Why do bad things happen to good people…because of Wal-Mart?

Last November I heard about the case of Debbie Shank and thought after the release of the story to the public and the outcry it was sure to cause that eventually Wal-Mart would change it’s course and DO THE RIGHT THING.

I was wrong.

It seems like Wal-Mart is going to take all that is left of the $417,000 Debbie has that remains from damages she received from a trucking company that was involved in an accident which left her severely brain-damaged. The reason: “fairness“. You see, in Wal-Mart’s health-care clause it allows them to re-coup money received in damages up to the amount that they forked over for her immediate health costs following her accident. This clause is actually very common. But there are a few issues. One, all legal costs and responsibility fall on the party pursuing damages yet then opens up the possibility for other parties to sue for claim on the issued damages. Once again, the legal costs of the now defending party are also the responsibility of the now defendants. Plus, the money the Shank’s received from the trucking company wasn’t going to a new home, car and vacation. Rather, it was set in a trust to handle the nursing assistance she will need for the rest of her life as she has spent the last 8 years in a nursing home and will continue to do so - coverage not taken care of by Wal-Mart now.

On the bigger the issue, however, is why do companies do the wrong thing? Wal-Mart doesn’t need this money. In fact, they make the equal amount they are taking from Debbie every 38 seconds and the CEO makes more than the equivalent in a week. So you tell me, is it really fair? The clause states that they ‘can’ not that they have to. I think to be fair that even when another unfortunate accident like this occurs again, Wal-Mart should take it on the chin in thanks to the service their employees give them and allowed them to rake in more than $11 billion dollars in profit last year.

In the end, even though this is an argument against the company, I must remind myself that there is a family left suffered in this case. Debbie’s husband, Jim, is recovering from prostate cancer and has medical expenses of his own. And a week after a lower court ruled in favor of Wal-Mart last summer, their oldest son was killed in Iraq. I think this family has been through enough even if all they had to deal with was Debbie’s accident.

Just as people should always do the right thing, companies should also do the right thing. I believe there is a fear in the corporate world to take in account personal circumstances and simply rely on legal language and clauses but at the end of the day whether the issue is employees or consumers they are people. So whatever Wal-Mart may now tout giving examples that they do good for their employees, the community, or the world…I will always remember Debbie Shank and how they wronged her.

Grocery Shopping on a Budget without Sacrificing Good Food!

Almost a year after graduating I never thought I would have to necessarily be budgeting on almost all areas of my purchasing. It’s not exactly like I have a lot of expenses. But, out of the gates since college I have taken a path that has led me to work for a few start-ups. Now don’t get me wrong, I have worked for some excellent companies doing fun work. In fact, I love working for start-ups as it seems to be always exciting and you get the opportunity to wear many hats – which is how I like to work! At the same time though, it is not like the cash is just flowing in. Hell, the companies themselves are on quite the budget. And of course, it doesn’t always work out (except to pad the ol’ resume). I understand all of this though and have no regrets and am always seeking out more opportunities.

Back to my budgeting… Perhaps the worst area of my purchases and where most of my money seems to go falls in one category: FOOD. I love food. I live for food. I appreciate it as art. If I could be Anthony Bourdain I would. I even joke that if I am fortunate someday to build a nice house I am going to build two; one for me and one for my mom with one exception: hers will not include a kitchen which will force her to have to cook at my house as well as for me! Nonetheless though, I like good food and good food costs more money. It’s not like I am eating out always either. Me at the grocery store is a disaster. I like to buy not only the basics but also everything else! A good sauce there, a nice spice here… “oh that looks good, I’ll take it but what is it?” I’ll try almost anything and try to make almost anything. And of course there is one more problem: I like the expensive grocery stores. Whole Foods is my place of choice and we all know that if you are on a budget you stay away from Whole Foods.

So I have been in a bind. First off, I have decided that even though my budget has suffered my diet will not. I’m not going to live off of Taco Bell or the numerous dollar menus. I certainly had enough of that in college and since practically shunning all fast food (except for you ol’ faithful that is Good Times) I have felt tremendously better and my body has responded with more energy, better attitude, and many more benefits. So with a budget in mind I have been holding back from buying anything and everything and I have had to come up with a system.

First, I go in with a game plan. Now, I know you are probably thinking I am going to talk about coupons but I actually never ever use coupons. There is of course nothing wrong with them but I simply just never get or look for them or when I do see a good one I never seem to remember to use it. Instead, I set a specific dollar amount as my ceiling and I stick to it. I also decide how long I want these to purchases to last before I go shopping again of which I usually tend to set at a week. Going to the grocery store more than once a week is almost a guarantee I will once again spend too much money on food in a given time.

Second, I do not sacrifice good food for cheap (and usually poor quality) food. Like I said, there is obviously benefits to eating quality food and I don’t want to sacrifice that. This means I don’t give up going to my favorite store Whole Foods! I just go there with the plan I set in the first part of my system and my food focus now is solely meals. I’m not messing with just anything, I go in looking for meals. But since I am also usually short on time and don’t always have the opportunity to exactly cook, Whole Foods remains a tremendous option to buy quality fast-preparing meals. And I can do it on a budget. For example, their soups are terrific and they package the same ones in the vats you get at lunch and they are also cheaper. For $4 I can get a more than fulfilling soup that takes me 10 minutes to prepare at home on the stove. Plus, their frozen food selection is awesome! You can get the same pizza they make in the store frozen for also around $4 and you get more of it! It also just takes about 15 minutes to prepare. Another one of my favorites is the Whole Kitchen Cheese Enchiladas. They seem to always be on sale for $2.50 and are filling plus organic. Also, keep in mind that although sales seem to be rare at Whole Foods when they do have sales, they have SALES! Last week Boulder Canyon chips were only $0.99 for the 5 oz. bags. Of course I stocked up.

Third, with my focus at Whole Foods on meals it is worth the stop on the way home to King Soopers where I get everything else such as the basics. I have another rule for even KS: I only buy it if there is a savings on my Sooper Card. It never seems to fail that this rule always pans out well.

What is the result of me using all of these rules: I am down to under $5 a meal, which is not always easy when your cooking (unfortunately) for just one, and I don’t sacrifice a thing! I don’t sacrifice taste, quality, or health! It also means that my spending on good food every two weeks is usually under $100. This is especially good when you consider I used to spend more than $500 a month on food! Do I give up restaurants though when I am on a budget? Unfortunately, yes. Budgets cause sacrifices. Anyways, thought I should share my new found system that I will probably uphold even when my financial situation turns around! Besides, there is always better things you can do with your money!

Nau’s Seeding Event - Business Unusual

Nau is proving true to its promise as evident by last night’s ‘seeding event‘. One of the basics of our business model is our “customer-directed program in which Nau gives 5 percent of every sale to community partner organizations”. Last night we celebrated our second round of giving by throwing a little party with our partner organizations. What made last night so special was it wasn’t merely giving money to great organizations…it was also a celebration of our first year in business and what we have been able to accomplish (and give!) in one year. It has been a terrific year with big growing pains and a lot of lessons learned - typical things that are tough for any new company - but we not only have survived, we have grown! Grown in an industry that isn’t necessarily kind to newcomers. And we have built a tremendous brand (one amongst giants) based not merely on clothing but rather based on what we are about and doing as a company, as a product, and as a vision. So last night as we gave away our store’s share of $161,000 raised from the 5% of sales, bringing Nau’s total giveaway since we opened last March to over $223,000, we celebrated what a business can do when it does business unusual. It was also a treat chatting up with awesome folks doing great things such as Caroline from Eco-Cycle who is always fun (and quite dedicated to the cause of composting trash bags!). It was also great seeing the folks from the Center for Resource Conservation as two of ‘em were old faces I haven’t seen in awhile! And the ladies from the Colorado Environmental Coalition were there last night and will be returning this Sunday to teach us and everyone more about their tremendous efforts here in Colorado. Also, got to give a quick shout-out to Brian from Team Slipstream, it’s always great running into cats from Slipstream as they’re are always cool - although we’re still waiting for some jersey’s; we give you clothing, you give us some! That’s how it works!

So, all in all, it was a great night and rewarding as I have been privileged to be a part of this new company with great potential. I look forward to seeing what the future brings and can’t wait to see the expansion in this next year (word on the street is 10 more stores!).

Boulder Startup Weekend II

 

Last summer, this tall fellow with a cool greyhound walked into my store and ever since I have been convinced he’s one of the coolest cats out there with tremendous ideas and energy. He reminded us of his coolness when he appeared in the Boston Globe sporting some of our gear. But even cooler than that was why he was in the Boston Globe. His brilliant idea, Startup Weekend, was started in Boulder last summer and has since been done in cities around the world. It comes full circle March 21st-23rd when it returns to Boulder, CO. Startup Weekend is a pretty simple premise that takes people of multiple backgrounds into a common forum for a little over 48 hours with the goal of creating a company as well as building community. I really believe this is a great idea that in the future we will reap the rewards of some of these weekend successes. I am hoping to be a part of it this time around!

 

 

 

 

 

Hello Blog World!

After playing with this new blog “thingy” for a few hours (with a slight interruption arguing over the date of St. Patrick’s Day this year)…I am nowhere close to really understainding the capabilities of this new world. Nonetheless, I have been a bystander for so many years reading others blogs but today my situation changes. I will no longer simply stand by. I have jumped on the bandwagon and will begin to share my thoughts.

You may ask, why now? What do you want to prove? Well, really I want to prove nothing. And now ’cause, really, why not? I know there are already millions of bloggers out there but I really see blogging as something that has yet to even nearly reach it’s potential. I believe as social-networking sites start to lose their luster millions more will trek out on their own, creating their entire own blogs, and networking with unlimited potential. So, today I decided to be one of those people. That is not say I’m dropping my facebook account. But I wish to not merely write posts and stay connected with friends (a feature that is still going to keep social-networking sites king of the net for some time to come)…rather I mean to share my thoughts, my findings, and take in others thoughts, findings, adventures….

So, here goes. I’m looking forward to networking, learning, and sharing. Besides, I’ve been asked way too many times why don’t I have a blog already, especially from a town where everyone seems to have one! Cheers!