Who would build the roads were it not for government, people say.
You know what? I think I'll take my chances.
Here's the latest round of destructive idiocy.
The Long Beach City Council recently required that businesses pay some grocery and other workers an extra $4 per hour "hero pay" for working during the pandemic.
Predictable result: Kroger, the parent company of Ralph's and Food 4 Less, will be closing two stores in the area.
Naturally a measure like that will tend to push marginal stores out of business, which is precisely what happened in this case: each of the stores that closed had been struggling, and this was the final nail in the coffin.
Kroger noted that it had already increased pay by $2 an hour at the beginning of the pandemic, spent $1.3 billion on pandemic-related expenses, and added extra benefits for employees, like emergency leave.
The local union piped in with the usual idiocy: "Kroger closing these stores is a clear attempt to intimidate and discourage workers from standing up and using their voice to create better working conditions and wages."
Yes, they're closing stores they poured countless millions into just to teach some economic illiterates a lesson. Sure.
This is the b.s. that brick-and-mortar stores have to deal with, pandemic or no.
Yet another benefit of an online store.
None of this crap, and therefore less stress and fewer ulcers.
Tomorrow is the last workshop I'll be running on the best, newbie-friendly approach to running such a store.
Plus, if you attend live, I'll give you a brand new bonus: my Under the Hood at Tom Woods, Inc., video, which takes you through my entire business, and shows how you can model for yourself so many of the things I do. By now I know what works and what doesn't. I guarantee lightbulbs will go on for you when you watch.
Go reserve your spot, and I'll see you tomorrow (Tuesday) night!
Tom Woods