Disappearing family businesses is becoming an everyday occurrence "in a world dominated by big-box retailers," observes Fast Co Design. Yet that doesn't make this inevitable extinction go down anymore smoothly. People also live in a world dominated by nostalgia, making it impossible to let go of the past as easily as corporations and franchises would like.
Photographer Carl Corey has put together a poignant photo essay documenting a handful of disappearing family businesses in towns across his home state of Wisconsin. He spent two years capturing 100 businesses from barber shops to furniture stores and roadside diners for his new book, 'For Love and Money: Portraits of Wisconsin Family Businesses.' Corey says, "I didn't want the book to be more somber than celebratory, but I learned a lot about this and it did become more of a historical document than a social or cultural document because of the fact that these businesses are disappearing."
Disappearing Family Businesses
Carl Corey Captures a World Dominated by Big-box Retailers
Trend Themes
1. Nostalgia-driven Consumption - There is an opportunity for businesses to tap into people's attachment to the past and offer experiences or products that evoke nostalgia.
2. Small Business Resilience - Amidst the dominance of big-box retailers, there is an opportunity to promote and sustain small, family-owned businesses and their unique offerings.
3. Cultural Preservation - The disappearing family businesses highlight the importance of preserving cultural heritage and traditions through documentation and support.
Industry Implications
1. Retail - Big-box retailers can incorporate elements of nostalgia and personalization into their brand to compete with small, family-owned businesses.
2. Tourism and Hospitality - There is an opportunity for local tourism and hospitality industries to promote and support small, family-owned businesses as part of their cultural identity and unique offering.
3. Publishing and Media - Publishers and media outlets can produce content that showcases the importance of preserving cultural heritage through stories of disappearing family businesses.