In the know-guns, retail, and tech

In the know from Marketplace, Democracy Now, and Q with Jian Ghomeshi -

Renewed discussion about curbing violence and legislating use of weapons

With the recent disclosure of investigative material following the Newtown Sandy Hook elementary school massacre, rhetoric and tensions are once again in the public eye.

Lanza used 30-round magazines to fire 154 times at Sandy Hook, killing 26 people in less than five minutes.

The opinions vary, and despite the annoyance of allowing emotion to impact our conclusions, emotion (outrage, actually!) calling out for change would be and IS a natural reaction in the aftermath (and continual reminders to family members of the slain) from mass murders such as the one that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary.

The Box Store Odyssey

Walmart is facing stiff competition these days from on-line companies such as Amazon.com. How will companies such as Walmart compete with their on-line competition?

Ken Perkins, president of Retail Metrics, says Walmart may be thinking customer couriers would be faster than Amazon.

“The whole retail industry is shifting towards mobile and on-line purchases and probably felt like they’ve gotten a late start,” Perkins says.

So they have to get creative….thinking outside their big box.

What will this every expanding trend towards “on-line shopping” do to the local grocer, the big box store, the mall?  Is the physical retail store facing extinction?

I have to wonder, though, about all the folks who can’t afford computers in their homes, if the numbers of stores dwindle.  Most people despite economic standing do seem to have access to mobile phones with internet access these days. If nothing else, someplace to go other than home…to shop, meet up with friends, or just hang out…will continue to appeal to teens and young adults still living at home with their parents.  Seems to me the retail stores may want to think seriously about how to draw in and hang on to this crowd in the not-so-distant future.   Maybe consider live entertainment in shopping centers?!

NewTechnology – the Z10

Blackberry is back “in” and making money with the Z10 phone.  Sales have recently reached the $1,000,000 mark.  This is really about the new operating system Blackberry10 from RIM. 

How will theZ10 compete with the iphone and all the other mobile rivals?  Will it be the ease of the interface and its multi-tasking ability, the ease of social networking, emailing and texting?  The reviews are out there.