By John Malmo
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkno/local-wkno-807515.mp3
Memphis, TN – When Safeway Supermarkets took over a small Philadelphia chain, shoppers rebelled because Safeway eliminated many local and regional items. Wal-mart paid a big price to learn that rural folks don't want the same fashions that urbanites do. You may work in a retail chain with thousands of stores, but the chain succeeds only by succeeding one store at a time.
John Malmo is chairman emeritus of Archer/Malmo Advertising and an independent marketing consultant. To reach Mr. Malmo - or to buy a copy of his book When on the Mountain There is no Tiger, Monkey Is King - go to johnmalmo.com.