Gartalker's Blog

I suppose when it is all said and done most of us don’t do much remembering on Memorial Day. I can say this with a certain amount of authority. I base it on all my years in the retail business.

Almost every dealership will be cooking hot dogs or hamburgers this Monday trying to compete with the malls. Even after all these years they want to do squat. Still they will act like it is a big car holiday. Any thing to keep the salesman who cost them nothing, from spending time with their family and friends.( most work on 100% commission) From Memorial day to the Fourth of July they will try to con someone into coming in on a strictly voluntary basis to work the Fourth. The sales manager will normally select the bottom five guys on the board when no one will volunteer.

Now, some of you that read my blog may know that I also spent three years in the furniture business. If you miss the Memorial day weekend there you have missed one of the biggest weekends of the year.

I have often wondered why people have this urge to buy furniture and mattresses on this particular weekend. Memorial day weekend will let everyone know how there summer sales are going to be. The average salesperson in the retail furniture business will most likely make more in these two days than he will any week of the year.

So be advised if you plan on going out and kicking a few sofas or lay on some mattresses that is way more than you know you are going to spend. This may not be the weekend to do it. You might get pushed out-of-the-way to make room for a buying customer.

This year I find myself in my golden years. I have as I have said before, gone full circle in the car business. I am now finishing out my time on a small gravel lot where I am the sales-manager,salesperson, janitor and lot man. This comes with one major benefit. If you want to find me Monday I will be in the back yard cooking Baby Back Ribs.

Have a great weekend everyone.