Under The Flashing Blue Light

As we have learned this week, most of the Kmart stores (especially in the Midwest) will be closing and all assets liquidated.  This is a sort of melancholy moment for me as I fondly remember growing up with these stores.  It was always a treat to be in Kmart when the announcement came over the store PA system that there was “a sale in the toy department, just look for the flashing blue light”.

Truthfully, it had more meaning when it was in the boys clothing department as it meant a new pair of knock-off jeans or school clothes for me.  The flashing blue light was like a pocket watch to a hypnotist, drawing in mesmerized, penny-pinching shoppers.  No matter what department it was in, it drew everyone from all four corners of the store.  It could be a special in the mothball department and people would still flock to it.

Kmart is part of the Sears Holding Company, which itself is in danger of liquidation.  Although we are being told just how great our economy is, many retailers are collapsing.  Wall Street continues to reshape our retail landscape, wiping out competition to the few monopolistic empires that control our shopping choices.  At this pace, there will soon be very few choices left to offer you goods and services.

However, I do see some hope in this trend, as this may open the door for the return of the boutique style stores that once graced our villages.  This is probably not a realistic vision, as wages continue to stagnate and most small stores must charge higher prices to survive.  The cost of doing business today is staggering for small retailers and is generally not an attractive business model.

As a kid, I thought Kmart and the blue light was a cool thing (especially being lower middle class) but it may have been the beginning of our retail doom.  Kmart itself was responsible for the demise of many small, specialty, family-owned stores that once lined main street majestically.  But, when you grew up with less wealth, it was great having the discount stores that allowed you to have new clothes for the school year.

I don’t believe, at least in my lifetime, that the main street, mom and pop stores will ever return.  Maybe someday, when we figure out how to bring back decent paying, meaningful jobs, we will see quality return to the shopping experience.  In the meantime, it is sad to see Kmart go (replaced by the swooshing dick and the smiley face) but even sadder to see corporations and Wall Street dictate our options.

Talk to Ya Later

The Grumpy Old Fart Customer @ 2019 All Rights Reserved