The document discusses the concept of a "holon" which is a component of a system that is both a whole and part. In retail, key holons include areas like merchandising, advertising, product management, and point-of-sale systems. An effective retailer ensures each holon functions well individually and together to create a successful customer experience. In contrast, an "unstacked" retailer lacks integrated holons and coordination among them to attract customers and boost employee productivity. Building a "stacked retail enterprise" requires aligning interdependent holons to achieve robust sales and profits, though it requires more effort than focusing on just one area.

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2. What is a holon?
A holon (from the Greek: holos,
meaning ‘whole’) is a component of a
system that is simultaneously a whole
and a part.
Each holon must have a stable
structure and serve a purpose within
the context of the proper functionality
of a whole system.
For example, each of these blocks is
a holon, a ‘whole’, yet when stacked
creates a greater structure.
Stacked Retailing | ©2009 Ed Legum 2

3. What is a retail holon?
Key retail holons include:
• Performance management
• Visual merchandising
• Advertising
• Product management
• Point-of-sale automation
and others.
See the next slide for more. ▶
Stacked Retailing | ©2009 Ed Legum 3

4. Each retail holon has to function
well by itself and at the same
Recruitment
time contribute to the successful
operation of the whole store.
A stacked retail enterprise is made
Selection Location up of holons that are both diverse
and integrated.
Store
Training Advertising
Design
Performance POS Product
Display
Management Management
Stacked Retailing | ©2009 Ed Legum 4

5. An unstacked retailer lacks both the
functional holons and the organization
of holons working together to create
new customers and increase employee
productivity.
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Performance ?
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Stacked Retailing | ©2009 Ed Legum 5

6. Unstacked retailers ask:
Isn’t there just one thing I can do to
increase my sales and profits?
Unstacked retailers don’t want to hear
the answer: You can’t just do one thing.
In a stacked retail enterprise holons
work in a simultaneous state of
independence and dependence.
If you only do one thing right, you
create a compromised retail experience
that has a low chance of achieving
robust sales and profits.
Stacked Retailing | ©2009 Ed Legum 6

7. If this sounds complex …
… well, it is.
If you are willing to invest your energy
and intelligence to create a stacked
retail enterprise you can attract new
customers and top employees …
And harvest robust sales and profits.
ed@hownet.com
800-Ed Legum
Stacked Retailing | ©2009 Ed Legum 7