Marketing and all things related

We often gripe that the US exports junky culture overseas. So maybe it is only appropriate that Japanese convenience store Famima is quietly invading Los Angeles. But in this deal, US consumers win. Famima is not your typical US convenience store with overpriced slushy drinks, stale sandwiches, dirty microwaves, and cigarettes hanging from overhead gravity racks. According to Business Week, Famima is an upscale, tech-driven emporium. The store in Hollywood stocks organic instant oatmeal, and French stationery alongside staples like diapers and dog food. There is also a digital photo enlarging service. Oh, and missing is gasoline, because Famima is a free-standing retail outlet sans gas pumps. There are only four such stores so far, but the chain expects to expand to 200 nationwide locations by 2009. Hello, Kitty!