Now I understand the need for marketing for any successful business to thrive, but a vehicle priced at $63,090, and averages 11.4 mpg, seems a bit excessive. I realize I am not the one to judge if a Fun Center really NEEDS a Hummer as their business vehicle, in fact the real beauty of capitalism is that businesses can DECIDE how they want to grow their wealth. The freedom to choose is the very principle that our country is built on, and I deeply honor that.
What concerns me is that, as a society, we seem to be making more and more greedy decisions. Have you ever noticed how oversized, expensive cars are usually owned by oversized individuals. Not all, but many I see driving around are as greedy in their business as they are in appetite. Is there any correlation?
Every decisions bears a cost. This is the fundamental rule of economics, and more importantly of God's plan. If we are greedy always wanting more, and even go into debt to get it, then it is really of no surprise our economy is in the shape it is. I think its a rather simple principle that the economy is a zero-sums game. That means if you take what isn't yours (debt), their is a cost involved, maybe it doesn't affect you directly, but it does affect the rest of us, when ultimately you take more that what you can pay for. I am not saying I am against successful corporations, if they become successful by doing things honestly, with sustainable methods their work should be rewarded. What I am saying is that couldn't Fat Cats have just as much, if not more marketing space on an EconoVan that is reconditioned? After all they could probably get one that the government is throwing away from the Cash for Clunkers program. That seems like a better utilization of resources to me, but apparently this is what a business like Fat Cats is after, big SUVS. It seems apparent to me they aren't putting profit back into making their customers more happy or bettering their facility themselves, but rather they are looking to make their image better and consuming more fuel than they need to in the process. After driving behind Fat Cats Hummer today, I am sorry to say I cannot give my hard earned dollars to a company that spends nearly a hundred grand for a vehicle to increase the dollar in their pocket or be trendy.
I have been intrigued with the dynamics of consumerism since childhood, fascinating at why my buying power holds, curious at the ability it has to sustain, grow, or tank a business. In college my degree was Family and Conumer Science: Family Finance emphasis. I worked in banking for 7 yrs helping other's get further into debt. I worked as a Financial Counselor, facilitating families and individuals how to get out of debt. I know instruct yoga where I encourage a healthy practice of the mind, body, and spirit as an integrated unit. In all these experiences I have learned that while I can't force someone to get out of debt, move their bodies more, eliminate stress, and eat healthy foods; I can make decisions each and every day of how I will spend my hard earned dollars. I can decide who I choose to support. I can decide who I want to stay in business, and I can decide where I tell my friends and family to go in support as well.
My husband probably thinks its silly, but when I find a product I like (and you can ask him), I usually go home and look them up on the Web, read about their business philosophy, and what there business ethics entail. This goes for something as little as a bag of chips, really!!! The same goes for restaurants, I love reading reviews, stories of how they got started, and other fun facts I find. To me how I spend my money is a vote to who and what I support. If I choose to spend money for greedy companies, then I continue to see oversized people in oversized SUV's riding around. I really hate that, because then, not only am I worried about the view obstruction of the road they impose, but also if the drivers causes an accident after going into cardiac arrest at any moment due to their unhealthy heart. I know I sound judgmental, but I just want to make the point that I support the little guys, the ones who work so hard for what they have and utilize resources efficiently to meet the needs of customers, not seeking to make their own pocketbook fatter.
I am not attacking Fat Cats, and truth be told I do not know their business all that well, I would need to do more research to make that assesment. But if I have to judge based on their decision to buy an oversized, inefficient, overpriced, brand new vehicle for a bowling alley, this seems to me like a poor decision in budgeting. And chances are, if they spend superfolous dollars in this fashion, then they probably make other unwise decisions, like skimp in wages, or quality. Everything is a trade-off, because business and economy is a zero-sums game. Since all I have is exterior on which to judge, I have to say no to such a business.
Several weeks ago Micah and I went to see FOOD, INC. I was very excited to see this film as I knew it would most likely espouse many of the same principles in which I believe and promote. I became fascinated with the food industry and small business in particular while living in NYC for 3 years. It was during my time there, where Walmart, Sam's Club, and corporations do not exist in nearly the abundance they do in suburbia, that I grew to love supporting the little guys. The organic grocer was more than my food provider, he was my friend. The scary bodega man always had what I needed at random hours while other shops where closed. The Crepes on Columbus owner is just a simple man who learned the art of crepes in France and now seeks to share with each one of his customers. I don't think I had ever gone to eat there where he didn't come out at some point in the meal and make certain we enjoyed our meals. The truth is the meal was pretty good, but the personal owner touch, sent it over the top. Souen's Macrobiotic restaurant, Hampton Chutney, and VanLeeuwan's Ice Cream stole my heart at first bite. All small business with an emphasis on the customer, relationship, quality of food, and sustainability in all aspects of their business.
Today I toured Sam Granato's bakery area. It was a moment for glutten eyes, as my dream is to open a bakery of my own. As we interacted for several minutes, and many other times in the past I realized there is something that sets Sam Granato apart from lots of other business owners. It's his constant turn on each remark to what HE can do for YOU. Sam is a man that loves people, its in his voice, in his actions, and most importantly in his heart. It is so easy to judge by his actions, he has pure intentions and he loves what he does. As we walked out he offered to help his cashier by getting him change (nickels and dimes) at the bank. Sam is never above doing anything, even if he's the boss. He ended the conversation as he usually does "Is there anything I can do for YOU?". Gosh, here the man is, after letting me see his bakery and offering to let me make cookies there, and he still wants to know how he can do to help me more. It's men like this we need to support, its businesses like this, with sustainable ethics and honest practices we need to support.
It is true once every four years we get to vote for a president, but we all know with electoral college how little it may sometimes do. Every other year we can vote for local officials. But every single day we vote for what businesses we support. While it seems a small decision, little decisions make up the great big ones after all, they determine outcome. As a consumer in a highly mechanized world we don't have the simplicity we once had of producing all our own food and goods. This make the everyday decisions more important. Look at the companies you support most often, the places you buy your food, the local producers. Support the hard worker of the farmers market (no bias here). Realize that price is not the bottom line, that where usually price is lower there may be something you sacrifice such as quality, or unethical business practice. If we want to change the world we have to make good votes, we have to be informed. Research your favorite companies, and find out if they remain your favorite. If they are good businesses let them know, let your friends know, and most importantly give them your vote by choosing their product.
As a extremely, extremely small business owner I have just began to see the most miniscule profit for Connie's Cookie. It filled me with exhilaration, elation, and sweet joy. I told my husband as soon as I was profitable the first thing I would buy was a $20 cooler, to fit more cookies in. My husband beat me to it because he wanted me to succeed. As much as I wanted this to be the first humble purchase of the business, out of the red, I couldn't turn away a gift of such gratitude. The summerfest was a much better event because of it. Whether or not Connie's Cookies grows to a level of sustainability in a full size bakery matters not. Whether or not it becomes a franchise and fills the world like a McDonald's matters not. Whether I can continue to grow a bakery successfully as a wife and mother matters not. What matters is that I honor the principle of sustainable, honest, ethical business practice. It matters that I buy only what I can afford, that I place a wonderfully amazing product into the hands of every wanting consumer. It should make you feel good to know that each dollar that supports these cookies supports yummy treats made of the finest ingredients, hand created, shaped, and baked with LOVE! Some people comment, on how they think the price is expensive. Well you can buy cheaper, sure, but remember their is a consequence to every decision. If you want a cookie made from shortening with trans-fats, high fructose corn syrup, and other stabalizers and preservatives I can't pronounce, then the packaged cheap stuff will always be there. I am pretty certain that other than the grocery stocker probably no hands have touched that cookie, it is probably all from a machine, and without the smallest concern of how it will treat your belly. Connie's Cookies are made to please the mind, body, and spirit. But really, would you expect anything less from a yoga Instructor, hehe!
This isn't an unpaid advertisement for Sam Granato and Connie's Cookies, but if I may let me digress to Sam for just a moment. He is running for US Senate nomination representing Utah in Nov 2010 election. My wonderful husband, Micah, is helping with the campaign. As I get to know Sam I realize that he really is a man for the people, he simply loves people, and would give the shirt off his back if he thought of it (or if you asked). I am not certain as to how he will do given he is running as a Democrat in Utah. And unfortunately some people just don't look beyond the label.
My point is regardless of how a company or person looks on the outside, dig deeper, do your homework, be informed. Then cast your vote as you will.
