Company Blog

He loses an arm

by Adam Zack — March 11, 2020

Deals off and the killing begins

In the TV series Fargo, Season 2, there is a scene where Brad Garrett, (remember him? Ray Romano’s dopey brother in Everybody Loves Raymond?) one of the leaders of a big drug gang out of Kansas City is negotiating with a family drug gang in Minnesota. He’s definitely not sit-com funny here. He’s a bad-ass ruthless gangster. One way or the other Kansas City is moving into Minnesota’s territory. The mom of the Minnesota family gang is negotiating to sell or become partners and her dumbshit sons just won’t shut up and let mom get the best deal for the family. Brad worries that her hothead sons are going to muck up business, but she assures him that she can keep them in line. Brad disagrees. “You know what happens when one of my guys disobeys me?” he says. “He loses an arm. With family what are you going to do when they disobey you?” He’s right, deal’s off, and the killing begins.

Family business is laden with protections and a lack of consequences for family members who don’t perform. But that’s not always the case. There is a terrific family grocery business in South Florida called Milam’s (Milamsmarkets.com). They are very progressive, quality driven, well run stores. There’s about 13 or so family members running the company (5 stores plus one very cool liquor store) and they have used family as a strong point of differentiation from the Publix and Whole Foods competitors. Milam’s – we’re family and we are all united and dedicated to providing you an exceptional shopping experience. There’s always a family member in the store or very close by if you need us. It’s very cool to see large numbers of multiple generations leading the company forward. And I’m pretty sure no one has deserved to lose an arm or started a bloodbath. So far.