Home Stretch

It’s been about 9 months since I announced my impending retirement, and I decided to write a blog about “where things stand.”

To recap… I announced my retirement to the industry in private meetings with my bosses back in July.  See my Blog Post dated July 26th, 2023 entitled “My 2nd Epiphany - Time for the Next Chapter (Retirement)” HERE - where I notified the industry and my accounts of my decision.

It’s been an interesting (and emotional) 9 months.  First the interesting side.  Many thought I was “crazy” for announcing so far in advance… and some even “predicted” that I would never last the full 12 months.  Yet here I am.

Some even “came after” my job, despite the fact that I announced my intention to work another full year.  There is an “unwritten law” in our industry that you don’t seek out another person’s territory until they are no longer employed.  The joke we all tell is that reps would show up at the wake of a competitor - hoping to leave that evening with the deceased’s pictures for their “new job.”  The majority of the industry honored that “unwritten law” - for which I thank them.  For anyone who approached my boss(s) that it would be a “good idea” to replace me with them earlier than my intended retirement - shame on you.

I’m an organized and thoughtful type of person, and I’ve had a retirement plan in the works for about 10 years.  With the help of a good friend/financial adviser, I had the age of 70 as my target.  Being self employed all of these years (with no pension), the thought of living on a fixed income terrified me.  Despite the hiccup of 2 years of an industry struggling with the “Covid Economy”, it seemed I was “on track” with one more year to go.  

And now for the “emotional side”:

The bridal season always starts with markets in Chicago and New Jersey (it used to be NY) and I headed to the airport mid March for my last Chicago Show.  I actually had a GREAT market… it was probably the best Chicago Market I have ever had from a strictly business standpoint.  The collections looked great and were were very well received by my accounts.  And there were more Northeast Stores in Chicago than I can ever remember.  In the back of my mind, I did know that this would be the last time I would be seeing so many old “friends”… but I guess I really didn’t think it through.  

I’m not a “touchy/feely” type of person; but it does end up as part of my routine that a market interaction has almost always ended up with a “Thank you for the Order”, a “Goodbye”, and then a quick hug.  It’s not something I ever really thought about but in retrospect -  that’s the way it usually ends.  Only this time it was slightly different.  For literary purposes I will refer to my first customer of the market as “Sally”, since I’ve never had an account named Sally.

These hugs only last for a few seconds and both parties just “know” when it’s over.  Only the timing was a little “off” in Chicago.  Instead of a simultaneous “release” as most hugs end, Sally held on a little longer.  And when she pulled away I could see why.  For there were tears in her eyes.  They weren’t really tears of sadness nor were they tears of joy… they were just tears.  And “tears” seem to be highly contagious because when the hug ended and I saw tears in Sally’s eyes… my eyes started watering.  Now I’m not going to say this phenomenon happened every time, but it did happen 10-15 times in 2 days.   Who counts such things?!?!

Besides doing business and seeing my accounts, I also enjoy the market because I get to see some owners and sales reps who I’m proud to call “good friends.”  The bridal business is a strange animal.  It’s a very small industry compared to most and it kind of “gets in your blood.”  Only a bridal rep truly understands what it’s like to do what we do, and so you do develop some close connections with your fellow “competitors”.  After 35 years I’ve made quite a few such friends.  And Chicago may have been the last time I see many of these people.  So my Tuesday walk through the halls to say goodbye was bittersweet as well.  And also ended up with some “mutual” tears.

Now let me be clear that I am NOT sad about my upcoming retirement - in fact I am very excited.  But I’ve spent all this time planning for the “logistics” of retiring.  Who would be the new reps replacing me?  Making sure I fulfilled my commitment to my bosses to insure a smooth transition to “After Howard.”  And I’ve been very busy just doing the work, as I wanted to have a great last season, for my companies, my customers, and for me.  I could have “coasted” this last season and still made my numbers - but I don’t coast!  So I am writing this from a hotel room in Boston in between appointments, and have left Carol at home by herself for another long week (and there’s still plenty more work to be done.)