lorax - 2:05 pm on Jan 23, 2009 (gmt 0)

I see writing on the wall - 800# gorillas are losing market share and are mere background noise. They can't keep up with the more nimble smaller companies that can keep costs down, customer service and quality up.

In a way, they've dug their own graves. Their brands wreak corporate but people are stepping away from corporate because of customer service issues and the generality of the companies.

I think Amazon & eBay will no longer be viewed as the place to pick up a quality product at a reduced rate because the manufacturer of the quality product will have several niche sites to sell on which will offer her/him a better return for the sale and generate more sales than Amazon. I think Amazon will become the dime store of the Internet and sell products for new manufacturers and cheap imports.

Buyers want personal service and niche marketers are slowly winning them away from the gorillas. We may not be able to compete head to head with Amazon or eBay if we position ourselves as General Stores of the INet but we can compete with them and beat them handily in niche markets.