Today Was A Tough Day

I have a lot of emotions going on right now. We put up the signs today for the store closing. We were all either pricing items, moving stock, moving consignment stuff, and just basically rearranging to get the store ready to go for the morning. I was mainly dealing with all the lps, separating the store stock to move it up front from the consignment stuff to keep that at the place where the vinyl is now. We were reading Facebook and looking at all the reactions from it since the announcement went out last night on there. The outside signs went up today on the store and it looks like the Journal is wanting to do a story on us naturally. I can tell you it looks surreal with all the signs in there. It's like our anniversary sales times two. Of course the nice side of me wants to thank all our loyal customers over the years because we honestly couldn't have done it without them. But unfortunately, the majority of the public have spoken and they don't want us around any more for whatever reason. So now Salina has graduated to another faceless town with nothing different to offer than any other city of their size. Yeah, alright you've got a Target and a Wal-mart to get your obscure cds and dvds. I just hope it was worth it to go to Target or Wal-mart all the time for a few extra bucks while not getting anything but the top 10 or 20 there. I don't know how many times I heard the past few years that people say they looked everywhere but they couldn't find it but they come to our store and we had it in stock. I just love it how people want a freakin' wal-mart in every corner but they give up on a store that gave them so many choices in products and catalogue. It absolutely stuns me sometimes when I think of this. What happened to people that want individuality and uniqueness in their community? Why are people like sheep where they can't figure out that customer service, selection, a knowledge of the product, that yes, it might cost a little more for a more personal relationship with the people who come in. That's what you get when you go to an independent store or at least you should. I should remember what somebody likes or dislikes and try to tell them about it. That's my job, that's the thing that separates us from the corporate stores. Most likely you're not going to have that one on one connection like smaller stores. And that's the key, and I know it costs a little more but I have no problem paying a little more for the selection and customer service I get. I always try to go independent whenever I can because in the long run the people appreciate it more, you feel wanted when you walk in, they're glad to see you. But to not understand that is beyond me. It comes with a price, it always has and it always will. And that's why the good customers understand this. They're not dumb, they know they can sometimes get the product cheaper either through a big box store or something like Amazon. But they choose to SUPPORT the little man, the independent! That's what makes a downtown unique, its own flavor, not corporate america! You know I was driving home tonight after eating out with Phillip and I gotta say I almost broke down, this is tough after 22+ years at the same job. I don't know what the future holds, only God does. I just have to be patient and hope it will all work out. I've been through this before, but with a factory job, not a retail one. But this is one much different, I have met so many good people through this job that I would have never met before. And some I can count as my friends and for that I am truly blessed. That's what gets you through these things. I have a great support system with my family as well. I have a great sister and brother who care about me, a great niece and her husband, Rachel and Jon, and a great nephew and his wife, James and Amy. I have so many great memories with James talking about NBA, the Sega Dreamcast Days, and everything else we talk about. We have talked about almost everything but it usually goes back to the NBA! He probably doesn't know how much I appreciate it over the years, for "getting" me, for understanding me, never judging me, and I truly love him for that. It seems like we have always connected with different things for whatever reasons. I'm lucky to have people like James & Amy, Rachel & Jon, Deb & Eric, and Rick in my life. I love them all. Well I just had the need to put this down in words tonight after dealing with today. I felt like it had to come out. Allright, ready for tomorrow.....

Ross