Posted on 12/12/2011 4:52:30 AM PST by SeekAndFind
The family-run drugstore on Main Street has been dying for decades. Now, the big national chain pharmacies—which helped push those family operations to the brink of extinction—are being surpassed in terms of total locations by dollar stores. What does this say about how people shop nowadays? And about the state of the economy?
One of the hottest retail trends in recent years has been the rise of the dollar store. During a period when many retailers have struggled as a result of consumers scaling back, dollar stores boomed for obvious reasons—one way consumers cut expenses was by spending more time in dollar stores.
Surveys have shown that today’s shoppers are more likely to make purchases in dollar stores lately, and chains such as Dollar Tree, Dollar General, and Family Dollar have experienced outstanding sales growth as a result.
Riding the wave of newfound popularity and better-than-ever sales figures, dollar stores have naturally been expanding to new locations all over the country.
Now, according to a study by retail research firm Colliers International, dollar store locations outnumber drugstore locations in the U.S. Specifically, Colliers added up the number of locations for four national dollar store chains (Dollar General, Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, 99 Cents Only), and compared that figure to the total number of locations for the country’s three biggest drugstore chains (CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens).
The tally, as of mid-2001, stood at 21,500 dollar stores vs. 19,700 drugstores.
(Excerpt) Read more at moneyland.time.com ...
Yeah, I tried to buy some acid/base titrating solution for a homebrew beer kit and thought I'd try the one "compounding pharmacy" left in the area....figured, basic chemistry set stuff they'd have for sure. No way, no how. Not a single person outside of the pharmacist (which came in from the city 3 days a week) had any idea what I was talking about. Pharmacist when I finally got to talk to her apologized and told me that "compounding" is not what it was....they don't construct any medicines from basic compounds as in the old days, they merely grind down pill forms into custom powders for easier intake.
I mean, it's a good service...I'd think creating a single daily capsule containing the correct amount is great for oldsters instead of keeping track of ABC MWF and DEF on MThSu and GHI daily.
But anyhow, yeah, there's opportunities to bottom feed on niches, up and until the bigboxers are able to bulldoze that segment.
The price of gold is a poor comparison in those days. It was controlled by federal edict, not market forces. That is a big part of why we were constantly in a recession back then, as far as employment went. Lots of people worked for less than a living wage in the ‘50s.
I didn't "pick" gold. I simply compared wheelbarrows, CPI and gold. Pick whatever you want. If you want to compare by gas lawnmowers, then they're about 50% cheaper in the 50's than today.
Even wheelbarrows don’t work that easy.
The “Wellmade” wheelbarrow that I bought for $35 in i970 costs $290 now, but it won’t even be in stock, you’d have to order it. If you want one in a hurry you’d have to settle for one that is poorly made, improperly balanced, and has a tire that won’t hold air for more than a day.
Things were so much better in the 50’s that those that didn’t live through it simply can’t believe it. Other than the improvement from fuel injection that lets engines last longer, cars are far trashier, and far less safe to ride in with their thin metals and plastic parts throughout.
I still go to a dime store!
>> “I still go to a dime store!” <<
.
So do I, but the dimes they sell cost around $2.50 :o)
Hey! Chevrolet “fuelies” had fuel injection in the 50’s! =)
I would’ve done ok in the 50’s, and would’ve enjoyed it thoroughly. I would miss computers and microelectronics though.
My grandmother has a kitchen stove bought and installed in the 1950s - don’t know if it was early or late. It still works. It is 2012. That’s 62+ years. Good luck finding that today.
No kidding! - I have a stove that’s 4 years old and the burners only light half of the time without a match.
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