Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM JANUARY 2015 48 Elly Valas Retail Views Elly Valas is the Marketing Services Director for Nationwide Marketing Group. She can be reached at elly@ellyvalas.com or at 303-316-7569. Visit her website at www.ellyvalas.com. N ow that the holiday decorations are coming down and the trees are getting packed away or taken for recycling, it's time to take a deep breath and look ahead. Hopefully holiday sales were brisk, you had the right inventory, and your team responded well to the demands of the holiday rush. You should have cash in the bank and a couple more strong weeks ahead to capitalize on the post-Christmas shopping fury. As I wrote this a few weeks ago, Sears announced the closing of 100 more stores and the layoff of about 5400 employees. Yet another opportunity for independents to surge forward and capture some additional market share. Interest rates continue to be low, home sales are robust and new home construction strong. The industry is healthier than any time in recent memory. But how's your health? Not your company's health, but yours? If you're like most dealers, you probably have eaten more than a few meals at your desk lately. Maybe you brought in pizza for your team members when it was busy and grabbed a couple of slices yourself. Or perhaps you dashed through the McDonald's drive-thru on your way back from the bank. It's much easier to eat a Big Mac in the car than a salad. There was no shortage of Christmas cookies and holiday treats to snack on. Workout? You've got to be kidding! There was no time for that. OK. But now it's 2015 and time for a new start. Some of you will stop reading here—you don't want any more reminders to eat better and workout more often. But maybe, just maybe, I'll get through to some others. Consulting clients are always a bit startled when I talk to them about their health—after all, they've usually brought me in to help with merchandising questions, or cash flow issues or profitability problems. No matter, though, I almost always eventually ask about eating and exercise habits. This business is hard. If it was easy, you'd have a lot more competitors. It's stressful. Stress is a proven killer. Diabetes and heart disease are on the rise and I'm sure retailers probably suffer from more than their fair share. But here's the real problem. If you're ill or incapacitated who is going to manage your business? Who knows as much about running your company as you do? Who else has the contacts? Who will negotiate with your suppliers? Who will work with your advertising team to create compelling promotions? Who will lead your team to victory? You have a responsibility as the leader of your company—a responsibility to your staff, your suppliers and your customers. And of course to your family. You have a responsibility to get fit and stay healthy. Here are some things that have worked for others. • Form a team or club in your store or with your friends. You can run, walk or bike ride together. It's much easier to make time for exercise when you have someone counting on you to join them. • Hire a trainer. I know that I'll work out at least twice a week with Ty, my trainer. I pay him even if I don't show up. My frugal nature ensures consistent participation. Also, he'll ask about my other workouts and my eating habits so he keeps me on the straight and narrow. • Keep a workout journal. I have Runner's World journals going back twenty years. It's fun to look back at them and see how well I'm doing now. I know that in 2014, I worked out an average of 3.7 times a week—better than what I did in 2013. I record my weight so I can focus on the six pounds I've lost in the past two years instead of the ten or so I'd still like to lose. • Keep a food journal. You don't have to diet. Just keeping an accurate and honest record of what you eat will almost automatically improve your dietary habits. Carrots and hummus can replace chips and salsa; just eliminating cheese and the top of the bun from your burgers will make them better for you. • Get a buddy. Tell a friend, spouse or partner about your 2015 fitness goals. Ask for help keeping on track. Make them remind you to go out and walk or hit the gym. It's a beautiful day here in Denver. Almost 70 degrees without a cloud in the sky. I promised myself that I'd get out and walk as soon as this column was finished. Best wishes for a happy—and healthy—New Year. HERE'S TO A HEALTHY 2015! RO

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