What’s better than wandering the aisles of an old hardware store? I feel transported back in time. I could be my grandfather, or his father, searching the shelves for that small piece of metal that will turn the heat back on at home, or make the leak stop. It’s almost a holy place.
And here’s another one dying.
We love these stories, at least I did. But while many see these stories as a tale of ownership dedication to tradition, hard work and commitment, more and more I’m seeing these as the stories of lives unnecessarily sacrificed on the alter of bad business decisions.
More and more I’m seeing these as stories that could have ended very differently.
Bulmann said the two “have never been on vacation”
“Keeping it going is really important,” Bulmann said.
The business is profitable, he said, and a few years ago he also had a thought about selling but “didn’t pursue it.”
“It’s hard to pull the plug,” he said. “If I was thinking about dollars and cents, I’d close the doors.”
Nailing a sale? Owner of historic hardware store seeks buyer who will keep business running
In two weeks we’ll be launching Exit Oasis.com. I’ve spent the last year (make that the last 25) buried in the realities of what it means to build a small business you can sell.
When does commitment become lack of vision?
When does dedication become self-abuse?
When does the dream of selling your business become delusion?
Learn to Leave.
