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Two Ex-Googlers Want To Make Bodegas And Mom-And-Pop Corner Stores Obsolete (fastcompany.com)
Elizabeth Segran, writing for FastCompany: While it sometimes feels like we do all of our shopping on the internet, government data shows that actually less than 10% of all retail transactions happen online. In a world where we get our groceries delivered in just two hours through Instacart or Amazon Fresh, the humble corner store -- or bodega, as they are known in New York and Los Angeles -- still performs a valuable function. No matter how organized you are, you're bound to run out of milk or diapers in the middle of the night and need to make a quick visit to your neighborhood retailer. Paul McDonald, who spent 13 years as a product manager at Google, wants to make this corner store a thing of the past. Today, he is launching a new concept called Bodega with his cofounder Ashwath Rajan, another Google veteran. Bodega sets up five-foot-wide pantry boxes filled with non-perishable items you might pick up at a convenience store. An app will allow you to unlock the box and cameras powered with computer vision will register what you've picked up, automatically charging your credit card. The entire process happens without a person actually manning the "store." Bodega's logo is a cat, a nod to the popular bodega cat meme on social media -- although if the duo gets their way, real felines won't have brick-and-mortar shops to saunter around and take naps in much longer. "The vision here is much bigger than the box itself," McDonald says. "Eventually, centralized shopping locations won't be necessary, because there will be 100,000 Bodegas spread out, with one always 100 feet away from you."
That's what Millennials are for.
dinner: it's what's for beer
“To me, it is offensive for people who are not Hispanic to use the name ‘bodega,’ to make a quick buck,'”Garcia says. “It’s disrespecting all the mom-and-pop bodega owners that started these businesses in the ’60s and ’70s.”
In fact, Garcia would consider making it harder for McDonald to set up the pantry boxes within his community.
The obvious solution is to change the name from "bodega" to "McDonald's". Oh wait.
It's implied right in the name: 'Slurpee Indians' (vs. Casino Indians).
John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
Since bodegas are for peemergencies AND convenience items, I assume they'll add toilets too (or else their little "ventures" will become a convenient receptacle for that anyway).
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How about McDowell's? Free sample size of Soul-Glo with every combo purchase!
The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
You clearly know nothing about "disruptive innovation". And even less about hipsters.
Open Source Network Inventory for the masses! Kuwaiba
I apologize for being that guy, but it has apps! It's revolutionary! Revolutionary apps for your revolutionary paradigms that allow you to synergise your technology enabled lifestyle! Now with integrated fitbit support so you can burn off that candy bar as you eat it! Eat it on the go to keep up with the fast paced modern world! With apps!
No, it's a RoBodega.
"Trump!!", the new Godwin.