CLICK HERE to take a look at this article which appeared on Yahoo today. It originally appeared in the Wall Street Journal.
It was an interesting article to read, about how big retailers and supermarkets are leaving the city. There are no national brand supermarkets left in the entire city, with a population of around 900,000. The amount of stress that puts on family budgets is incredible, having to pay higher convenience store prices instead of supermarket prices, or fleeing to suburbs to grocery shop for your family.
My only experiences with Detroit were passing through the airport and a two day conference in suburban Ann Arbor in 1990. Many of us think of Detroit as the American symbol of urban blight, and based on the statistics, that’s probably close to the truth. It’s a place that has lived and died with the automobile industry, and apparently, it’s now dying (again).
Yet like every story about a group, there are always individuals who can make different choices. Look at the last few paragraphs of the article. It talks about how the Aldi chain of discount food stores have now come in. It also mentions the number of farmers markets that have sprung up, offering fresh produce.
We have an Aldi market here in Bristol, Connecticut. It’s one of our frequent shopping places, simply for the convenience and the pricing. Truthfully, our family belongs to an economic demographic that doesn’t normally shop at Aldi. Many of the folks who frequent the store are food stamp recipients. And taking a quick look at the shopping carts around me, there is an awful lot of unhealthy, obesity promoting food that’s being purchased.
Not meaning to draw any value judgements, but I do notice the difference between many carts and mine which is filled with egg whites, soy milk, 12 grain bread and produce. I would imagine these same things are offered at the Aldi stores in Detroit. And of course farmers markets would naturally feature fruits and vegetables.
The point? The market eventually responds to consumer demands. No doubt there are plenty of folks exiting their local convenience stores with soda, chips and cigarettes. That’s individual choice, even if you’ve been socialized to eat those products and smoke those cigarettes. There are too many examples of people who have broken free from destructive behavior patterns to say there is no free will.
And now there are ways to change habits. It IS possible to live healthily and reasonably. It IS possible to budget in ways that allow a good lifestyle for your family.
And if you’re looking at being on the other side of the cash register, it IS possible to create a product or service that addresses the needs and wants of people who have lost their resources. Not everyone in Detroit - or any other struggling city - wants to be trapped in a cycle of poverty and despair.
Opportunities for service and profit are everywhere! All you have to do is look around and see what the people asking for.
Then get the skills of reaching the market with your own brand of good product or service.
Happy Hunting!
Larry
What are YOU doing to capitalize on trends in a down economy? How are you managing your budget to live well and abundantly? Please send some comments. Share your wisdom and inspiration!
My sister lives in a suburb of Detroit.
I think that Detroit needs a few
Larry Hochman-types to get back on track.