In this series of posts, I am going to provide a brief history of the significant places I worked before I turned 20 (I will leave some of my work history out) and the life lessons I learned at each place.

Hooper’s Outdoor Center in Paducah, KY

I got hired at this specialty outdoor sporting goods shop after I put in a killer application (left my planner behind necessitating a call back to me!). The store had a mascot dog named… you guessed it, Hooper. He was a big ol' chocolate lab. I wrote on the job application my history of loving sales and my past two jobs, (the park job and restaurant job) which both had killer references, and that I would wash Hooper anytime it was needed. I had a love for the outdoors and owned some of the high-end gear that was being sold at the shop. I got hired on in general sales, but my main job was bike mechanic. I received my foundational business education here. I learned the enjoyable art of merchandizing, the grueling responsibility of fine-tuned accuracy in inventory counting and the value of product knowledge. I worked my way up in the company and began to learn the basics of day-to-day retail management in pre-season orders, pricing margins, customer service and relationships with our many vendors. I was very much affected by the managers of the store when I first started there, so I learned a lot from them. When they moved on I was able to carry on the feeling of the business and general principles that still keep Hoopers Outdoor Center the wonderful store it still is today.

LESSONS LEARNED: Retail sales success in merchandizing, pricing and product knowledge/selection.