Sixth decade… 1998 – 2007

Sixth decade… 1998 – 2007

The 50^th anniversary would come with one of our 1960's style open houses, except without the Helicopter. (Apparently the FAA was now a little stricter as to where you could land a Helicopter).  The Store would be cleaned the advertising would be extensive.  Money was once again being spent on updating rental equipment.  With all the problems the business encountered during the previous 20 years, the longevity and name recognition would still attract customers.  We were selling lawnmowers and renting equipment to second and third generations of the same families.   One fact that remained written in stone for 50 years, when the front door was unlocked in the morning customers would walk in.

For the 50^th anniversary my Father would put on one last big push into lawn equipment sales.  We increased advertising; we had a warehouse full of new Toro mowers.  The Toro Wheel Horse factory rep was on hand trying to revive Toro sales.  It would be too little too late, a one day push was not going to revitalize the Lawn equipment business.  My Father would finally realize the effect the Big Box retailers had on the independent lawn equipment dealers.  As soon as the anniversary sale was over the mowers were pushed into the corner of the showroom and would again be ignored by the staff.  I am not sure if my Father was even aware that the Home Depot just a ¼ mile away was selling a cheaper version of the Toro mowers we were selling.  The Toro Company was also slow to understand the effect the Big Box retailers were having on servicing dealers.

By the year 2000 my Father had a warehouse full of Toro Mowers left over from the 1998 anniversary sale, and snow throwers from 95 Utah purchase.  My Father would liquidate the entire Toro inventory.  The 52 year relationship with the Toro Company would end.  In 2002 my Father would close the lawnmower repair shop and auction off the remaining parts and accessories.

As the business passed its 50^th year there were some serious questions that needed to be answered quickly.  It was very apparent that my Fathers health was failing.  My Father would never see a doctor unless it was absolutely necessary.  He had some non-treated health issues were taking an overall toll on his body.  The question was if my Father was not confident that my Sisters could run the company than who could?  He had some loyal long time employees, however as loyal as they were they had never had the opportunity to learn the inner workings business.  Another problem was my Fathers refusal to share financial information with the board of directors.  If my Father had found a leader outside the family how would a transition take place?

Over the decades my Father would be approached by investors interested in purchasing the business this period would be no exception. However he seemed less interested than he had in previous discussions with prospects. 

The only positive aspects for the 6^th decade would be the lack of any changes.  The other Allentown competitor would open a large branch equipment store in our neighborhood.  A third party rental store would open in our area.

My Fathers ability to be active in the business had ended by 2003.  His time in the store would be reduced to short visits.  As my Fathers health continued to decline he would attempt to reward some additional long time employees with shares in the business.   My Sisters did not want their own stock diluted by my Father’s planned gifts would consult a Lawyer in an attempt to fight the distribution plan.  The Sisters would learn they had no legal right to stop my Fathers disbursement and the employees would receive the stock gifts from my Father.  In a letter my Father wrote to my Sisters during the employee stock distribution fight, he would describe my Sisters actions as “Vultures”. 

My Father would leave for Florida in the fall of 2005. During the winter of 2005 – 2006 my father would complete setting up his estate.  My father would return home to Pennsylvania in spring of 2006.  His health had deteriorated to a point that my Father would never return to work.  My Father would pass away a few weeks after returning to Pennsylvania in May of 2006.

A customer entering the store the day, month, or year after my Father’s death would not see much of a change in service.  The quality of customer service had been on a slow steady decline for many years. The department lines drew by the Sisters would allow the counter staff view a customer waiting for a Propane refill without taking action because this was a line they would refuse to cross.  The Customer would need to wait until someone answered a call made across the PA system.  There were other black holes in customer service that customers would occasionally fall into.

The 6^th decade would be known for its stagnation.  My Sisters had the opportunity to step up in my Fathers absence and didn’t.  Competition would continue to chip away at the foundation.  Proper employee training couldn't take place because My Sisters and the other managers didn't have the knowledge to train them.  For years the Sisters would assert that they could improve the business with their ideas.  The Sisters had control of the business however there newly implemented plans set the business on the wrong path.