Businesspundit links to a Businessweek article examining why the small business art supply and wooden toymaker BEKA refuses to sell to big box stores:
BEKA, a St. Paul (Minn.)-based independent toymaker specializing in wooden blocks and art supplies, is dealing with the same issues as its retailer customers -- and many of the same fears. With the increasing clout of big-box stores, BEKA President Jamie Kreisman says diversifying the product line and staying loyal to the specialty market are his key defenses....Remember that the current wisdom is that supplying WM can destroy a company, like Vlasic.Q: Have you ever considered selling to Wal-Mart or another big-box retailer?
A: For me personally, it would take changing the way we operate. The mid-tier market provided a large volume for some manufactures, and now they've turned to Wal-Mart now that the middle tier is disappearing.
Posted by Kevin on December, 10 2004 at 12:47 PM
