RETAILOBSERVER.COM MARCH 2024
4
Eliana Barriga
eliana@retailobserver.com
To family and friendships,
MARCH 2024, VOLUME 35, ISSUE 3
CELEBRATING OUR 35
TH
YEAR
AS THE RETAIL OBSERVER
PUBLISHER/MANAGING EDITOR
ELIANA BARRIGA
DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING
MOE LASTFOGEL
ART DIRECTOR
TERRY PRICE
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
TOM HICKMAN
FRED HOLBROOK
ANDY KRIEGE
RICH LINDBLOM
PAUL MACDONALD
STEVEN MORRIS
FRANK SANDTNER
ROB STOTT
JOHN TSCHOHL
LIBBY WAGNER
KARYN WINRICH
ALAN WOLF
DEADLINE FOR MAY 2024 ISSUE:
APRIL 1, 2024
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Elle's View As I See It
T
here's a topic of discussion that I know many independent retailers and
small business owners deal with day in and day out, yet no one seems
to really talk about, and that is the challenges and benefits of working
with family and friends. At the end of the day, it's these close-knit relationships
and the level of trust and loyalty formed (or not) throughout the years that will
impact the state of the business at any given time.
Think about how can a business thrive if the owner (father/mother) or store
manager (son/daughter) is dealing with a chronic illness? Who will do the
accounting when the bookkeeper is the daughter struggling with the first few
months of motherhood? I am sure many family-run companies deal with issues
similar to these. However, when the owner, store manager or accountant is
your family member, decisions on who should take their place or how to keep
their jobs intact when they return become a little more sensitive.
As part of a family-owned business, you are reminded each and every day
that relationships are what matters and that "human-ness" in business is
important. Ideally this makes us better managers and people because we can't
just fire our sibling for losing a truckload of furniture, now can we? In keeping
with that spirit, we would do well to stand by our employees when they fail and
to celebrate them in their accomplishments. We wouldn't schedule our top
salesperson to work every Saturday when we know he's been recently
divorced, and the weekends are the only time he has with his kids. We'd let our
employees take time off for doctor's appointments, birthdays, and vacations
because we understand that their health, wellness and happiness will impact
how much they are able to give and be present when they return to work.
So, yes, sometimes our businesses may temporarily suffer because of how
closely our relationships are interwoven into them. But most of the time, these
relationships are the foundation, the very reason why we flourish.
THE RETAIL
THE FAMILY
BUSINESS:
WORKING WITH
FRIENDS AND
LOVED ONES
