Marketing and Sales Before the Super Walmart

Isn't this desire for personalized, niche services just hearkening back to the times of yore (you remeber yore, dontcha?). Being impressed and mesmerized by the fact that companies are interested in engaging with you on a personal level through outlets like Twitter seems to smack of having salesperson in a store actually walk up and HELP YOU find what YOU'RE LOOKING FOR in a hardware store, doesn't it?

Doesn't the "new" and apparently noteworthy business model of specializing in niche products like bacon, candy, and toys especially for geeks just remind us of stories about bakeries that *gasp* just makes BAKED GOODS? Or butchers offering JUST MEAT? Or cobblers actually MAKING SHOES?

Maybe consumers are tired of generalization. Maybe we want people who do what they do best to DO WHAT THEY DO BEST. Maybe consumers just want help finding what they're looking for.

Maybe "yore" is pointing you in the right direction of your next marketing campaign. Or heck, maybe it's the answer to your whole marketing and sales strategy.