Blurred Lines

It was the allure of convenience and discount pricing that first reshaped consumers’ buying habits more than 50 years ago and created a new landscape of product and service delivery. What began with the discount retail chain Woolco in 1962 has evolved into a national phenomenon of monolithic superstores promising one-stop shopping. Everything from apparel and tires to eggs and gasoline could be found under one roof at lower prices. In this half century, local corner stores ceded ground to department stores and supermarkets, then to suburban shopping malls, then to discount chains and big-box retailers. Today, Woolco is gone, but the retail landscape continues its undulating shift as consumers alter how they make their purchasing decisions and new business strategies emerge to keep pace. Fresh food is no longer the sole domain of supermarkets but can be found in pharmacies, convenience stories, and warehouse clubs. Retailers are battling over consumer dollars with manufacturers such as Apple, Nike, and other consumer product players as they sell directly to consumers.