Retail Matters!

What is the real value of retail? Growing up in our nations capital, as a kid we used to enjoy going downtown and seeing all of the exciting lights and decorations in the large department stores like Woodward & Lothrope, Sears and so many others. The holiday season was good for not just purchasing gifts, but it was when retail stores could recapture the losses and short falls from prior months.

Even more it was a time when people, even I could find part-time jobs to make ends meet and buy gifts for family, friends and co-workers. I remember working in the doll baby section of our local Toy's R Us store one season. I thought, I know nothing about doll babies when they first asked me to brave that assignment at the ripe age of eighteen years old. I had so much fun in that department that the next year I laid claim to that being my department and boasting about my now knowledge of the products coupled with hands on experience. Retail matters for so many different reasons.

Take a look around our communities today and wonder why there are so many vacant buildings. Take a look at the local employment office and wonder why there are so many people competing for so few jobs. Take a look at our young adults and wonder why there are so many of them which appears to be hopeless and lack ambition, motivation and enthusiasm.

Retail Matters because economic development is crucial to our collective survival. The middle man is not someone who steals our money. He or she are the ones who guarantees our fulfillment of life, learning and personal growth. I am now and have been a sales person all of my life. I enjoy speaking with potential customers and I take pride in delivering a quality product and service that makes them happy and a living for myself. Retail matters because it is as important to life as is the clean air that we breath and water we drink!

So yes, I like millions of others enjoy the savings that come with on line purchasing. However, keep in mind when you are making the online purchase this holiday that perhaps the person whom you passed in the streets asking for spare change is there because his or her job is not there any longer! Retail Matters!