Why is a cheap mall jewelry store closing relevant to Hacker News?

> it suffered in the face of competition from cheaper, online brands such as Shein and Temu

And, you know. Being laid off seems part of the culture nowdays

Wondering why this is #2 (now #1) on the front page of HN. Doesn't seem as though they sell tech. Did the demise of Rite-Aid get noticed here last year? I doubt it.

I think it says something about what tech is delivering: The article claims the main reason for closing was competition from online stores like Temu.

@dang I would suggest an investigation into why this post (not the parent comment, the whole post) is reaching the level it is.

I mean the stores are small, and in the US at least you can get a decent sampling at any Walmart or Target.

The demographic doesn't go to malls much anymore. Gone are the days of dumping preteens at the mall when school was out.

I am wondering why this is high on HN?

Perhaps a story of change and how new businesses shift existing ones? Nothing new though but still important to keep in mind.

Are AI robots piercing ears now?

Seems like they'll be piercing whole human soon ba-da-ts

Is the Teen Girl Squad from Homestar Runner running HN now?

TLDR: people are cost conscious and cutting out the middle man by going direct to suppliers (or more direct).

I expect management probably didn't do as well as they could have too.

While tech has definitely enabled this shift, it doesn't seem overly relevant, outside of the current doomer views (albeit, it feels, valid views!)

I'm curious to know why you think that. In a sense, I have a feeling we replaced all the middle-men for a single one who controls who and what can be sold and when. But the middle man is there closing whole Venice for personal reasons

Anyone else think we're headed for a second great depression?

Given that the layoffs began in 2023, we're well into it

I’m surprised by the employee count. 8.4 employees to run each store - less if some were delivery and back office, and that includes store management. I guess these were small stores? Closed on weekends?