While looking into the future one has to wonder if a business needs to have a physical building to be successful in the future.

High River Chamber of Commerce President Stephen Muth says Sears Canada was a good example of what not to do - they had online shopping before it existed and blew it.

"Sears Canada shutting is the biggest one," said Muth. "I feel they had e-commerce before e-commerce was even a thing. I mean for decades they had the entire country trained to order out of a catalogue give a credit card number and pick stuff up at the Greyhound bus station."

Muth said they really an opportunity by failing to follow through on that.  

And while there is a case to be made for just doing an e-commerce business a physical store front is still viable.

"I still think there is a very large contingent of consumers, myself included, who still want for certain products to go in and talk to somebody. Have that interaction and to get that local experience and expertise of feeling, touching and getting that assistance."

Muth believes people who focus on providing customer service, whether it is e-commerce or bricks and mortar, that has got to be the focus going forward in 2018.

"Those who are good at it will be successful."

 

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