By Eliana Barriga Publisher and Managing Editor for The Retail Observer ![]() There’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. And that is--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 the owner (father) or store manager (son) is dealing with a chronic illness? Who will do the accounting when the bookkeeper (daughter) is struggling with the first few months of motherhood? I know, every company deals with these kinds of issues. 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 in tack when they return become a little more sensitive. As a family owned business you have the opportunity to be reminded each and every day that relationships are what matters and that “humanness” in business is important. This makes us better managers and ultimately better people because well, we can’t just fire our brother for losing a truckload of furniture, now can we? Instead, we stand by them when they fail and celebrate their accomplishments. We don’t schedule our top sales person 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 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. To family and friendships, Eliana Barriga [email protected]
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December 2021
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