: "干了18年,我的生意要关门了,跟大家说一声。"
Wow, after 18 years, I've made the tough call to close my business. We specialized in countertops and decorative surfaces, and I'm proud of the work we did – everything from the White House to countless restaurants and offices around D.C. Over 32,000 jobs! I really thought I was doing things the right way, treating my employees and vendors fairly, and focusing on quality.
We even made it through a few economic downturns and stayed profitable most years. My plan was to bring on partners and eventually retire, but things changed.
It's easy to blame the economy, but the truth is, a real estate miscalculation around 2020 is what really did it. The market shifted, especially for light industrial spaces, and rent prices skyrocketed. Then, my landlord sold our building, and the new lease was way too expensive.
I tried to find a new place, but it was a struggle. Rental rates were insane, and I even had a couple of deals fall through at the last minute. With sales slowing down and the future looking uncertain, I had to make a tough choice. It was better to close the doors with something to show for it, instead of risking everything on a risky move.
Telling my employees was the hardest part – some of them had been with me for almost 20 years. I'm doing everything I can to help them find new jobs. Even my customers were shocked, and a few even offered me a job! That meant a lot.
Now, I'm facing the daunting task of closing everything down, finishing projects, selling equipment, and moving out. It's going to be tough, but I'll get through it. For the first time in a long time, I'm unemployed, but I'm ready for whatever comes next.
Op. Love and support. I’ve been through the loss of a company I loved. I gave everything I could to my people and turned my life inside out to make sure every one of them had a new job that paid more, including helping them negotiate and calling in favors, and that was worth doing. They are all doing fine or in some cases just incredible now, and that’s what matters.
Ignore the haters. They can tear you down, but they don’t build anything. People are angry at billionaires and yelling at their peers who run small businesses like they’re the ones screwing them. It’s shockingly dumb. But they are mad for damn good reasons, as I’m sure you know (having just experienced them — the irony).
My only suggestion is to take some time. Take some time to process things and find a breath. It really takes longer than you think to take a minute after grinding for a few decades.
My only suggestion is to give yourself a minute.
Thanks for the post. It really made me emotional because I know where you’re at and it’s just… well… I wish you the best.