November 21, 2007
Back To The Cottage
Just in case you missed the 2nd chapter of John Sipple's Back to the Cottage last week, here is an excerpt:
I was the first in my family to go to college. Although no one acknowledged it at the time, I suppose we all knew that when I left for school it would be the first time that an oldest son in my family would not return to carry on the family business.
I spent a few more summers taking care of the vegetable business, but in reality the seed of a more radical change was sown. I was not just leaving behind an economic model of production and distribution, I was leaving a way of seeing and being in the world. It would be some time before I understood the loss, and began my journey back to the Cottage.
Download Back to the Cottage PDFs
Preface
Chapter 1: Field Tested
Chapter 2: The Cottage
And here's little sneak peek of Chapter 3:
My story reflects the dynamics and characteristics associated with traditional Cottage industry — a business form typically, and I think erroneously, assumed to have petered out with the Industrial Revolution. There have always been mom & pop businesses, and I imagine there always will be. The commercial well curve that became apparent in the 2000 US Census is evidence that itŐs not Cottage businesses that are being squeezed out of the economy but mid-sized companies.
The digital age means just about anyone can do almost anything from nearly anywhere by keeping quality, innovation and service high and overhead low. Competing with nimble little guys on speed, price and quality is as tough as taking on economic heavyweights. It may never have been more dangerous to be stuck in the middle of the market.
