American Business Get Your Head Out of Your Rear!

American Business

Get Your Head Out of Your Rear!

By Chuck Trautman, 

CEO - Arizona Marketing Association

C’mon American business, how long are you going to hide behind COVID, supply chain issues, and “We can’t hire anyone to work”?  I’m not just talking to my niche, which is small business.  Big business needs to listen up, too!

Indulge a short rant before I offer a solution.

You became a business owner or CEO because you were innovative, a problem solver, a leader, and got stuff done.  Now you hide behind COVID (started in March of 2020), supply chain excuses (started shortly after COVID), and crappy employees because, “Who can I hire to replace them?”.

How much time do you need to figure out solutions to these issues?  It’s very clear that the government won’t do it for you.

Customer service SUCKS in 90% of businesses.  Don’t you think customers will remember how you treat them? They (we) are just waiting for a chance to move to your competitors and say “Goodbye” to you forever.

Let’s point the finger at a few examples slackers.

Healthcare – Call any doctor’s office and hear the two-minute recorded message droning on about “Due to COVID we are short staffed, and you may be on hold for eternity, blah, blah, blah.”

Or take your pharmacy – you’ll stand in line for 25 minutes to pick up your prescription, because “Due to COVID we’re short of staff.”

How about auto repair, home remodeling, retail stores, etc. All of them have help wanted signs posted and say they can’t replace their surly, rude, unprofessional help, because “Who can we get to work?”

And restaurants, wow.  Shorter hours, rude servers, and whiny excuses.

Supply Chain Solutions 

Innovate!  Find new suppliers, or multiple new suppliers, to replace your current suppliers who can’t deliver.  In the remodeling industry I’ve heard of cabinet manufacturers whose lead times have doubled to 12 to 14 weeks.  Then you find out they are having historic sales growth because they signed up new customers.  How’s that for taking care of their longtime supporters? Don’t tolerate it!

Can you find an American manufacturer for your product? Their products won’t be sitting in a container off the coast of California for a month.  

American made products could possibly cost more, but your customers are used to everything going up this year. You will certainly increase your income by reducing your inventory lead time.

Employee Solutions

Let’s rally our nation’s retired folks to save the country’s employee crisis. Most are patriotic, loyal, will show up on time, and give you their best effort.

Offer temporary employment for 10 hours a week or less. Pay them $20 an hour. You will not pay for any benefits because they are on Social Security and Medicare and don’t need them.

Most of them would jump at the chance to get out of the house for a few hours a week to help solve the labor crisis. 

Healthcare providers could route appointment calls to a retiree’s home.  Retired pharmacy techs (and even pharmacists if their license is current) could step in and reduce waiting lines at pharmacies.

Distribution centers could use our retirees to stock shelves and pack orders on a part time basis.  Retail work? Of course!

You name the job and there will be a retiree in that field who can do the job.

How do I pay $20 an hour you ask?  If you’re worried about the expense you’re being short sighted for two reasons. You’re short of staff now. The additional employee(s) will make you more productive and the increased productivity will cover the expense. You can also institute a small price increase in your goods and services.

You’re thinking existing employees will resent the retired part timers making more than they may be earning in some cases.  So what? Explain these retirees have 40 years of experience.

American business, it's time for action not more excuses! Get that help wanted ad or sign up now! “Wanted – experienced retirees – 10 hours per week - $20 an hour”.

Do it now!