Business Pulse: Don’t be like Coyote with explosives
This Thursday is Independence Day which means there are sure to be fireworks exploding throughout the county. Just remember, when you’re dealing with fireworks, or any type of explosive device, there’s always the potential for bodily harm.
To illustrate this point, we don’t have to look any further than your friend and mine, Wile E. Coyote. Most of us are familiar with Mr. Coyote, known for his many losing battles with the Road Runner.
And I’m sure most of us have sympathized with his cause. I know I always wanted him to catch the Road Runner just once, but as we all know, it never happened. The Coyote would always fall off a cliff, or have some sophisticated Acme device malfunction, or misuse dynamite and blow himself up.
That’s why, as Independence Day approaches, it’s important to realize each and every one of us should exercise caution when using explosives, even if they do seem like harmless bottle rockets. And never, ever attempt to climb inside a large firework to launch yourself into space. It just won’t work.
But launching yourself into outer space is a topic for another day. Today’s topic is the luckless Wile E. Coyote, who always comes up with increasingly elaborate and seemingly foolproof schemes to snag the Road Runner. If you notice, the cartoons always adhere to a few simple rules:
Rule 1: The Road Runner cannot harm the Coyote except by going “Beep! Beep!”
Rule 2: No outside force can harm the Coyote – only his own ineptitude or the failure of Acme products, which may work for other customers, but seem never to work for Wile E.
Rule 3: The Coyote could stop anytime. There is nothing that says he must catch the Road Runner. Of course he can’t quit. He’s certain the next attempt is sure to succeed. He’s the personality type 12-step programs are made for.
Rule 4: There’s no dialogue ever, except “Beep! Beep!” There’s the occasional dialog sign that comes in handy just as Wile E. realizes his efforts are going to bring him nothing but big pain.
Rule 5: All tools, weapons, or mechanical conveniences must be obtained from Acme. This can be anything from an Acme brand Burmese tiger trap, to an Acme brand steel wall, or Acme brand muscle-building vitamins. Nothing ever works.
Rule 6: Whenever possible, make gravity the Coyote’s greatest enemy. I loved the episode where the Coyote was watering a rock in order to grow it to boulder size so he could crush the Road Runner flat in his tracks. In true Wile E. style, the rock expands just as he lifts it over his head, letting gravity take its course.
And my personal favorite
Rule 7: Explosive devices will only serve to blow up the Coyote.
As we approach July 4, make sure you aren’t the Coyote this Independence Day. That’s this week’s wholesome message. Now to Business Pulse.
Sally Beauty Supply is already busy
If you want to have a thriving business in no time flat, apparently all you need to do is open a beauty supply shop. At least that’s what I’ve determined after stopping by Sally Beauty Supply Friday at Three Star Mall. Open less than a week, the store is already swamped with customers.
“This location is just perfect for us and I think it’s one of the reasons we’ve done so well,” said district manager Dorris Dawson. “We had an unusual first day as far as sales. We did quite well.”
Monday was the first day the store was open in McMinnville, but there’s no shortage of experience when it comes to opening Sally stores. There are 24 in the Midstate and over 2,000 nationwide. In fact Dorris told me Sally is the world’s largest beauty supplier.
Sally markets its products to professional hairdressers in that you can buy one box of hair coloring – or five cases. They carry salon-quality products and have just about anything you could want when it comes to hair care. There are also nail products, items for skin care and salon equipment.
Judy Templeton, a former hairdresser, is the store manager and she’s a familiar face around these parts. Sally Beauty Supply is located next to the Dollar Tree and the phone number is 506-9205.
Fireworks stand benefits Lighthouse Ministries
When it comes to his fireworks stand, Nathan Smith is hard core. He worked three straight days – without sleep – to get the stand set up. Now that the business is up and running, Nathan is there constantly. He even sleeps at the fireworks stand.
“Fortunately, he does go home to take a shower,” said Brandon Brady, who is one of the teens volunteering his time at the fireworks stand. Matt George and Cody Campbell have also been providing a good deal of free help.
All that work is more than I’d want to do to earn a few extra bucks, but it’s even more noteworthy in Nathan’s case. He’s donating every penny he makes from his fireworks stand to Lighthouse Ministries, a Christian recreation center he has opened on Sparta Street for teen-agers.
“We’re trying to give kids a good, clean place to go,” said Nathan. “How many times have you heard that kids have nothing to do in this town. I hear people say that all the time. So we’re trying to do something about it.”
Open for about four months, “The Lighthouse,” as it’s called by the kids, has drawn a crowd – and for good reason. There are eight arcade games, pool, ping pong, skeeball, air hockey and a big screen TV.
“And it’s all free,” said Nathan. “We’d love to build the place up and one day have 15 pool tables but that’s a high dream. Right now we have to start by fixing up the place we do have.”
Nathan said he’s still doing some minor work repairing the existing building and that’s one reason he is donating the profits from his fireworks stand. He’s also renting the Lighthouse Ministries building so that adds another major monthly expense.
As far as promotions, Nathan has organized a pretty big one with Buck’s Pizza. From now until Tuesday night at 8 p.m., anyone who stops by Buck’s Pizza or Nathan’s firework stand can register to win what’s being called the “grand prize.” That grand prize is a $100 shopping spree at Nathan’s stand and a $60 pizza party from Buck’s.
Sounds pretty good, but here’s the catch. You must be at Buck’s Pizza at 8 p.m. Tuesday night to win. While that might seem like a weird catch, there’s a reward that goes along with it. Nathan will be conducting a free fireworks display Tuesday night at 8 p.m. in the parking lot by Buck’s. So not only could you win $160 worth of stuff, you can also see free fireworks.
“I’ve got 200 items and I’ll be setting off almost everything I’ve got,” said Nathan. “That way if you see something you like, something you might want for your family fireworks show, you’ll know what it is and can go buy it.”
It’s sort of like that free taste test you get when you go to Baskin-Robbins. They give you that tiny spoon to see if you like the flavor before committing yourself to a full scoop of it.
Whiteaker leaves local
McDonalds after 22 years
The best I can figure, Mickey Whiteaker must be an extremely tolerant person. There’s no other way to explain how she could last 22 years working at our local McDonalds – with the last 16 of those years as the restaurant manager.
If it was me, I’d guess I would probably just snap after a few years at the restaurant, but not Mickey. She says she truly enjoyed the experience.
“There was something new all the time. If it wasn’t people, it was the equipment or something else,” said Mickey.
So after 22 years, can she still stomach the food at McDonalds?
“Oh yeah,” Mickey said. “A basic cheeseburger is what I really like. And with no ketchup. I’m not a ketchup person.”
Mickey said a lot has changed since she first started working at McDonalds. First and foremost, they built an entirely new restaurant. Believe it or not the “new” McDonalds restaurant on Smithville Highway has been open almost six years. Its first day was July 18, 1996.
Mickey says the biggest change is McDonalds has gone back to the basics and is now preparing your order when you order it. There’s no longer mountains of hamburgers stored under heat lamps.
“We used to have a holding bin where you had to throw the food away after 10 minutes,” said Mickey. “You wouldn’t believe the waste. Now they cook it as people order it and it’s a lot better that way.”
Mickey frequently worked the morning shift which meant arriving at the restaurant at 3:30 a.m. to get ready for the breakfast rush. She often didn’t leave until well into the evening.
“She’d work for 12 or 16 hours straight,” said Barbara Fairbanks, a former co-worker. “And she’d do anything. She wasn’t above picking up a broom and sweeping the floor. She’s the hardest working manager I’ve ever seen.”
As for how retirement is treating her, Mickey is hard at work again helping her husband, Randel, with his business.
That’s all folks
I know everyone is busy having fun in the summer sun, but give me a call with your business tips. Provided I don’t get blown up by a giant firecracker, I’ll be back next week with all the business news I can gather. The phone number is 473-2191 and the e-mail is standard@blomand.net.