Wanted: Good Citizen Owners

In the hustle and bustle of retailing, it can be easy to forget that being the Owner is its own job, separate and distinct from being "the boss",  president, or manager.

Of the 5 major areas of responsibilities that only the Owner can assume, it may well be that "Citizenship" warrants the highest priority right now.

What is "citizenship" for a retail business?

It starts with the recognition that "Retail is a mirror of society." Retailers must be responsive to changes in our society - economic, demographic, cultural, etc - in order to survive.

But, merely being responsive isn't enough. Retailers show leadership - and citizenship - not only by the business decisions they make, but also how they make those choices.

• What products?  
• What suppliers?
• What advertising messages?
• Which employees?
• What customer experience?

Each of these decisions affects whether your retail operation will be viewed as a "good citizen." Are your decisions consistent with the values you seek to maintain? 

Like it or not, retailers operate in a goldfish bowl. Shoppers' opinions about your stores are not limited to prices, customer service, or product selection.  How Owners choose to handle these Owner responsibilities also shapes how your stores are perceived.

What will your legacy be as an Owner? Will you and your stores be recognized for "outstanding citizenship"?