RETAILOBSERVER.COM MARCH 2020
4
Eliana Barriga
eliana@retailobserver.com
To family and friendships,
MARCH 2020, VOLUME 31, ISSUE 3
CELEBRATING OUR 31
ST
YEAR
AS THE RETAIL OBSERVER
PUBLISHER/MANAGING EDITOR
E LIANA BARRIGA
DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING
MOE LASTFOGEL
ART DIRECTOR
TERRY PRICE
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
MARIO JUAREZ
DEAN LANDERS
DEREK MATTILA
STEVEN MORRIS
STEPHEN PACZKOWSKI
ROB STOTT
JOHN TSCHOHL
LIBBY WAGNER
ALAN WOLF
RALPH E. WOLFF
DEADLINE FOR MAY 2020 ISSUE:
APRIL 1, 2020
THE RETAIL OBSERVER
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THE RETAIL
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: 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 it: how can a business thrive if either the senior owner (parent) or
store manager (son or daughter) is dealing with a chronic illness? Who will do the
accounting if 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
until 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 humanness 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 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 FAMILY
BUSINESS:
WORKING
WITH FRIENDS
& LOVED ONES
Elle's View As I See It
