Dan’s introduction

Abstract

The majority of this book is about the future. It asks questions about where retail has got stuck and how it might free itself. It offers new ways of looking at old problems and speculates as to where these new insights might take us. But before we look at the future, let’s stop and take a look at where we are and how we got here. The forces that shaped retail, the economy and the views of the average citizens who are our customers, are still at work. If a visionof the future is to offer us something of value, it as to address thereality of our circumstances and relate to our situation. That’s why we need to begin our discussion by turning a critical eyeon the past. I’m going to pick out a number of historical trends orevents that point the way to the future. At the same time they also shedlight on why a book like this is needed – why we need to change.