No secret that malls, big box retail and even e-tail channels are having problems headed into the holidays. Two of the posts to blow up Dealernews Facebook page the past week have been Business Insider’s report on the demise of mall stores as a result of the “retail apocalypse” and the Internet crash of e-tail giant J&P Cycles, which still has not been able to conduct any transactions via call center or website since Veteran’s Day.
Crowd comments have ranged from the flippant “We can start an abandoned mall flat track hooligan race series!” to the inspired: “There is plenty of evidence that shopfront businesses that differentiate and value-add are successful. The world could do with less, not more shopping centers anyway, and we as a western society should look at the dumpage as a consequence of oversupply in commodity retailing and over manufacturing of goods against a perceived need.”
So while the Mall may not be the happening hub of Christmas shopping it used to be, stand-alone powersports dealerships that have differentiated themselves from the masses and built a sense of community may just be the surprise survivors of the “Amazombie” Apocalypse this season.