That's why Sam Walton's kids are planning to open another 180 Wal-Mart Supercenters to go with the 900 hulking over communities nationwide. The Waltons are winning the super wars against rivals known as SuperTarget and Super Kmart. But the idea for all three is the same. Swallow every conceivable consumer need and then put it under one roof. And make it big.
Nobody ever says let's get small.
I prefer small stores and am, within reason, willing to pay a little extra if I know I can easily get an answer about an item beyond what is written on the outside of the box. And maybe they will even know my name. It is one thing to be greeted when you arrive, but where the rubber meets the service road is in aisle six when I have a question about No. 2 pencils or near the patio furniture when all I see for aisles and aisles is two stories of inventory and a sea of customers. Bigger, better Super duper stores also mean super duper crowds, certainly an attraction for retailers but not high on my list as a shopper. If stores keep getting larger, we'll struggle with big word names too.