I LOVE MY JOB. Being editor-in-chief of PETS+ magazine has been the most fulfilling and rewarding role in my 30 years as a journalist.
That said, I beg to differ with those who say that choosing a job you love means never working a day in your life. I work. A lot. And I bet every single one of you would say you do, too.
That’s why I so appreciate stories like “Run Lean,” the lead in this issue. Written by group managing editor Chris Burslem, it puts forth the idea that more — working more, acquiring more, adding more — might not always be the right approach. What if less is the better option, he asks? After all, many of us survived and often thrived during the pandemic with less — and continue to do so with ongoing supply-chain issues.
Chris presents advice from leading business consultants and savvy pet pros alike for his list of 18 ways to do more in your business by doing less. I’ve already implemented several, including perhaps my favorite tip: “Let bad things happen.”
Advertisement
I know, I know … that seems to go against the way many of us work, always jumping in to ensure everything goes right. You’ll find the reasoning behind this advice and how to execute it on page 35. (FYI, I’m talking about little bad things, not big bad things.)
And while I have you here, turn back to page 4 when you’re done reading this issue to scan the QR code for our first-ever Big Survey. If you give us 30 minutes of your time to answer questions about how you do business, we’ll give you a free cup of coffee, plus enter you to win a professional photo shoot of your pet, with an image appearing on a PETS+ cover in 2023. This survey is for independent pet retailers and service providers only. Not to worry, we’ll have one for manufacturers next year.
Thank you to all in advance,
Five Great Tips From This Issue That You Can Do Today
- Partner with other local small businesses on a Halloween Trick or Treat Map. (Calendar, p. 10)
- Start thinking about what “splurchandise” you’ll offer as stocking-stuffers. (Manager’s To-Do List, p. 12)
- Push record to better connect with your customers. (Candace D’Agnolo, p. 47)
- Be smart about where you spend your social media resources. (Jane Harrell, p. 48)
- Consider how customers mentally and emotionally process your store. (Lyn M. Falk, p. 49)
