PET PRODUCT NEWS ARTICLE
FOR JANUARY 2006“Who’s the Boss?”
The Challenges of Husband and Wife Store Ownersby Paula and Lewis Turner
Special to Pet Product News
At the time baby boomers worked in pet stores, the owners were in their 40’s and 50’s, and it was considered a “Mom and Pop Shop”. Not wanting to be saddled with that moniker, we think of ourselves as a husband and wife enterprise (ok, so we’re trekies).
Husband and wife teams offer both advantages and potential pitfalls. We have been working together since 1992 and have learned quite a bit in this regard. Perhaps we will be able to present some options and assist with heading off challenging opportunities.
Define Your Roles
It’s important to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Each should have clearly defined areas of responsibility. Once established, be sure your staff understands both your roles.
Lewis loves buying new products. He’s a gizmo guy… and left to his own devices, our store would be the ‘Sharper Image for Pets’ outlet. Paula, on the other hand, is far more conservative in the buying area, except when it comes to toys and beds. She has way too much fun. We agree that if we didn’t own this pet store, we would probably have opened a toy store!
Budgets have a way of defining parameters, much like an invisible fence. But, instead of getting zapped physically, your bank account sustains the jolt. It was clear that a compromise was in order; we both couldn’t be buyers. Lewis begrudgingly handed over the buyer’s pen to Paula, and also found it necessary to create a monthly budget for expenses.
Trade shows are Lewis’ opportunity for revenge in the buying department. Since we walk the show independently with walkie-talkies in hand, Lewis is able to sneak some of the really cool stuff in. He promises to be good, until what we call the envelope pushers arrive via UPS a month or two after the show. It is only then that he admits to having a minor mental relapse as to who is the store’s buyer.
Other than the couple of trade shows a year, Paula is the decision maker on bringing in new products. She meets with reps regularly and makes a point of bringing in the newest and best that our industry has to offer, hopefully within our “budget”. She spaces out the trade show orders to arrive over a four to five month period.
Lewis supervises administrative responsibilities, including reviewing invoices, working with the managers, and handling all advertising. This is the first year we have been able to justify hiring an assistant with office-related duties. We all know that any employee who is not selling must have very important duties to accomplish. This assistance allowed Lewis to do what he does best, which is training and working with the staff. He has even moved his desk down from the office to the sales floor, which is something he has wanted to do for years. It’s an excellent way to keep an eye on the everyday workings of the staff and customers.
Informing Staff
Once your responsibilities have been clearly defined for yourselves, it is vital that your staff be brought into the loop. This issue is a work-in-progress for us. Since we are married, one would assume we actually communicate our day’s activities with each other. Assume is the operative word. From a practical point of view, we have found this nearly impossible, which leads to mass confusion with our staff.
The reality is that our crossover time during the day is extremely limited. Occasionally, we’ll have lunch in the office and bring each other up to speed, but even that is in sound bites. Paula usually goes over orders while eating, and Lewis is busy answering staff questions.
We’re sure that many of our staff thinks that after work we go home, have dinner, and discuss the day’s events. They couldn’t be more wrong. We’re so tired by the time we get home that the energy left is used for feeding the animals, eating dinner and maybe watching the boob tube. Then the sun almost begins to show its face!
Often we are asked why we drive to work in separate cars. One might think that the fifteen-minute commute each way would be a good time for talking. Not for us. Paula often listens to books on tape or Dr. Laura, while Lewis is planning the day on his drive in and decompressing from the day on his way home. Recently, we have struck upon a compromise. Using our cell phones, we fill each other in during part of the drive home. It might seem silly but it works.
If Paula is approached by a staff member and asked a question relating to Lewis’ area, she will ask them to see him or put a note in his box. We’re sure there have been staff that have wondered why Paula couldn’t just write the note down and give it to Lewis. By not doing that, we are hoping to reinforce the fact that we each have separate job duties. After all, a staff member would not ask Lewis to give a message to another employee. They would see that person directly or leave them a note.
Time Away
It is very beneficial for husband/ wife teams to have some time away from each other. Taking an art class or having a day with the girls or guys is good therapy. In our case, we have so many shared interests that taking a break is tough. Plus we still enjoy each others company.
The husband and wife team is more of a unique situation now than ever before, and is found most predominantly in independent retail. While benefits are many, avoiding some of the pitfalls can enhance both your personal and professional relationships.
It would be very beneficial to other retailers if you could share some of the positive aspects and solutions to challenges you have experienced working as a husband and wife team. Feel free to post them on our reader page www.petcarecompany.net/great-reading.html
If there are topics or issues you would like to see addressed in this column, please email us at lewisnpaula@petcarecompany.net and we’ll give it our best shot. To learn more go to: www.petcarecompany.net/great-reading.html
Lewis and Paula Turner own The PetCare Company in Hermosa Beach, Calif.
