Learning the Business and Building Stores

After graduating from high school, I went to work at the J.C. Penney Store in Moline. Bernie worked there before I did, too. I became their best sales person in the men’s department and got onto their management training program. I was transferred to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where a new Penney’s store was being opened in 1962. The highlight of this job was meeting and working for several days with Mr. J.C. Penney himself. He came to Oshkosh to work the grand opening. He and I stood at the front door of the store handing out roses, and every hour or so Mr. Penney would call me over and say, “Go ring out the registers, kid, and see how we’re doing.” It was quite an experience to be around this famous retail legend. After three years in Oshkosh, Iris and Bill asked if I would be interested in a Ben Franklin Store. I left Penney’s and went to work in Bob Retzlaff’s Ben Franklin Store in Madison, Wisconsin to learn the business. Meanwhile in 1983, we opened a retail clothing store in Madison, called Bormann’s. I was a part owner and the manager. It was the first time I ever borrowed money. Bill Retzlaff cosigned the loan, for which I am still grateful. We did very well for five years, made some money, and paid off the loans. In 1972, I sold out of Bormann’s and became manager and a partner with Iris and Bill in a chain of clothing stores in Janesville, called Elliott’s. We did this for eight years and then sold out. During this period, we bought Sue a candle store called Wicks N Sticks. Sue operated this store for five years. It was a wonderful experience for her. She did a great job and made some money, plus she got to spend many hours in the mall. There were also some great trade shows around the country that we attended, and we made some lasting friendships. Our best trip was to Montreal. Montreal is a beautiful city, plus Sue won nine hundred dollars in a raffle there. In 1988, I bought a Ben Franklin Store in Janesville and converted it to an all-crafts store. During this period, I was elected to the Board of Directors of Rock County Bank. I served for five years. It was extremely interesting; especially finding out who had to borrow money to pay their country club dues.