If there were no more wars in the world, all the mercenaries would go into retailing Today retailing is WAR. The Big Boys are acting like the warring countries in the rest of the world. They are fighting over the land between themselves and the little guys. Today the large retailers not only want the land that separates us from them but they want the very land we live and stand on. They want it all for themselves. They want the small stores, out of their way, out of the mix and out-of-business!
Retail stores are at war. The small “Mom & Pop” stores who’ve kept Main Street going and “Downtown” vital for years are being battered by the giants. It’s a battle for land, a battle for position, and sadly, a battle for the places that have kept the independent retailer and their family in business for many years. These large stores are the Goliath’s who’ve stepped one giant foot after the other across the land to conquer, by crushing and destroying anyone and everyone in their path.
For “Mom and Pop” retailers, every single day is a battle for survival against the giants of retailing: the Big Box Stores (Wal-Mart, Target, Kohl’s, etc.), the Chain Stores (CVS, Rite Aid, Food Stores, etc.) and the Category Killers (Home Depot, Lowe’s, Staples, etc.). Every day these big guys engage in skirmishes against the little guys: the independent stores. More and more they use their sizable armies and millions of dollars to attack small stores and force them out of business. They have been very successful, in fooling local communities and original supporters into believing that they would become part of the community’s supporters and future. Instead they leave a trail of casualties behind them.
But although they may have won many battles, they have not won the retail war. While these big guys have the size and millions to back them, they lack the friendly attitude that comes with a locally owned and operated store. They can’t always compete with the people who are armed and ready to know the expectations and needs of their neighbors. This is what independent retailers take pride in and do well. We treat our customers right, give them the right product, and offer them the right advice about the merchandise and how best to use it. Customers return because they become comfortable with the store down the block, around the corner, in town, etc., and the people who work there. People like doing business with their friends. That’s why most of us are still in existence. That’s why we stay in retailing despite the many pressures to close up shop.
Nevertheless, retailing is a brutal business. It requires your time on nights, weekends and holidays. It’s a physically demanding and a mentally taxing business that requires long, hard hours on your feet. There’s not a lot of time to sit around while receiving truck loads of merchandise, setting counters, waiting on customers, supervising employees, handling daily problems and tackling unforeseen situations. No matter how well you plan there are fires to fight everyday. These fires must be put out now rather than later.
Thus, retailing requires rugged individuals who are dedicated, disciplined, and persistent self-starters. To succeed in retailing requires endurance, forbearance, loyalty, commitment and stamina. “There is no crying in retail”
On a daily basis you have goals to meet, sales to beat, budgets to control, and profits to make. You must revise and execute new battle plans daily. But you’re also able to immediately assess how your plan is working and adopt and adapt new strategies if and when necessary. It’s all part of what makes the retail business so challenging. Nothing is more gratifying.
You must constantly out-think and out-smart your competition: the Big Boys. You’ll need to stay ahead of the trends, forecast the economy, and develop “action plans” for your next move. In retailing, you must win decisively to survive. You must go on the offensive. You must play chess not checkers. It’s a thinking man’s game. It’s guerrilla warfare. And of course it would help if you were clairvoyant!
Talk about wearing many hats. As a storeowner or manager you must excel at sales, service, planning, organizing, delegating, coordinating, controlling, maneuvering, communicating, staffing and scheduling. You are a part-time buyer, sales person, accountant, lawyer, mediator, negotiator, trainer, project manager, leader and supervisor.
But again, as brutally demanding as retailing is, it is also very satisfying. It is fun and exciting---never dull. Each day presents challenges and change. Working with people in itself is a satisfying experience. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing an employee develop to their full potential or making a customer a friend for life. I have worked in retail since I was about 12-years-old. However, my first exposure to owning a business was not until I was in high school. My first business was an egg route in the newly built development of Levittown, Pa. I bought the route off of Glenn Ranck, a German Mennonite, my, mentor at the time. This was a great experience for me first learning many aspects of business from Glenn and then building a business. I didn’t receive formal on-the-job education until I went to work for the F. W. Woolworth Company. That’s where I learned the professional aspects of merchandising and store operations. (I have since become a LLL “Life Long Learner” studying my profession daily.)
At Mapes we live our “Continuing Mission Statement” (What we must do day in and day out to be successful at Mapes)
1. Take the best care of our Customers (Give service and value for money received second to none)
2. Create lots of opportunities for our Employees (To provide ourselves, with secure, well paid jobs in a challenging equal opportunity environment)
3. To generate a reasonable ROI (Return On Investment) for Mapes Stakeholders (Employees ~ Vendors ~ Communities ~ Landlords ~ Banks ~ Investors ~ Other Outside Contacts)
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