This past weekend I had a meeting at a local outdoor mall and noticed the abundance of people either dining or shopping. It’s also a haven for young teens to gather and spend the afternoon perusing the latest trends. As I sat there at an outside table, I remarked how nice it was to see that this pastime hasn’t died, even in spite of the economy, and that the brick-and-mortar establishments still serve a purpose.
I’ve been noticing more stories lately about rising technology companies whether they’re digital, solar or medical. They are popular trends in the startup world. But, I also wonder how this new era of technology and the high use of the internet will change us as social beings.
My newspaper carrier was nice enough to toss me the local edition of the Arizona Republic on Monday, a day I normally don’t get the paper. In there was a story about a milkman in CA whose business is thriving.
Jim Pastor is a career milkman, having started in the biz after high school. Later he opened his own milk delivery business after contracting with a local dairy farmer. He delivers milk and other products (cheese, eggs, bread, butter) to over 4800 homes. He relies on word-of-mouth advertising from his customers who enjoy the convenient delivery and who are eager to support their local community.
So how is it that Jim’s business thrives in a world so focused on the digital age? What part of the human experience cannot be duplicated online? What are we, as consumers, willing to give up or accept in lieu of technology?
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