Business Pulse: Study shows it really pays to be tall
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I’m so excited about this week’s column, I’m almost tempted to skip all the silly stuff I put at the top and jump right into the meat and potatoes. Notice I said I was almost tempted.
You’re not getting away that easily boys and girls because I’ve got to tell you about the latest study I stumbled across Thursday afternoon. After years of research, the study concluded tall people earn considerably more money throughout their lives than shorter co-workers.
How much more money? The study found that each inch adds about $789 to a person’s yearly income. That means a 6-foot-5 man would earn about $3,945 more a year than a 6-foot man at the exact same job.
“Height matters for career success,” said Timothy Judge, a University of Florida professor who spearheaded the research. “These findings are troubling in that, with a few exceptions such as professional basketball, no one could argue that height is an essential ability required for job performance nor a bona fide occupational qualification.”
This may sound off the wall at first, but think about how many folks fudge it a little when it comes to height. It’s because we all want to be tall. I know when someone asks me about my height, I almost always say 6-foot-2. In actuality, I am just a shade over 6-foot-1, but I choose to generously round up.
I don’t know how many women I’ve heard say they would like to be “just an inch or two taller.” What most of us never realized is more height means more money. The relationship between height and earnings was particularly strong in sales and management, but was also present in less social occupations such as engineering, accounting and computer programming.
Based on this study, I’m going to try to work myself up to 7-foot-6 by the time my next scheduled pay raise rolls around. That would boost my annual salary by over $12,000.
And I can’t get started on this week’s column until I tell you about a Knoxville man who tried to kill himself by cop-a-cide. By now many of us have heard about this act which is, for some odd reason, gaining popularity. It’s where a person who is bent on committing suicide pulls a gun on police officers so they will shoot him down.
That was what Knoxville resident Thomas McGouey, 51, had in mind last month. He went so far with his plan that he even left a suicide note and painted a giant bull’s-eye on his body to give officers a target in which to aim. Note: the giant bull’s-eye probably should have given officers a tip as to McGouey’s plan.
Nevertheless, McGouey somehow managed to get himself in a police standoff and that’s when he pointed his gun at officers to entice them to shoot in self-defense. The plan worked almost perfectly as Knox County deputies unloaded on McGouey by firing 28 shots at him. However, McGouey escaped with only a minor injury because 27 shots missed and the one that hit him only grazed his shoulder.
So there you have it Vol fans. Casey Clausen isn’t the only person in Knoxville who can’t hit his target.
What’s going next to Wendy’s
It’s been quite some time since I was bombarded by so many questions about the same topic. But apparently the sight of bulldozers moving dirt next to Wendy’s has got this community bubbling with enthusiasm. That’s a good thing.
It took a few phone calls and a few favors people owed me, but I finally got to the bottom of the question everyone was asking: What’s going next to Wendy’s? The answer: A high-end used car lot that is scheduled to open around the middle of January.
Brent Brock and Travis Barnes are partners in the venture. I talked to Travis Friday afternoon and he told me they are kicking around the name Tennessee Auto Sales, but said that’s just an idea right now.
For anyone who has ever been in trouble, Brent and Travis can be a welcome sight. Both are bail bondsmen which means they can get you out of jail. Now the two are hoping folks look forward to seeing them when they are looking for a used car.
Travis has been in the car business for about six years. He’s spent the last five years working at O.M. Womack’s lot on Beersheba Street and sold new cars for Turner’s a year before that.
“It can be easier to sell a used $10,000 vehicle with 40,000 miles than new $35,000 vehicle with five miles,” said Travis when asked the difference between selling new and used cars.
“The main thing is taking care of your customers and making sure everyone is happy.”
Travis said the car lot is going to be top of the line with a glass, 3,500-square-foot showroom. Jewell Hale Construction is scheduled to start working on the showroom in the next week or two.
When I told Travis about all the people who had asked about the dirt work next to Wendy’s, he said that’s a promising sign. “That means there’s a lot of traffic in that area,” he said.
Walgreens appears on its way to town
I’m not a genie and I don’t have a crystal ball. That’s why it’s not often I make predictions. But I’m going to break from tradition in this case and make this statement. I believe Walgreens is on its way to McMinnville and it will be located in the spot currently occupied by Favorite Market.
I say that after calling sources from Warren County to Illinois. It’s been said I will stop at nothing to bring you the latest business news, although the person who says that is usually my mother.
After hammering away at Walgreens home office officials and refusing to take no for an answer, I finally got this information from a company spokesperson. Walgreens is looking at McMinnville and is interested in having a store in town. But a particular site has not been decided. And it would be premature, I was told, to say Walgreens will be located where Favorite Market currently sits.
However, when I called out to Favorite Market, I was told it was pretty much a done deal that Walgreens will buy the property. Negotiations have gone so far that Favorite Market employees have been told they will have a job until at least February, but after that it’s uncertain.
When I asked Walgreens officials about taking pictures of Favorite Market, I was told such a move is “routine.” Walgreens is in the midst of a highly aggressive growth project that has the pharmacy chain opening more than one store a day over the next fiscal year. Walgreens officials say they will opening an astounding 450 stores over the next fiscal year. Wow!
So the next time you pay $47 to have a prescription filled and wonder who is making all the money off that transaction, I don’t think we have to think too hard. Opening 450 stores in a year tells me the pharmacies have both hands in the cookie jar.
What’s going next to the car wash?
I’ve mentioned this before, but based on the number of questions I’ve received it’s obvious some folks missed it. That’s OK because I don’t mind repeating myself.
The construction currently taking place next to the car wash on Chancery Street will be a new O’Reilly Auto Parts store. When I tell folks this, most don’t realize we already have an O’Reilly store at the beginning of Sparta Street right after you round the big curve on Main Street.
From what I can tell, this can’t be that great a location since no one seems to know O’Reilly is there right now. Its new spot will be prime time, directly on the road that leads to Wal-Mart. That will no doubt increase business. The move is tentatively scheduled around the first of the year.
Minton to open Avon store in Midway
It took me awhile to finally get to Pam Minton and her new Avon store that will be opening in the Midway community Nov. 7. But it was worth the wait because Pam is going to have herself a great store and she promises it will be worth the drive for anyone who wants to buy quality Avon products from her.
Pam had been selling Avon out of her home – and quite successfully at that. She has been so successful, a separate shop had become a necessity.
“Avon had taken over my home,” said Pam. “That can happen when you’re getting 40 or 50 boxes a week. That’s why I’m so excited about my new building. You wouldn’t believe the number of people who have already stopped by and asked if I’m open.”
That day will come Friday, Nov. 7 and Pam has a grand celebration in store. For starters, her first 50 customers will receive a free gift. Two Avon baskets will also be given away (with no purchase necessary to register).
But here is the neatest idea. Anyone who cuts out Pam’s picture in today’s Business Pulse and brings it to her shop Nov. 7 will receive 10 percent off their entire order. For folks not quick at math, that’s a $10 savings on an order of $100. Plus, it would make me look good in the process so go ahead and cut out that picture.
Pam has sold over $20,000 in merchandise in each of the last two years to place her in the Avon Honor Society. She is eyeing $37,500 in annual sales to make the Avon Roll Circle.
“You have to be good to your customers and treat them the way you would want to be treated,” said Pam.
Pam said she doesn’t want to steal anyone’s regular customers (that’s a major Avon no-no). But she would like anyone who doesn’t have an Avon representative to give her a call at 686-3703. Her store is located at 6378 Francis Ferry Road.
American Cellular wants your old phones
Since the Pioneers final football game of the season was going to fall on Halloween night, the game has been moved to this Thursday. Your friends from American Cellular will have a special tent set up at the game and are seeking old cell phones. For every old cell phone dropped off, the company will donate $2 to the Warren County athletic department.
“We want to do what we can for Warren County sports,” said American Cellular store manager Virginia Reed.
Virginia said she will have a tent set up outside the main gate beginning at 6:30 p.m. In addition to helping the athletic department by giving your unwanted cell phone, you can also help your own wallet. Virginia said American Cellular will be offering some great deals in honor of Senior Night.
In honor of American Cellular and Warren County’s seniors, I will refrain from making any Pioneer football jokes at this time. For more information about American Cellular’s promotion, call the store at 506-5211.
That’s all folks
If you think this has been a rock-’em, sock-’em business column, just wait until next week. Maybe by that time I will have grown by five inches and will be making around $4,000 more a year. Keep those business calls a coming. The phone number is 473-2191 and the e-mail is [email protected].