Search, Locate and Buy - Business is Done Locally!

New services such as NearbyNow and Slifter allow you to search online for what you want - either from your computer or your mobile phone - they will show you the store location nearest you with the product you want in stock.

I tried a search for "Wild Fire" - a book by one of my favorite authors, Nelson Demille - and was promptly presented with inventory and pricing at my local home town bookstore just minutes from my house.

The gap between online and bricks and mortar retail is getting more narrow every day. Check out this article (albeit a bit dated) about the impact of local search on local brick and mortar small businesses.

StartupJournal | E-Commerce

Caroline