Robert Ivan

Newspapers: Not a Zero-Sum Game - A Minus-Sum Game

I woke up this morning thinking about the bicycle shop I used to frequent in my hometown. The were family owned and in town since forever. When big box stores started coming up, people bought their kid's bicycles there instead of the family shop. Business faltered and then their world changed completely as a walmart and toys r us was built in town. They went bankrupt.

The upside is that there is new bike shop in town. They sell and repair high end road-bikes and mountain-bikes. They participate in local events. They sponsor local riders for the amateur circuit with little things like free tire tubes and wheel alignments. They have a loyal and growing customer base that the big box stores cannot touch.

Newspapers take note. Adapt to the market.