Business: One Man's Opinion

Contrarian Edge published this online article:  Investors Have Misdiagnosed Amazon’s Push Into The Pharmacy Business (  https://contrarianedge.com/2018/08/28/investors-have-misdiagnosed-amazons-push-into-the-pharmacy-business/  ) I disagreed with the article that Walgreen had a bright future and wrote the following in the article's comment section to explain why I differed in opinion: There are some undiscussed ‘good’ things for Walgreens but also some difficulties ahead all related to the next 10 to 15 years introduction of the fully automated Self Drive Vehicle (‘faSDV’) and electric vehicle (‘EV’). EVs and faSDVs are going to ‘crash’ the roadside gas/convenience store.  EVs don’t use gas and faSDBVs will be refueled at specialized low cost centers without owners in the vehicle (like overnight).  When gas stations lose 20% of their volume they will be unprofitable and will start closing.  This will happen by the mid / late 2020s and the m...

Forbes published this online article:  Walmart's Alphabot Robot Is The Beautiful First Letter Of A New Retail Language I disagreed with the article and had a comment exchange with the author: What WalMart is doing isn't the 'end of the world' but it is a very bad decision that will NOT work in the long term.  It will waste resources and be a distraction that delays what really needs to be done. Building a 20,000 sq ft extension to an existing store and stuffing it with equipment and inventory is the worst possible implementation of 'OmniChannel'.  The goal should be to have one platform that can serve instore sales, delivery and outside pickup.  In a business where margins are single digits, two side by side stores duplicating each other is not going to beat the merchant who gets it right.  And getting it right is a single integrated store front. Walmart's investment in this approach is doomed and the experience gained will not serve as a base for t...