10 Businesses Facing Extinction in 10 Years

Entrepreneur ^ | September 19, 2007 | Geoff Williams

[Erasmus]

I forgot his most important prediction:

"A cure for the Shuffles!"

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

Man, I threw out my old Blood Sweat and Tears, Chick Corea and Barry Manilow albums last year. I’ll probably be sorry someday...

[Clemenza]

GAY BARS: As The Orlando Sentinel noted in a recent article, around the country gay bars have been going out of business as gay men and women have been gaining greater acceptance in society. What used to be a hangout for people who felt unwelcome elsewhere is becoming less necessary.

Really? Doesn't seem to be a rash of closings in the NY area. You do see alot more "straight" folks, especially women, hanging out in restaurants flying the rainbow flag, however. Besides, I don't take the word of a newspaper in the sh-thole that is Orlando as being ahead of the cultural curve.

[Proud2BeRight]

“The article forgot: VIDEO RENTAL STORES.”

I hope not. I have no need or desire for cable.

[Revolting cat!]

Whew, that was a close one, at least they didn’t include brewpubs. But if record stores and used bookstores (Half Price Books rules!) and Target, where the cat buys its underwear, close, that’ll be the end of the world as we know it. I’ve noticed that the line at my ‘music store’ as you call it, has been getting shorter lately. But yes, they’ve expanded their vinyl section last year, and they sell DVDs in addition to the CDs. Music or books without a physical object holding them is inconceivable to this rock’n’roll kitty!

[TexasRepublic]

I read recently that the Sony reader is not doing too well in the market. I’m familiar with that kind of gadget, having owned a Rocket eBook for years. While they can hold the equivalent of a bookshelf in your hand, they will never replace books for a variety of reasons. Books don’t break when you drop them. Books don’t need batteries. Books can be read in a wide range of lights and environments. Books store a decent amount of data and can have a much larger and much higher definition “screen”. Books are not subject to Format Obsolescence. Books have proven durable enough to last thousands of years if simply protected from moisture and insects.

[sauron]

What about LIBRARIES?

[GovernmentShrinker]

I think so too. You won’t see as many of them in prominent locations, but they’ll still be lurking and people who like them will know where to find them. Internet used book dealers need to keep their inventory somewhere, and some no doubt will prefer to keep a store, even if they only make 5% of their sales there.

[Red Badger]

That isn’t exactly a business..........here, it’s a city government function......

[goodnesswins]

Libraries? Where would the pervs get their porno?

[cajungirl]

Oh,,I have been looking at that reader and they won’t let me try it out in the store.

Did it feel like reading a book? I want one so I don’t have to drag books when I travel.

[ConservatismNow]

Federally funded. They won’t go away. There are still plenty of neanderthals out there without access to a computer.

[VOA]

What about LIBRARIES?

They will survive.
The public ones in towns/metros that have at least a couple of
universities/colleges...they are the hang-out of choice for retired
profs (beside the faculty clubs), as well as the demographic of
university students that spans from grad school graduates to
freshmen washouts that never seem to leave.


BUT, on college/university campi...libraries will show you how
something can survive for eternity...even when it's long ago
outlasted it's real mission.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

RECORD STORES: Record stores are closing in, well, record numbers. One of the most prominent music retailers, Tower Records, shut down all 89 stores last year after concluding it couldn't withstand the onslaught of online music stores and chains like Wal-Mart, which can offer lower prices and sell other items to offset the smaller number of CDs being sold. Odds of survival in 10 years: Great, if you consider Wal-Mart a record store.

I predict WalMart won't be selling many CDs in 10 years either. The RIAA continues to push mediocre acts while suing it's customers and pressuring tech companies into hindering consumer electronics. The independent music scene is growing because independent artists either give their music away to promote their tours or charge some nominal price for downloads. As for established artists, they're going to be carefully watching Radiohead's experiment with voluntary pricing for downloads. It's possible that Radiohead will make far more money doing this than they ever did selling CDs through a label. The record store is dead - whether it's named Tower or WalMart.

And I went ahead and bought the $80 box set. Been a huge Radiohead fan since their first album.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Amen, brother. It will defund 99% of the worlds’ terrorists, too.

[Revolting cat!]

Elvis Impersonation, Inc will go out of business sooner or later too. Don’t believe it? How many Rudy Vallee impersonators do you know?

[Myrddin]

I absolutely agree with that. I have to feel sorry for the poor saps that built a new Blockbuster near our home about 5 years ago.

The Blockbuster in my town went out of business two months ago. The property is vacant. We still have 2 Hollywood video stores and a place called FYE. Aside from the local theaters, most people can get anything they want from Walmart, Fred Meyer or Amazon.

[Lee'sGhost]

That’s the one I was trying to think of.

Should have been at the top of the list. Only the one’s that carry almost every title and porn will survive.

[Jaysun]

Sauron,
You’re full of it love. The I love going to the libraries and they’re never empty.

[death2tyrants]

Guns: Once the Democrats enact enough anti-gun legislation, then there will be no more need for guns and we can have a peaceful society./s