Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM AUGUST 2016 70 B U Y I N G G R O U P N E W S I recently attended a MEGA/Whirlpool Business Training meeting. Attending were several members who have been in business for nearly or over 100 years. If you added up the years of experience in the room, it would date back to the 11th Century! According to the Family Business Institute, only 30% of organizations last into a second generation, 12% into the third & only 3% operate in the fourth generation. We had several dealers in attendance that were beating the odds and it was obvious as to why. They had invested time into planning for their future. Last month we talked about the nearly 100 year old Bitter Neumann Appliances T.V. Furniture in Sheboygan, WI. My second interview was Chris Kirkish co-owner of Kirkish Furniture in Houghton, MI. Kirkish Furniture has been in business for 103 years and is currently on their third generation. Chris's grandfather started the business by peddling door to door. Kirkish Furniture currently has 30 employees with six family members working in the business. Most of the rest of the employees have been with the company for countless years and are considered part of the family. The owners are Chris and his sisters, Sethany & Tami. For many years, the store was located in two buildings downtown Houghton right next to each other. In 1995 they purchased a 46,000 square foot one level building to house their showroom and warehouse. When he was very young, before working in the business, Chris said there was never a family dinner that didn't include some discussion about the business. These discussions were passively "training" the younger family members for the future. Around the age of 12, each family member would begin working in the store. In the very early days, wages would start at a generous 50 cents an hour! Duties included dusting the store and sweeping the floors. After a few years of housekeeping duties, Chris moved up to unloading trucks and stocking the warehouse. Chris remembers the day, when at 17, his father woke him up and told him to put on nice clothes. He was about to become retail salesman. With pride in his heart and a glide in his step, Chris began to work the sales floor. Today he's a 30+ year veteran of the family business. About 15 years ago, Chris's dad began to take the winter off and live 4 to 6 months a year in Arizona. During these times it was up to Chris and his sisters to run the business. This long-term process enabled all to transition smoothly while retaining long term family values and traditions. The business continued to grow under new leadership. In January of 2016 it all became official when Mr. Kirkish signed the business and building over to his children. During the legal process he commented how after living the business for 60 years, that day was bittersweet. Happy to see the family continuing the tradition but sad also to be leaving it. Even now in his mid seventies, when he is in Houghton Mr. Kirkish spends time in the store every day. While this is only a few of the success stories, it touches my heart to know how hard everyone has worked & what challenges they have overcome to end up where they are today. Family businesses—aka mom and pop stores—are often overlooked, however, they are all around us. I would encourage all of you to start working on your succession planning. Mom and pop stores have and will continue to be here to stay! RO Missy Hodges, vice president appliances MEGA Group USA RO SUCCESSFUL FAM ILY BUSINESS George Kirkish, Tami Kirkish-Keller, Sethany Kirkish-Leonard, Chris Kirkish

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