Discussion Board Response

Respond to this classmate discussion board in at least 200 words. 6 hours ago Grayce Dorn  DB 2 COLLAPSE According to Gian M. Fulgoni in her article, “Will Digital Commerce and Analytics be the Death of Traditional Brands,” conventional retail stores are closing “at a record pace.” According to the article “the stark reality is that digital commerce now accounts for $1 in every $5 of consumers’ discretionary spending,” and “that number is growing at 20 percent annually, about four times faster than overall retail sales.”  This data shows how much of a threat online stores like Amazon’s marketing strategies are to conventional retail stores (ARTICLE).  One specific advantage Amazon and other firms have over brick and mortar department stores is convenience.  Consumers can shop for all of their needs by simply going online which is much less of a hassle than getting ready and using gas to go to an actual store.    According to the article “Retailers Get Creative,” by Kaitlin Pitsker, one way brick and mortar retailers are reacting to online competitors is they are cutting prices.  For example, Target announced price reductions on many of their groceries soon after Amazon bought whole foods and announced price reductions in some grocery items (ARTICLE 2).  Another example Pitsker gives is airport vending machines.  Companies such as Apple, Best Buy, CVS Pharmacy and more have expanded into airports through the use of vending machines.  This helps these companies market to more people in a convenient and efficient way (ARTICLE 2).    Both online and local retailers have advantages and disadvantages.  While I believe there can be an “even playing field” at this point in time, I think we are heading into a future where online retailers will begin to overtake local retailers simply due to the convenience and vastness of online shopping.   Amazon is currently in the process of introducing new products and services that could expand their business and advance online consumerism to a whole new level.  One of these new advancements is the use of drones to deliver packages of up to five pounds.  Introducing this technology could cut down shipping time drastically, providing an even faster delivery service.  One other service Amazon is in the process of offering is Sunday delivery.  (TEXTBOOK)   Proverbs 15:22 applies to Christ followers in their routine business practices because it is so important for us to seek counsel in order to make wise decisions regarding our businesses and life in general.