You succinctly explained what I've been
feeling and meditating on....I've found
I now prefer to shop at stores where my
choices are limited and with stores who
have gained my trust....

One such store which I frequent is Trader
Joes....they have a policy where they guarantee
you'll like most of their choices in groceries
...I've only returned a couple of items over
the last 2 years....One of the reasons for
their success is they have a panel which
"tastes" and evaluates "all" the products
before presenting them to the customers....

As an aside: when it comes to ezines, newsletters
both online and offline I'm more interested
in those which are "unique" and express more
of the person who developed them...You can
tell when people are working hard to "copy"
another's style....

If you're interested here is the link to
Traderjoes

http://www.traderjoes.com/

Thanks for the info Mike

I was leafing through "Fast Times"
> magazine the other day and came across and
> ad for a book "The New Law of Demand
> and Supply" by Rick Kash. While I
> haven't gone out and purchased it I thought
> the ad copy describing the book was
> good...very good. Not necessarily from a
> selling standpoint (even though if I buy the
> book obviously it worked!), but from the
> standpoint of describing very well where our
> (U.S. primarily but the rest of the world is
> catching up fast) economy is at. Here is the
> copy for the book:

> "For two centuries the U.S. and world
> economies have been supply-driven. But in
> the 21st century, virtually every industry
> is in oversupply and companies ahve lost
> their ability to increase prices. We are now
> a demand-driven economy. This book is a
> blueprint that shows how many companies
> outperform competition by understanding
> demand and differentiating products before
> creating supply."

> Nail on the head.

> I see this in off-line where we are way
> over-retailed to mail order where catalog
> after catalog (Lands End, Eddie Bauer, Cold
> Harbor Creek, J.C. Penny and so on) all
> carry similar type products and sell in
> catalogs that all look and read alike.

> I don't get a chance to post on too many
> forums anymore but I do lurk. I read post
> after post from frustrated Internet sellers
> that are looking for answers of why they
> aren't selling anything.

> The fact is we have virtually too much
> access to everything. We as consumers have
> too many choices...from lady's apparel to
> self-help books to ebooks on making money on
> the Internet. We just have too damn many
> choices, which is good from the consumer's
> standpoing but really stinks if you are
> trying to sell anything.

> But is 'differentiation' the key? I'm afraid
> it is. And even though we are over-retailed
> and have far too many choices of where to go
> out to eat startups in those areas still
> have a chance of success if they zig where
> others zag. I spent time in this area's
> largest mall not too long ago and really
> spent time trying to differentiate the
> number of stores that were trying to attract
> the 15 to 25 year-old female. It was
> pathetic. Store after store...similar
> merchandise, similar price-points. I thought
> because of my age and my gender I may not
> have a correct view of this situation so I
> asked several females I know that fit the
> above demographic. The all agreed...too much
> of the same thing and not enough different.
> There is hope for entreprenuers that want to
> break away from the pack...that want to
> establish their own identity.

> Internet folks have a more difficult path.
> The problem being it is much more difficult
> to differentiate over the net. With a face
> to face type business you can differentiate
> with customer service, appearance and
> cleanliness (both store and personal).

> I think it is true "differentiate or
> die". Don Alm posts good potetial ideas
> on this board. Why? because his ideas
> usually tie into concepts that aren't being
> beat to death by the competition. I like
> Adam Katz's dogtraining-related products
> also, I think that is a terrific niche.

> What is your niche? How often have we talked
> about "USP" (Unique Selling
> Proposition)?, "UCA" (Unique
> Competive Advantage")? or something
> similar and how often have we disregarded
> that rule either out of ignorance or because
> 'we think we know better'. Let me clue you
> in...you (we) don't know better. I've been
> there I've screwed myself by disregarding
> that rule. Don't you do it.

> I just hope I don't hear from another
> entreprenuer that wants to sell $9
> tee-shirts to 15-25 year-olds or the person
> that still believes they can make a living
> over the net selling "How to Make Money
> on the Internet" type stuff. There are
> easier ways...

> Have a terrific rest of the weekend,

> Mike Winicki