Being a shopkeeper has changed *a lot* in the past 30 years.

I have been primarily in the "handmade" and art business since 1985, and have had several stores and galleries in these fields.

![RD0192Building1.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/reddragonfly/OLvelIuz-RD0192-Building1.jpg)
*Downtown architecture*

One of the things I increasingly notice — and just noticed again, this morning — is that shopping/retail seems to be less and less about *"looking at, and buying things"* and more and more about *"being entertained."*

I was out in front of the store, sweeping, and watched a group of four people come by. 

They walked by our front door, cast a quick glance inside, and kept walking. Then they walked into the next door candle and incense store.

## *A Few Minutes Later...*

A few minutes later, these same people *did* come into the store.

"*Wow, cool gallery! We didn't realize there was anything HERE, but the lady next door told us to visit!*"

![RD0192Plants.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/reddragonfly/Nmcyz3s2-RD0192-Plants.jpg)
*Plants on the window ledge*

Difficult to know how to respond to that. These people actually looked in the window, and we have signs outside and it's pretty clearly visible that we have handcrafted items for sale.

What we *don't* have is a bunch of flashing lights, loud music and a troupe of dancing gnomes. And that seems to be more and part part of people's landscape of expectations.

## *Have We Just Grown Bored?*

Personally, I don't *like* stores that are more about *entertainment* than about the products they sell... in fact, I'd just as well by-pass them altogether. But evidently that's making me increasingly obsolete in the retailing field.

I remember first observing this trend in the foodservice industry, more than 20 years ago... the food itself becoming less and less significant in the *"dining out"* experience, and being replaced by the "entertainment factor."

Similarly, I don't go out to eat to be *entertained,* I go out to eat *great food.*

![RD0192Siebenbaum.jpg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/reddragonfly/Wxfaffl6-RD0192-Siebenbaum.jpg)
*Hidden behind wires and trees...*

And so, I keep coming back to the issue of whether we — as a society — are growing increasingly *bored* with everything, and have increasing expectations that every waking moment we have, must be filled with *"something,"* and preferable something *entertaining.*

Not my personal cup of tea... but is this our future?

Thanks for reading!

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Red Dragonfly is a proud graduate through the **@sndbox** creative incubator program, part of the *"Cohort 1"* team of May 31st, 2018. Please support **@sndbox** and the **@sndbox-alpha** curation initiative!

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*The Red Dragonfly is an independent alternative art gallery located in Port Townsend, WA; showcasing edgy and unique contemporary art & handmade crafts by local and worldwide artists. All images are our own, unless otherwise credited. Where applicable, artist images used with permission.*

***2019.03.15***
***0192***