| Author | Message | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
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A large store was gradually buying up all the businesses in a block in order to be one huge store (think Harrods etc). One last shop resolutely stood firm and refused to sell up. In fact his profits had never been higher despite the fact that he was surrounded on both sides by the other store. He was just one thin strip of storefront in the middle of the block. How did he get to be so profitable? | ||
| Ian (Image)
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Is what he sells relevant? Is what the †ber-Store sells relevant? Is what the old stores that got bought out used to sell relevant? Is the name of any store relevant? So.... the one little store... did it sell: Goods? Food? Electronics? Computers? Clothing? Accessories? Makeup? Stationary? Games? Furniture? Novelties? Hobby supplies? Auto parts? Machinary? Tools? Alcohols? Maps? Other? Services? Haircuts? Meals? Undertaking services? Insurance? Fashion styling stuff? Financial services? Other? | ||
| Ally McCabe (Strongplacebo)
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Is there a product both establisments sell? Does the smaller shop sell something cheaper? Perhaps consumers buy it here then take it back to the larger one for a refund, thus making a profit? | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
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By Ian (Image) on Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 03:52 pm: Is what he sells relevant? not really Is what the †ber-Store sells relevant? not really Is what the old stores that got bought out used to sell relevant? no - some of them may not even have been stores as such Is the name of any store relevant? no So.... the one little store... did it sell: the story does not say what he sold Goods? most probably Food? Electronics? Computers? Clothing? Accessories? Makeup? Stationary? Games? Furniture? Novelties? Hobby supplies? Auto parts? Machinary? Tools? Alcohols? Maps? Other? Services? but this is a possibility Haircuts? Meals? Undertaking services? Insurance? Fashion styling stuff? Financial services? Other? | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
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By Ally McCabe (Strongplacebo) on Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 04:07 pm: Is there a product both establisments sell? quite possibly Does the smaller shop sell something cheaper? not known Perhaps consumers buy it here then take it back to the larger one for a refund, thus making a profit? good thinking, but not relevant | ||
| dryman (Dryman)
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did more people stop in on their way to the large store? on the way from it? did the extra profits not have to do with more customers? | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
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By dryman (Dryman) on Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 04:10 pm: did more people stop in on their way to the large store? yes on the way from it? no did the extra profits not have to do with more customers? it had to with more customers | ||
| Tim A. Dowd (Bodo)
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It's not just the giant retailler bringing more people by, though? Publicity over the situation relevant? Does something about the situation make it more palatable to shop there? | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
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By Tim A. Dowd (Bodo) on Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 06:43 pm: It's not just the giant retailler bringing more people by, though? no Publicity over the situation relevant? no Does something about the situation make it more palatable to shop there? no | ||
| dryman (Dryman)
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do they go there because there is a good/service they need or want? do they need/want it specifically because they will be going to the larger store? do they go there mostly because all other businesses that had provided the good/service in the area were destroyed to make room for the larger store? | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
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By dryman (Dryman) on Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 09:42 pm: do they go there because there is a good/service they need or want? no, although presumably he does offer a good service do they need/want it specifically because they will be going to the larger store? no do they go there mostly because all other businesses that had provided the good/service in the area were destroyed to make room for the larger store? no | ||
| dryman (Dryman)
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do they go there to use the bathroom?? | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
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By dryman (Dryman) on Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 10:49 pm: do they go there to use the bathroom?? no  | ||
| Vae (Vaetrus)
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Is there something special/attractive about small store? About the appearance of the small store? Vice-versa, is there something replusive/un-attractive about the large store? About the appearance of the large store? Is it to do with the inside of the smaller store? The products? The street outside? Vice-versa, about the inside of the larger store? Their products? | ||
| Katy (Katy)
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I have a vague recollection of this - is it a true story? or a joke? I'll stop if the details start coming back to me Play on words involved? | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
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By Vae (Vaetrus) on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 02:54 am: Is there something special/attractive about small store? not really About the appearance of the small store? something about the appearance is relevant Vice-versa, is there something replusive/un-attractive about the large store? About the appearance of the large store? no to both Is it to do with the inside of the smaller store? no The products? no The street outside? no Vice-versa, about the inside of the larger store? Their products? no to both By Katy (Katy) on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 10:35 am: I have a vague recollection of this - is it a true story? or a joke? I'll stop if the details start coming back to me it's a story - how true I don't know, but an excellent example of creative/lateral thinking! Play on words involved? no | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
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it's not exactly a joke, or maybe it is, but everyone we've told has laughed at the answer | ||
| Katy (Katy)
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I remember I think. Email on its way - if I'm not right I'd like to keep going | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
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Katy - correct | ||
| Torgeir Apeland (Abc)
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Did the large store change anything relevant about the smaller stores as they were bought up? Is the name of the huge store relevant? The name of the small store? Did the small store somehow stand out because of some design issue? | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
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By Torgeir Apeland (Abc) on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 12:35 pm: Did the large store change anything relevant about the smaller stores as they were bought up? no Is the name of the huge store relevant? no The name of the small store? noish Did the small store somehow stand out because of some design issue? technically yes, but that may mislead | ||
| John Morahan (Wunderland)
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Did the small store look like an entrance to the large store? | ||
| Lynne (Lynne)
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By John Morahan (Wunderland) on Monday, October 24, 2005 - 07:42 pm: Did the small store look like an entrance to the large store? YES Enough for a ***** SPOILER ******** Determined not to be pushed out of his business despite being surrounded on all sides by the competition, the enterprising small shop owner placed a large sign over his own door which simply said ENTRANCE. Well done | ||
| John Morahan (Wunderland)
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Very clever. | ||
| Vae (Vaetrus)
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Truly truly funny. And very ingenious too. Nice puzzle. |
