A hypothesis about the future of retail

SF Writer Charles Stross makes some acute observations about the current retail business environment and ceteris paribus the future of, perhaps not only retail, but service and manufacturing as well.

Walking around various British cities over the past couple of years I've noticed an increasing number of vacant shop fronts (some in prime retail situations). I've also noticed a disturbing loss of diversity in our high streets, as quirky local shops give way to cookie-cutter national chains. I have, like most people, had the frustrating experience of trying to work out whether my mobile phone contract or the airline flight I'm been booking is actually the cheapest one that meets my needs, or whether I'm being gouged by a computer somewhere. And so I'm trying to put the pieces of the jigsaw together because I'm interested in guessing what our retail experience is going to look like in 10 years' time—the traditional "if this goes on ..." exercise beloved of science fiction writers. Which leads me via the following chain of logic to a hypothesis about the future of retail.

Full Story: Part 1: Charlie's Diary
Part 2: High Street Blues