Could Peer-to-Peer Help Independent Businesses?

AmericanInKiev asks: "As an antidote to the trend of big businesses wiping out the independant business/cafe/bookshops - is it possible to use P2P applications to link related independant businesses rather than watch them die one by one? For example, you go to a small bookshop and ask for "The long dark tea-time of the soul" by Douglas Adams. "Fresh out" they say, but a quick P2P lookup shows the book available around the corner. A friend of mine runs a fourth generation retail nursery, but the Big Box stores buy in bulk and often sell plants as loss leaders. If he had a P2P system which could coordinate inventories across multiple small nurseries, they could buy in bulk, and search each others inventories, and aggregate shared stock to fill large orders from tight inventories. In a fashion, P2P and a common courier system, would create a kind of power grid effect for small businesses allowing load sharing, individual contribution, and economy of scale. Is there a P2P technology currently oriented towards this market?"

Comments

Probably not

[Zachary Kessin]

The issue is not software its stock costs. The Walmarts of the world can sell retail for less than the little guys can buy wholesale because they buy everything in huge quanitites.

If you are a little guy who wants to go up agenst the Walmarts and the B&N's of the world you better have something specific to draw people into your shop. I don't think P2p inventory is going to do it.