstocking massive inventories and choices, when they should only stock top rated best sellers, and deliver everything else. People get angry with Amazon, but it is just the messenger, not the problem.

The current admin is promising less retail regulation, but new or restrictive regulations are not the problem or a major cost in retail. Inventory,labor/health care and utilities are. Sadly some the government incentives to reduce energy consumption, and possibly provide universal healthcare are very unlikely given current political climate. That threatens an entire class of relatively unskilled laborers. It is the market that is driving the industry away, not a failure to buy local or American. When you fight market forces, eventually you lose. Peru's retail cash cow will more than likely fade soon, but it may very well become even more a distribution center. The Illinois Valley has some very good distribution characteristics.

Anonymous said...

We must all do our part and shop on-line for all of our essentials and non-essentials in order to avoid paying local sales taxes. Local sales tax is used to support corrupt local governments. The most glaring example is Peru that uses sales tax dollars to hire patronage employees which buys local votes and keeps the elected officials in power for decades in order to foster more and more corruption and patronage.

Anonymous said...

9:09 you are a sad and sick individual. Buy online so local tax money does not go to local governments so the same people do not get elected. You actually think that people win re-election in the local municipal elections? You are just crazy. I don't know of a single voter in Peru who has benefited from any patronage of any kind. They just like a well run city with pretty low taxes.

I will tell you what wins elections. Viable candidates that people trust with an actual message that speaks to the voters. Then work hard and campaign. If the voters trust your message more than the incumbent, you will win. If not, you will lose.

I've read about these conspiracies as the entire council and mayor has changed. Same crazy conspiracies. Same crap and you are too stupid to see that no one is buying your BS. Stop with your crazy conspiracy garbage and get yourself some help.

Anonymous said...

9:09 I have a solution.......Move to a city with very low sales tax numbers, just pay the high property taxes. Do your part? Don't complain about lack of police protection, lack of infrastructure improvements and high use rates of electricity-water. Maybe pay a utility tax in other cities. Your misinformed and many residents of other cities envy you living in Peru.