Don't Forget the Cake

I have read quite a few articles about the Toys R Us closings. Most seem to basically say, the market simply does not demand a Toys R Us because retail is dying and somehow this seems to be Amazon's fault in some form or fashion. I tend to disagree that Amazon is the real issue though. I believe the issue is that Toys R Us spent too much time on the icing and not enough time on the cake. Let me explain.

When I heard Toy R Us was closing stores I was sad. I remember going to Toys R Us as a kid and spending hours looking at all the remote control cars, bikes, games, and action figures. Toys R Us was not simply a place to buy toys it was a place to experience all that life had to offer a kid. See at Toys R Us it was all about the experience for me. The toy, selection, and deal you could get were simply icing on the cake in my eyes. It was always the experience that was cake. Now as I take my kids to Toys R Us it's not much of an experience, it's kind of run down, half the store my kids could care less about as its furniture and baby stuff. Basically all icing and no cake.

There is something to learn in all of this though as the Amazon model seems to be taking over the world. I am told Carvana will be my Amazon but even for these giants experience is the cake. They just offer a different cake. I don't have the money nor do I want to try and compete directly with there cakes at Dallas Lease Returns. For me, I place a high value on people and what they have to offer, people make my experience (cake) better, the rest is the icing. Make sure you don't spend too much time on your icing and not enough time on your cake or you could be next.