Today, I'm reminded of a time when I felt like I belonged at work. If you know me, you know I can be chaotic. Some of that is living with being bipolar, and some of that is that I genuinely don't give a fuck. Some people say they don't give a fuck, but they don't mean it (Em reference). I mean it, and I can't remember when I cared what others thought of me. That's a gift and a curse (Hov reference).
It was 1990, and I was an assistant store manager for a Walmart in Odessa, Texas. I was responsible for several departments, including the furniture department. Within the furniture department, we sold lamps. Back then, lamps were primarily sold in boxes. They weren't displayed or merchandised as they are now.
One weekend, I decided to take the entire back wall of this particular Walmart, place green felt (from the fabrics department) up the wall, and install shelves. Then I ran power to the wall and unboxed a lamp of every type we sold. I flipped the switch, and the wall was so fucking bright you could see it from Mars, much less the front doors. It was awesome. It was also polarizing. As a customer, you were either drawn to it or blinded by it. Whatever. I liked it, and that's all that matters.
Then the sales of lamps started kicking ass. The numbers were prosperous, and we had to double and triple our lamp orders. All lamps. Even the shitty green banker's lamps. Whatever. I was a fucking hero.
Fast-forward three months, and Sam Walton visited our store. He used to fly around and visit stores during the week. He didn't have a set schedule and didn't tell people where he was going; he just showed up. I first met Sam in 1987, so he knew who I was and vice versa.
This particular day, I was working - rebuilding an end cap (retail industry lingo), and Sam tapped me on the shoulder. We talked for a moment, and he asked about the lamp wall. He said, "Jeffrey, why did you do that?" and I responded, "Who the fuck buys a lamp in the box?" and further, "It's got to be seen and felt; it's an experience." He laughed and then asked about sales. I showed him the numbers, and he called HQ (Bentonville) and made the entire furniture department fly down to Odessa to see what I had done. The executive over furniture asked me why I didn't follow the modular that they sent, and I responded, "Modulars are just suggestions; I have to do what's best for the people of Odessa." He started to chide me, and Sam leaned and said, I want a lamp wall in every Walmart by the end of the year. Boom!
I was clearly off the reservation (I can say that; I'm Cherokee) and could have quickly been fired. I wasn't not fired. I was promoted. I ultimately became friends with the head of furniture.
That exchange and experience profoundly changed me. Walmart and Sam Walton made me feel like I belonged.
#MagicOfFit Fama Technologies Inc.
If you read this story, check out the hashtag and visit this website.
https://lnkd.in/gNs24g6d
Owner, The Goldman Company
2moAs the cabinet industry changes Kraftmaid remains as quality manufacturer. Kraftmaid has gone from being independently owned to MASCO owned and now Cabinetworks Group owned maintaining their quality product and customer service.