How I killed Mom and Pop – and you've helped and we are doing it again
How I killed Mom and Pop – and you’ve help and we are doing it again
Mom and Pop were often seen sitting on their porch, watching the people in their little town. A little town filled with people they knew well; they knew most all of the people by name, who their children were and what was going on in their family. Mom and Pop waved as those families drove down Main street, watched them pull in to the Standard station and it brought a smile to their face. They were happy in their little town, happily working and living in a community.
I didn’t care. I didn’t know that I was killing them. Sadly it was a slow death, one where outsiders didn’t see it until the funeral, Mom and Pop felt it. There were clues that Mom and Pop noticed, they tried to stop me from killing them, but the more they tried the more they bled, the more they gasp for air and the more they cried out why? They knew Chuck, my father, Elaine, my grandmother and John, my cousin, they’d know me most of my life, seen me come by after swimming. Just like most of the town; but they didn’t know why we were killing them. They’d smile as I sit a spell, have a drink and browse around their shop. They tried hard not to let on.
Why would I be trying to kill them? Really, I wasn’t, it must have been my own Mr. Hyde, lurking deep down inside that made me do it. They had never done anything that would have provoked it as a matter of fact, they did just the opposite, they worked hard, knew everyone it town, tried prevent being killed. I didn’t even see that I was killing them. They did ask for help, they let people know they were dying and a few cared. But most had there own issues to deal with, feeding their family, getting little Jacob clothes, make a dress for little Samantha, some had to go hunting, others taking care of family, running errands and trying to make the most of their time.
Most of you have help me kill them. So who were the Mom and Pop’s we killed. In the little town I grew up in there were several Mom and Pops, and we kill them all. Peckham Pharmacy, Garhart’s Woolworth’s, Kennedy’s Ace Hardware, Burton’s NAPA. the Sullivan’s Chevy dealship, Allen Clothing store, Brady’s IGA, Spriggs Salon and Barber, not to mention my favorite; Peckham’s Soda Fountain, you know the kind, great root beer floats, peppermint candies and malted milk balls. I killed them all and you’ve helped do it in your town.
Just take a walk down your main street and see how many Mom and Pop’s are on Life Support, while others are in the ICU with little hope, some are being driven off by the hearse and there are even a few skeletons. We didn’t go up to them with a gun and shoot them, that would have been so much more humane , no we starved them, not all at once. We’d feed them when it was convenient for us and then take away what little we’d given them. Without hesitation we start the cycle over. They didn’t give up with out a fight, they lowered prices, offered deal, upgrade their stores, tried meet the demands of their customers and we still didn’t do anything. In response what did we do? We just start the cycle of starvation over.
After a few years I noticed that I couldn’t just run down to Kennedy’s or to Burton’s. That hose clamp and oil filter would have to wait. I wanted to replace the hose and do an oil change, but if they hadn’t closed I could have done it, why did they close? Didn’t they realize that our little town depended on them, how could they do it!
So why am I confessing to killing Mom and Pop? Because we can keep the few Mom and Pop’s who are left alive and thriving. I could have kicked myself the other day; I went to that no name Arkansas Big Box. Okay I went shopping at Wally World and it cost me more than just money. I wanted a simple freezer/refrigerator thermometer, Wally World had only one style and it was nearly $7 dollars. I bought it and didn’t give it a second thought. I’d just sent a portion of that $7 dollars off to another city, why? Because I didn’t think about what I was really doing. But at the time I did not even think about going somewhere else. Where could I have gone? There are three Wally World’s in our town, easy driving distance and so handy. I drove from my house past 2 locally own hardware stores; one of which I stopped in to a few days later. Just need a few screws, but ended up wondering down the kitchen aisle and they had 6 different styles of thermometer and all under $5. I’d spend $2 dollars more for the perceived convenience of Wally World. What is even worse when I was there I spent about $10.00 more than I had planned, why? All those end caps, extra bright displays and check out lanes.
What got me even more; as I checked out of the locally own Westlake Ace hardware, the cashier called me by name. I’ve been in there an average of 2 times a month. So how is it they remembered me? They wanted my business and knowing your customer is a great way to show that the customer is important.
When I left I made a note, stop at Westlake FIRST no matter what. Even if it will cost me more in the long run, I might just be able to change my oil when I want. Purchase the plumbing fixture I want and have more than once choice. Being called by name and knowing the name of the person behind the register is more important that having the perceived convenience of Wally World.
So next time you go shopping, shop local first, buy local and help keep jobs in your area. Do what you can do to keep Mom and Pop from being Killed.