Corporate Retail out to kill local shops!

[jasondbaker]

First, Gander Mountain is a MN company so I don't see why we should boycott them.  If they didn't do it then maybe Cabelas or REI would have tried. 

Second, I think competition is good.  If the mega-stores win our business then they deserve it.  If it forces the local shops to increase service and support in order to compete, who wins? We do.

Finally, local shops will exist as long as there is a need.  Dive shops have to play by the same rules as every other small business out there.  If people don't need to buy fills from you anymore then too bad.  You should have picked a different location or line of work. You should have changed your business model to conform with your customer's changing needs.  Nobody guarantees that your small business will succeed.  That's the risk we all take as business owners and entrepreneurs.  We will always be able to get fills in Duluth as long as enough people need fills and someone can make a profit selling those fills.