Boo like a ghost!
Moo like a cow! 
We sell dog food! 
Bow-wow-wow! 

You all just don’t know how that’s been haunting me. Yesterday, as we were passing by another of the conference rooms in the hotel, we could hear the Ecolab guys chanting. I thought, we need a chant! That would make meetings funner! Almost like huddle at a football game…and sure enough, just as the chant died, the doors burst open and the guys came pouring out like fire ants, jostling and happy. Their energy was palpable. Didn’t we have a chant at Co-op? More than John Ward’s jingle of “Co-op, Co-op, quality products for everyone!” Y’all remember that? It started coming back to me in little pieces, spirit fingers first. Then where it was (Fall Creek Falls) and what we were learning about (the new line of dog food), and who was there (Keith Harrison, Chris Cox, Shirley….Something) and the last line….I just couldn’t remember the beginning. By the time of the banquet I’d managed to remember all but the first line. But that one line was driving me bonkers because I knew it was real catchy.

Then, today, the planets aligned, the sun shone through the clouds to highlight my brain, and BAM! “BOO LIKE A GHOST!!!” I crowed, complete with spirit fingers. After my chauffeur pulled it back in the road, I felt ten pounds lighter. There was no reason for this little ditty to still be in my brain, but there it is. Can I interest you in the Gilligan’s Island theme song? No? How about the a capella version of Ice Ice Baby? No? I take requests if that doesn’t suit you. I’m strong in all country, from 1950’s to about 2010, any 80’s rock, and 90’s pop. Also, I know pretty much every episode of Friends by heart, Gone With the Wind trivia, and I’m not too shabby with Lonesome Dove quotes. I’m sure you have your own strengths; some people are good at long division in their head. Some people can fix cars. Some people can successfully operate on aortas. I have music lyrics. 😎

Speaking of Co-op, I visited the most awesome one ever today. At Sevierville, we often got tourists who complimented us on our beautiful store. They’d come by just to say they’d been, or to buy a hat with our name on it. They’d tell us, “our Co-op ain’t nothin’ like this!” All google-eyed. And I smiled knowingly, because I knew. I’d been in several myself, and seen pictures of many others, plus chatted with my contemporaries around the state at various meetings. I had selfishly believed we were the best, because it had been reinforced by my vendors and customers, both local and long distance.

Lemme tell you, Columbia’s Co-op kicks Sevierville’s tail and mops the floor with it.

There are a few businesses that are run well, and it shows by how they thrive and in their repeat business: we can all agree Chickalay is superior to basically any other fast food chain. They’re quick, they’re friendly, their accuracy is unparalleled. (Although I will say Bojangles is giving them a run for their money). Buc-cee’s is another, their stores are clean and hopping. Their employees are efficient and friendly. I also believe Walgreens does a good job. They generally have what you’re looking for and friendly, helpful employees. Whoever is running these businesses need to teach classes to other businesses. Or come in and do an overhaul. What’s the common denominator? The employees. They’re happy…or at least happy enough to fake it and do a good job. Your personality is reflected in your work. You can have the prettiest store in the state, but if you don’t have people who take pride in their work, it ain’t gonna be pretty for long. You might have the best tasting brisket in a three county area, but if the one hawking it is a sourpuss, you ain’t gonna sell much. You might have the most successful herbicide on the market…but if it ain’t on the shelf and none of your employees knows anything about it…well , it ain’t gonna sell itself. You gotta have people to clean the store. You gotta have people to stock the shelves. You gotta have people to unlock the doors every day and show people to what they need. Signage doesn’t cut it.

Columbia Co-op has got it goin’ on.

The place was teeming with smiling, helpful employees. They cut up with the customers and each other. I was a total stranger and they couldn’t have been nicer. The store was spic-and-span clean, from the warehouse to the restroom. They took pride in their work, everybody was busy doing something, whether resetting boots or helping a customer. I complimented one of them on the place, and she said, “thank you! We’re proud of it.”

Well, how ‘bout that?

“You should be,” I replied, all seriousness.

I will admit I got a bit jaded by the time I left my job there. I’d just had it. I felt under appreciated and left out. No matter what kind of sales I made, it was never enough. I’d been passed over a million times. And whose fault was it? I’d asked for raises. I’d asked for help on the counter so I could take better care of my sections. I’d asked for a Saturday off a month. I’d asked for a stool. No, no, no, NO. I had the knowledge (associates degree in agriculture). I had the experience (13 years behind the counter). I had the customer base and sales to prove I deserved better. But no. Always no.

So I got revenge by being short and snappy with my colleagues and customers. This was wrong. I wasn’t happy, I’d asked for change and didn’t receive it, I should have quit long before. We all have a choice. We’re called to do the best we can do at whatever we’re doing. If you’re not, then move on to something that makes you happy. Somewhere you’re proud to be and you feel like you make a difference. I hung on, foolishly believing things would get better. It didn’t, and it still hasn’t, and now the atmosphere feels slightly toxic when I visit. It’s not just me. I hear from at least one person a week, all these years later, about an unfavorable experience there. I hate it for everybody. I still love Co-op. I depend on them for so much. But it hurts my heart they are falling behind. Columbia is setting the standard for service, for product placement, for merchandise selection. For everything, as far as I could see. I’m proud for them. Gooooo Co-op!

You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone (did anybody sing that? Just me?) and I think that goes for employees, for lost loves, and for Reese’s peanut butter eggs. I hope you all appreciate everything you’ve got. Your home, your friends, your family, your church, your pets, your job. Whatever it is, whatever is important to you. Are you showing them love? Are you showing them appreciation? Are you reciprocating? A “good job” or “thank you, this looks great” goes a long way. And you can’t say it enough. I promise people don’t get tired of hearing it. If you can’t show them the money, show them with words. Show them with actions. Love hard.

Love hard.

Love from Appalachia,

~Amy

P.s. yes, I know I still owe you a poem from two days ago. I’m working on it. ….’cept I’m not, not really. But I will. I promise. 😘