The term supermarketization, also known as Walmartization, and in a more positive light as urbanization, has been a key issue for many concerned citizens and small business owners in the increasingly big business oriented world we live in. In the UK especially, many towns feel they have lost their traditional culture with supermarket giants such as Tesco spreading itself
throughout the country, killing off many small local businesses. This issue has seen 
several rebellions in recent years such as the Bristol Riots in 2011 where the newly opened,
and thankfully empty, Tesco had firebombs thrown at it. Responding police officers were met
with attack from the public wielding a variety of makeshift weapons. This attack followed months of discontent and disapproval with the construction of the store being performed behind hoardings to prevent vandalism. This issue is demonstrated as well in the recent closing of the fourty year old Gigi Shoes, the final shoe store on the historic Wong Nai Chung road in Hong Kong. The high street, once known Hong Kong’s shoe district, is now lined with property brokers capable of paying the rent which has doubled in the past decade. The greatest threat that comes with the closures of these traditional stores is the loss of culture and tradition associated with it. Despite being strongly in favour of free markets, I also believe the government should intervene in cases which have a potential of destroying a town’s atmosphere and history. Whether this means subsidizing rent for historic shoe stores or preventing the opening of a large metal and glass Tesco in an otherwise traditional area. They should certainly step in if the incoming company is clearly unwelcome such as in the case of the Bristolian Tesco. In the end, the government should protect the interests of their people rather than enterprises. Likewise, companies should feel a moral obligation not to irritate potential customers with inconsiderate construction.

A huge role model of mine, especially in the world of business, is Elon Musk, a businessman who has been extremely accomplished in a variety of industries. Founding and co-founding the companies PayPal, Tesla, Space X, Solar City, he has proven himself to be a very competent entrepreneur. Despite becoming a wildly successful and wealthy entrepreneur, he has stayed true to his ambitions of environmental sustainability, hard work, and progress. Musk places a huge importance on a sustainable future with products and services encouraging renewable resources such as Tesla’s electric cars and solar charging stations, SolarCity, and the proposed HyperLoop project. He even welcomes competition to the Tesla electric car citing the importance of environmental sustainability over Tesla’s profit. Musk has also demonstrated a can-do and hardworking attitude; telling his employees to contact him anytime night or day and reportedly working more than 100 hour weeks. It is clear that he is incredibly committed to his companies and goals. As someone who strongly believes that businesses should have the best interests of their customers, employees, and planet at heart, it is clear why this ambitious, hardworking, progressive, and environmentally invested individual is my idea of a responsible businessman with good ethics.