Ex-All Black Dan Carter shows off his collaboration with Louis Vuitton. Photo / Supplied
Ex-All Black Dan Carter shows off his collaboration with Louis Vuitton. Photo / Supplied
OPINION
We all have heroes. People who we look up to and admire. For the most part, the status that we attribute to them is often due to their achievements and/or actions.
Some may have done something truly heroic, like saving somebody's life. Others may have, through their words and attitude,positively influenced millions.
The great thing about heroes – particularly when they do not diminish the manner in which they are held – is that they can also encourage us to greater achievements.
So, the label of "hero" is a quite important one, particularly when they reside in areas of life that you regard as important.
• Steve Jobs – businessman, inventor, and innovator
Not surprisingly, these four cover the important things in life, family, courage, music, football, and business. There are many more who I considered to come up with that list but that is it – for now.
It is so easy, though, for hero status (like reputation) to be damaged or diminished.
And this is particularly the case where actions or statements run counter to what you or I might believe to be highly important at a particular point in time. One such person in my frame of reference is currently smiling up at me from a glossy "circular".
The advent of the Australian megastore Chemist Warehouse on our shores probably preceded Covid-19 but, because I have concern for our local and national economy (and small businesses in particular), their blitzkrieg of advertising does not sit right with me.
Not least of which, the image of our greatest All Black of recent times encouraging us to funnel our money to an Australian mega corporation is a bit jarring.
To be fair, Dan Carter is entitled to represent what he wants and if I were the Chemist Warehouse trying to force my way into a new market, I would reach out for someone who the nation trusted to be the "Chemist Warehouse Ambassador".
Russell Bell: "If we are replacing family businesses with more 'big box' retailers which only offer middle to minimum wage jobs, we will pay in the long run." Photo / file
But, given how tough things are for small businesses (and there are several owner-operated chemists and small online operators selling fragrances, supplements, and medicines) it has a similar feeling to Dan joining the Wallabies in the prime of his career.
And while some may say "competition is a good thing" (and if it creates innovation and better services that is true) - price competition on its own can turn into an inexorable march to the bottom.
I have previously mentioned the concept of chasing a few dollars in savings at the ultimate cost of our main-street/local retailers and, in the end, the market will dictate if there is enough positive response to the call to "stop paying too much".
But, if we are replacing family businesses with more "big box" retailers which only offer middle to minimum wage jobs, we will pay in the long run.
