So Junes = Wal-Mart?

[BornofFire_420]

Anybody else get this? A big buisness that destroys small buisness in the area? They say that about when a Wal Mart goes up in a small town or am I reading this wrong?

[dragonlife29]

Maybe.

Didn't the art book/manual mention something about stuff like this occurring in Japan?

Hmm...maybe I'm confusing it with the biker gangs/greasers comparisons.

[stray]

It kind of reminds me of Costco more... but the idea of a hypermarket killing main street is pretty much universal, whether it be Wal-mart, Carrefour, Junes, etc.

[atboob]

Yeah, its just that a lot of rural Japan has been holding out for some time. They are still trying to work their main streets. Its all sort of going south now though with Kainz Home (a crazy mash up of Wal mart and Home Depot) and other big mega stores moving in. I think Wal Mart already has interest in certain retail schemes over there. Amazing that inaka held out this long, but that's Japan for you.

[raum215]

I think it is inspired by Saiyu. Saiyu is a real life department store chain that was bought and made into a big-box store chain by Wal-mart. It was losing business and a big stink, so they did what wal-mart does... move out to the boonies and open up stores in towns to build their marketbase. then they lowball the local shops with "unbeatable price and selection" and kill local businesses.

[Azriel Crusnik]

I didn't even notice the connection till you brought it up, good analysis.

[earl437]

I was actaully at Wal-Mart the other day and I saw some kids go inside a TV in the electronics section

[persona3rocks]

Lucky i wish i could go into a t.v.!

[earl437]

Lucky i wish i could go into a t.v.!
Then I got dizzy after I shook the hand of a gas station attendant.

[persona3rocks]

You know your not supposed to sniff the gas fumes!:p
I always get dizzy after shaking hands with gas station attendents i thought everone did!

[Silverback1138]

It kind of reminds me of Costco more... but the idea of a hypermarket killing main street is pretty much universal, whether it be Wal-mart, Carrefour, Junes, etc.

Costco is a bit different of a store concept though. It doesn't completely remove the need for other stores since it gets you savings by buying in bulk. There are certain commodities that you can't really purchase there. I used to work at their corporate site and one of the parts of training was explaining Costco's business model and it isn't designed to replace other stores. Good business ethics aren't secondary like other businesses also, it's a primary pillar of their corporate beliefs. Great company, which is why I felt that I needed to state why they differentiate themselves from other big box stores.

[persona3rocks]

So Costco is like Sams Club. Everything you buy is in bulk. It's pree cool!!!:)

[Silverback1138]

[QUOTE=persona3rocks;84084]So Costco is like Sams Club. Everything you buy is in bulk. It's pree cool!!!:)[/QUOTE

In general function yes, but Sams Club products aren't nearly a good as Costco. Sams Club is an arm of the Walmart corporation and Walmart and Costco have differening business cultures, as anyone can see when you step into one versus the other. I don't want to get into the questionable business ethics debate here because it's not the place to do it, we just want our Persona 4 talk :).

[stray]

It kind of reminds me of Costco more... but the idea of a hypermarket killing main street is pretty much universal, whether it be Wal-mart, Carrefour, Junes, etc.

Costco is a bit different of a store concept though. It doesn't completely remove the need for other stores since it gets you savings by buying in bulk. There are certain commodities that you can't really purchase there. I used to work at their corporate site and one of the parts of training was explaining Costco's business model and it isn't designed to replace other stores. Good business ethics aren't secondary like other businesses also, it's a primary pillar of their corporate beliefs. Great company, which is why I felt that I needed to state why they differentiate themselves from other big box stores.

Oh, mostly I just meant cosmetically... I have heard that Costco offers some of the best wages and benefits of any retail entity and is still successful. But Junes food court especially reminds me of a Costco food court...

Also, Costco has locations in Japan (http://www.costco.co.jp/eng/whs_860.htm), whereas Walmart does not.