Question

After listening to all of the challenges and issues, Rhea said she wanted to propose a more sweeping change. Mark has already suggested doing some of the retailer's job for them. I say go even further–let's just do away with all of the intermediaries. We can perform all of their functions ourselves?

Answer 1

The subject matter pertains to business strategy, particularly the elimination of intermediaries to maximize profits and control over the sales process. The historical context of mail-order houses exemplifies a similar strategy from the past.

Step-by-step explanation:

The dialogue presented indicates a strategic business discussion, likely within a corporate or entrepreneurial context, about trust and direct sales strategy. The speaker emphasizes the importance of mutual trust, the goal to sell a significant quantity of product by year's end, and the challenges of dealing with 'smarter' buyers.

There is a push for self-reliance by proposing to eliminate intermediaries and sell directly, thus controlling the entire sales process oneself. This approach can be compared to historical shifts in retail like the rise of mail-order houses and marketing advancements that allowed companies such as Sears to serve a national market directly through catalogs.

The historical reference highlights how the mail-order business model changed consumer behavior and market reach, similar to the sweeping change proposed in the initial dialogue. Back then, it revolutionized retail by creating direct lines to consumers, which is analogous to the current discussion of removing intermediaries to regain control and maximize profit.