IT MAY SOUND ODD, but the Holy Grail of Internet commerce and marketing is to provide the same kind of service that merchants and storekeepers did about a hundred years ago. At the turn of the last century, if you were a good customer your butcher might set aside his best cut of meat for you. He knew your tastes, your preferences, perhaps even how many family members you were buying for and whether any of them had special dietary needs. He might even suggest a few recipes every once in a while.
Customers—whether they’re buying online or walking into a store—have always patronized companies that offer good products and services. But that has never been all there is to a purchase decision—and the old-time butcher ...
