Big vs. Small Business

One thing that I find interesting in the first four chapters of Emile Zola’s book is the constant theme of competition and capitalism. Nearly all the struggles that develop between characters are derived from a competitive point of view. Denise’s uncle is in a struggle to compete against the new department store, along with his original competition among other “old style” drapers. His situation is similar to other clothing and goods shops that we are introduced to. The old man that sells umbrellas and canes is in a constant struggle to keep customers although he is mesmerized by the vast space and “trendy” style that the Au Bonheur des Dames brings to the area. This theme of competition is not only confined to external struggles between the Au Bonheur des Dames and other stores. Capitalism and a competitive edge are present inside the store itself. Due to Mouret’s implementation of employee commissions, the employees are constantly in competition with each other to increase their sales percentages and thus increase their daily pay. This struggle between employees also translates to the department scale. The author makes it very apparent that the lace, wool, and silk departments of Au Bonheur des Dames are in a constant race to coarse the customer to their areas. I think this theme is very important when considering Destiny USA’s potential impact on the surrounding Syracuse area. We need to consider some of the threats a mega-mall can impose on the small businesses and communities of the adjacent areas. Although the mega-mall can bring numerous job opportunities to the community, it can also impose be a very threatening force in the area of customer attraction. Why go to the small sushi bar in Armory Square when you can go eat sushi next to an ice climbing wall or a pool of sea creatures? I believe that the balance between improving the economy of Syracuse and total destruction of its financial basis is a very thin line.