5 Ways to Out-Amazon Amazon in Online Selling

1. A digital Wal-Mart greeter. Much maligned, the Wal-Mart greeter wasn't such a bad idea. Legend has it that Sam Walton was a really big fan of the greeter. He intended for greeters to be friendly people that would make shoppers feel welcome and comfortable as they entered his stores. However, when the friendly greeter was asked to be a "Jekyll and Hyde" multitasker, playing concierge on one hand and security guard on the other in order to reduce shrinkage and control Black Friday crowds — more of the latter than the former — things didn't quite turn out the way Mr. Walton had envisioned. The greeter started to decline in popularity and he's virtually gone or been replaced by a real security guard.