New Job (s)

It is official I have a new full-time job…. And a couple part-time jobs. It has been one year almost to the day since I left American River ACE. It all began a few weeks ago when I was doing some short-term merchandising for a dollar store that had just expanded here in Folsom. During this time, I began to realize that I really missed retail. The interaction with customers and staff management was really something I enjoyed. I get some of that at the swapmeet and the part-time work I do for Target, but not as much as I did in the dollar store for some reason. Both the employees and the customers were constantly coming to me for the answers or for help in the store and it felt good to be part of the team again. I contacted Emigh ACE Hardware, who had originally offered me a job when I left American River ACE and told them that if they ever had another opening, that I might be interested. The next day, Rich, the owner of Emigh called and we talked and he said he had an opportunity for me.

I am going to be in charge of the large Lawn and Garden Department. I have eight employees in my department to manage and last year they did 3 million in sales in that department alone. I get started next Monday by preparing for the buying for next Spring and going to the ACE Convention the following week. I will then begin in the store on October 2nd.

In addition I am going to continue working for RMS, who has a contract with all the Target Stores and I now have three Target stores that I am responsible for. One here in Folsom, one in Rancho Cordova and the third is a brand new store in El Dorado Hills, which I begin to set next week as well.

Of course I will still be doing my Wine Shop at Home stuff. I really enjoy this job too. Wine Shop is primarily nights and weekends and I hardly work any of those at Emigh. In fact I only work one weekend every five weeks! I am very excited about the job with Emigh and the flexibility it gives me to do other things as well. 8-10 hour days, 5 days a week are much better than 12-16 hour days 6 days a week, like I had at American River. I love the fact that I will be outside in the Garden Center a lot and have my hands in some real dirt!

Most of all getting to spend most weekends with my wife Pam, is going to be my biggest reward. She and I had a lot of fun this past Spring with the golfing classes on Saturdays, but since then I have spent almost every weekend at the Swapmeet. I am really looking forward to spending more time with her.

Here’s to the future,
Randy