As the holiday shopping has commenced I’ve noticed the continuing and unnerving trend of the diminished quality of products and service in the retail experience. Sadly, commoditization continues to diminish product design and aesthetic and is eroding personal service.This truly sets apart the retailers that “get it” and still deliver exceptional quality in design and service over those that treat the retail experience like a factory of widgets. Can exceptionalism still win? Only if and when the customer tires of the mediocrity and demands through the free market what was the norm just a few yesterdays ago.