I know this is a layoffs board but why not discuss something outside the main topic. What are your thoughts on DTC? How concerned should we be - the trend is accelerating and I personally see it as a major headache as we continue to position for the future. What are your thoughts?
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DTC is the way of the future. Automated delivery systems coupled with automated ordering systems will dominate the commodity goods marketing channels. Couple that with the impulse ordering and delivery systems that amazon already dominates and that spells trouble for b&m retailers. Shopping for paper towels, orange juice, and the plethora plethera of other everyday items in a b&m setting is a waste of time and people will not do it when their washing machine can automatically order their next box of tide and an autonomous delivery vehicle drops it off at their doorstep.
As long as corporations squeeze workers and further erode the 40 hour work week, this will be a threat. Retail is cyclical and follows the fortunes of the middle class in America.
The longer hours that people work and the fewer that have good paying jobs leads to less people going to the store to shop. Customers don't have the time or the money.
Shopping was the past time of the middle class in America. All these retail layoffs to give the money to the shareholders is a classic case of corporations literally strangling the golden goose. They're getting rid of their own customers. It's sadly short sighted.