Furniture Retail Tip #51 From Grandpa Mike-e-e! at 90... Go-Getters Who've Been Around the Block Before?

Furniture World News Desk on 10/1/2012

Michael Greene (Grandpa Mike-e-e! at 90)

This past week or two I've roamed around town to-and-from religious services, making friendly greetings on Main Street. A-n-d in the process, I've seen lots of friends who have been cut-off from making a living in their chosen professions.

Now, you may know that yours truly, Grandpa Mike-e-e, is 90 plus years old but, believe it or not, I have friends who are "kids" which from my perspective is anyone under 65 years of age.

And many of these friends have been out of work for a while now. It is the same in the furniture business. Former reps, sales associates and executive level folks who initially thought that their level of experience and expertise would land them in a new job, have been proven wrong. You may have seen them wandering around High Point or Las Vegas like hungry ghosts.

These are people whom you respect and may have done business. They feel the loneliness of no daily assignments, the discouragement of being downsized, turned down, and the futility of networking endlessly on LinkedIn.

Some are entrepreneurs, retailers who have quit the game for assorted reasons like floods and storms, Wall Street hoop-de-doos, government elections and economics they had no control over. Plus forced kaputs like bankruptcies.

As the economy starts to rebound, it’s easy to forget that there is an experienced pool of men and women in our industry who need jobs -- very experienced and eager for a fresh startup.

So what? So this!

Those of you who’ve been smart enough and lucky enough to have survived the recession and are starting to grow again may be able to use these wounded soldiers who have learned to take punishment and come back as eager beavers. Their experience may help to lighten your workload and help you grow faster.

So-o-o! why not let it be known that you are looking for individuals who have earned their scars on the battlefield of success and failure. People who still own the valuable furniture virus because once you've had the furniture bug you've built a healthy immunity forever.

Grandpa Mike-e-e’s suggestion? Scout the pink slip market. Tell some of those furniture industry management recruiters that advertise in Furniture World Magazine what you are looking for. Put a for-free help wanted ad on Furniture World’s website at https://www.furninfo.com/Account/JobOpenings.aspx. Take a good look. Then do it. They'll love the opportunity to be of fresh value, and you'll be delighted.

Thanks, again, for listening.
Grandpa Mike-e-e! at 90.

Got a question? Got a comment? Great!! E-mail: grandpamike-e-e!@furninfo.com

PS. See the YouTube music video staring me, Grandpa Mike-e-e! with my granddaughter Becca in a supporting role athttp://bitly.com/qALkrX


About Michael Greene (Grandpa Mike-e-e!)

Retailer, author, columnist, lecturer, composer and lyricist.

Came to US with immigrant parents in 1924 at the age of three.

Graduated high school at 16.

Managed a small bedding retail and manufacturing company at 18 in 1939.

Hired as Assistant to the VP of Purchasing (Sweets Corp. of America... approximately 500 employees) in 1940 at 19.

Drafted into US Army Signal Corp - Communications Personnel Div., Fort Monmouth.Tested and selected for Army Specialized Training Program, Rutgers University. Qualified for O.C.S. - Officer Candidate School and graduated as Second Lieutenant, Inventory/ Personnel Division in 1944 at 23.

Married his sweetheart, Anita, and he gives thanks to the Almighty that they are still sweethearts... after 73 years.

Rejoined Sweets Corp as Director of Personnel in 1945 at 24.

Joined his suddenly widowed sister as President of a small retail/ manufacturing company in 1946. Stayed on for 46 years managing the custom designing of over 20,000 childrens rooms and master bedroom beds.

Attended Hofstra University (evening program), and graduated in 1968 at age 47. Two of his kids followed right along at two other college campuses.

Applied for 30 day temporary columnist opening offered by the Reed Business Newspapers in NC and stayed on for 27 years. His retail columns were distributed everywhere from Brooklyn to Bangladesh, to Belgium to Beijing.

Traveled the US and visited with 3rd/ 4th generation retail owners.

He was admitted to the Writers Hall of Fame for, "Conspicuous Excellence In reports and appraisals of the furniture industry."

Retired from retail management at age 70.

BOOKS: (1) At age 72: published first book "Where's The Green Pea?" vegetable character stories including his original music and CD.

Designed programs for primary and pre-K schools and presented them with his Anita. (2) At age 76: Gee! I Wish I Had A Bedroom All My Own," lectured in middle schools (teenage), with tech info for parents, teachers and students in Home

Science. (3) At age 80: Tzedakah - Caring And Sharing classic book with original music CD and illustrations for high school chorales and drama groups.

At 89 -- published Retail Life: How To Get In, Stay Alive a-n-d Love It! in online and printed version for business schools, industry, and entrepreneurs. Includes how-to educational section for "Wise Women Who Love A Challenge" and "Oldtimer Retailers Who've Missed Some Basic Goodies In Business Promotion. Also provides business professors and career students seeking everyday practical trade experiences and business thinking.

Invited to address Levitz Furniture retail salespersons, Furniture Designer Associate members,

IHFRA sales associations, High Point University students and F.I.T. retailer evening sessions. Also accepted as an ASID associate member.

At 90 plus... is a musical playwright, composer and lyricist with original music and thinking for very young and very old America.

Grandpa Mike-e-e

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