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Black Friday: Why Is This Still a Thing?

Black Friday: Why Is This Still a Thing?

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As we move into Thanksgiving week, once the turkey has been carved, the football games have been watched, and the pumpkin pie has been served, many Americans then turn their sights towards their next holiday tradition. Black Friday. These shopping sentinels arise in the middle of the night, put on their favorite PJs or sweats, grab their lattes and their shopping lists, and head into the breach to join hordes of other would-be bargain hunters on their quest for the…

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Urban Blight – The Doom of Any Town

Urban Blight – The Doom of Any Town

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Perhaps you’ve seen examples of this in your town.  A big shopping plaza filled with several big-box stores opens up to great fanfare, then as the years go by, the stores close one-by-one, leaving large, abandoned buildings and deserted parking lots to litter the landscape. Do you know what I mean?  I’ll use some examples from the largest town near me – Hagerstown, MD (population @40,000).  It’s at the intersection of two major highways, I-70 and I-81.  You’d think that…

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The Hagerstown Wal-Mart: My Retail Nemesis

The Hagerstown Wal-Mart: My Retail Nemesis

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As you may know from reading my posts, I have some strong feelings about Wal-Mart (it’s a love/hate thing).  Now, don’t get me wrong, I know that they provide affordable products and grocery items – and that if you’re on a budget, Wal-Mart has some great deals.  That being said, each local Wal-Mart tends to take on the flavor and personality of its clientele, and in the case of the Hagerstown Wal-Mart (#1674 – Salute!), a trip to this specific…

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The World of Retail – What I’ve Learned in the Past Year

The World of Retail – What I’ve Learned in the Past Year

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Believe it or not, my “temporary” gig at the big-box home improvement store (the blue one) is still ongoing, and I’m coming up on my one-year anniversary in the back areas as an RTM (“Return to Manufacturer”) Clerk.  I’m in charge of trying to obtain credit on anything and everything that you – the general public – bring back to the store for a refund (among many of my other responsibilities, such as dealing with all HAZMAT, sending appliances and…

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The American Shopping Mall: Dying a Slow and Painful Death

The American Shopping Mall: Dying a Slow and Painful Death

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Remember when the shopping mall was THE place to be?  One could have it all – clothing, sporting goods, home goods, shoes, even check out the latest movie.  Big-name department stores anchored each end of the mall, and smaller specialty shops filled all of the spaces in between.  You could eat at your favorite fast-food outlet or grab a snack from a nationally-known kiosk.  The mall was also a social gathering place.  Teens flocked there – to see and be…

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The World of Retail: How’s it Going?

The World of Retail: How’s it Going?

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As I have written about in previous articles, I am spending the summer as a seasonal employee for a big-box home improvement store (the blue one) in the “inside seasonal” section of the store.  I assist customers with their purchases of everything from lawn chemicals and bug killer to lawn mowers, trimmers, air conditioners, and air filters. Yes, it’s a busy section – and a busy time of the year.  Veterans of the store refer to the summer season as…

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