demise of the department store. This starts by describing the current situation in retail, which involves departments stores losing the interest of consumers and being forced to close, while smaller specialty stores become more popular.

After describing the general demise and the current situation, the author explains the reasons behind the demise. The first reason given is that the department store was originally created in a time before the automobile. It was then a new way of retailing and the stores were only competing against small family-owned retailers. This includes that the previous system of bartering was replaced with a system with fixed prices where consumers were guaranteed satisfaction or their money back. The author also notes that departments stores were a place to go as much as they were a place to shop. This section of the article explains why department stories initially became popular.

The first change in...
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