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When did I first come to appreciate the joys of a small business? Too early to tell. Some memories, which I cherish, include pedaling my Western Flyer over to our neighbor Johnny Seaman’s place. He ran a nursery, and with a dollar’s allowance I could buy a single marigold. It wouldn’t smell so nice, and was a bit plain to look at, but it may have been my first act of commerce! Later on our cross the street neighbor, Judy Cook, opened a craft store in her garage. Many times my sisters and I would walk over there, forcing her to turn on the lights and hang around while we browsed bins of doll-heads and wooden doodads. I don’t recall ever making a purchase, but the novelty factor of having an actual business so close? It did something for me.
Being the oldest of three, I was the first allowed to ride my bike to town. I hit upon an idea, and ran with it. In my bedroom I opened a store, its only patrons my siblings. I would pedal up to the Preston Salvage and buy candy which I could then markup and reap a profit. I had acquired an antique can with a tight lid, and that became my “safe.” Finding the money coming in too slowly, I began charging various tolls, taxes and fines! Soon I had enough saved to buy the least expensive Ertl John Deere model from the shelf at Trice’s Hardware Store. I told myself that this was for the community benefit, as we could all play with it; this was a lie!
Much later in life I found myself taking over the reigns of the family business, the late, great Gadow’s Body Shop. I learned the ropes from my dear Dad, a man who I can honestly say always gave his customers the best that he had, and never cheated them. As it turns out, neither him nor I were ever much of a businessman. We just weren’t tough enough for that game.
It’s a tough way to spend the day, sitting there hoping someone will walk through that door. There were days when they didn’t. Towards the end, I had a stack of IOU’s written out to myself. I try to look back at only the positive memories. I try to forget about a couple customers who walked out the door owing me a $1,000 deductible. They decided my friendship was worth the price of never coming back to pay it. I notice to this day, they always have a fresh, shiny new pickup in their driveway. Still haven’t come up with that grand in cash for old Bry, though, have ya?
It being November, thoughts turn to Christmas shopping. My dear reader, please know: there are small business owners all around this county who are hoping you walk in the door today. It’s not an easy row to hoe. How about, today, right now, instead of heading to Walmart or Dunkin Donuts, Food Lion or Dairy Queen, before logging on to Amazon or Temu or Wayfair, how about spending money where it counts? What’s keeping you from visiting Greensboro Pharmacy, Craft Bakery & Cafe, Nagel’s Hardware, Bullock’s Deli, Henry’s Furniture, the What’s New Shop? They need you, now more than ever, to keep the lights on. Folks still come up to me, lamenting that my business is long gone. Let’s not let another one of our neighbors have to close that door for the last time. Oh, and if they ask, tell them what brought you in. The Caroline Review? It’s a small business, too.
