Company Blog

The Greatest Kindness

by Adam Zack — July 2, 2025

“…what has been the greatest kindness bestowed upon you in your life?”

I read a lot, and am always seeking out things that either for business or on a personal level will lead to some kind of improvement or inspiration. I get a monthly blog from a young financial advisor named Stephen Nelson. https://birchwoodcapital.com/team/ He has impeccable morals, is an inspirational family man and is an all around great human being. If I had a son, I’d be very proud if he turned out like Stephen. So I got his July newsletter yesterday and it concerned being excellent at what you do, no matter what it is. In it an interviewer asked very successful investor Rick Buhrman, ”What was the kindest thing anyone had ever done for him?” Without reading any further, it made me ponder what the kindest thing anyone had ever done for me? More on that later. Rick’s answer involved his son being born very ill (as in he probably won’t live long) and the collection of doctors, nurses and critical care professionals from three different hospitals that cared for him in the newborn intensive care units for the first six months of his life. Initially, it’s not viewed as a kindness. They were professionals in their field who were doing their job, right? The kindness come...

by Adam Zack — June 25, 2025

“CEOs, and head honchos are so important to your customers.”

Hello! I just returned from a 5 week sabbatical trip to Europe. It was amazing and refreshing and awe inspiring all at once. There was so much history we saw, food we ate, wine we drank, places we visited and things we learned. One of those should be the most memorable, I would think. Maybe the Vatican in Rome. Or the Duomo in Florence. How about the Rock of Gibraltar? Maybe the tapas in Spain. But the most memorable and influential things were not historical or gastronomical. They involved business management and leadership lessons that I will never forget.Let me set it up for you: Our trip included two Mediterranean cruises. The first was on the cruise line Azamara and left from Rome. Having never sailed on Azamara, we were very impressed with the exceptional service, quality of food and amazing ports we visited. Towards the end of the cruise we were invited to a special dinner with the Captain and officers of the ship, along with about 12 other passengers. We looked at each other and said “Is this a mistake? We aren’t special.” But it wasn’t a mistake. We were seated at the long, very fancy dining table that had name cards at the seat where you were to sit. We found our seats at the middle ...

by Adam Zack — June 18, 2025

“Authentic speaks of honesty, reliability, transparency and trustworthiness.”

I’ve been thinking a lot about authenticity lately. I don’t know why, but in personal encounters I find myself thinking about not only my authenticity, but more closely about the person I am conversing with. Am I getting the truth about who this person really is and what their values are, or am I getting some kind of glossed over People magazine version of them telling me what they think I want to hear. Authentic speaks of honesty, reliability, transparency and trustworthiness. Authentic people display their true values in their actions and words. It’s the real thing and is verified by what we do everyday. But there are some people that are authentic a-holes. Their true character is one of deceit, selfishness and dishonesty. Keeping authenticity at the top of your mind will automatically direct you to relationships that share your values. Our relationships with the businesses we deal with share a similar authentic relationship. Once a store promises to deliver something you want, then fails repeatedly to deliver, you start to see that their authenticity is not what was initially represented. It’s like People Magazine or Instagram and Facebook, where only what you see is not what...

by Adam Zack — June 11, 2025

“I know firsthand that when a business stands behind what they offer—with
pride, care, and consistency—it’s not just a grocery or hardware store.”

Hello from Scott, Adam’s friend since kindergarten. Growing up in my grandfather’s hardware store, I learned early that a family business is more than just a livelihood—it’s a legacy built on relationships, resilience, and trust. The scent of paint, the sounds of the nail bins and lawnmower repairs, and the steady rhythm of locals coming through the door for everything from paint to pipe fittings were the backdrop of my childhood. My grandfather knew his customers by name, remembered their projects, and always had time to lend advice that stretched far beyond hardware.Adam, on the other hand, grew up in the grocery business. His memories were of early mornings stacking produce, the smells of that amazing bakery, ringing up neighbors’ weekly orders, and making sure shelves were stocked just in time for the weekend rush. While the products were different—bread and milk instead of bolts and screws—the heartbeat of the business was strikingly similar: service, community, and the pride of providing something useful and needed.What ties both of our experiences together is that success in a ...

by Adam Zack — June 4, 2025

“U.S. stores cater more to convenience and speed…”

This is Scott. Adam and I met in kindergarten—he was organizing the school supplies in Mrs. Schaufler’s closet while I was eating the finger paint. What a great duo, and we’ve never stopped being friends.If you’ve ever traveled from the U.S. to Italy, one of the first everyday experiences that might surprise you is the difference in grocery shopping. Though the basic idea is the same—buy food and essentials—the experience varies in some key ways.Size and Atmosphere U.S. grocery stores tend to be much larger, often designed to be one-stop shops. In contrast, Italian stores are generally smaller and more focused. While American supermarkets have wide aisles and massive selections, Italian stores feel more compact and efficient, often located right in the heart of neighborhoods.Freshness and Frequency In Italy, shopping is more frequent. Italians often visit their local grocery store or market daily or several times a week, buying just what they need. This habit supports a culture of fresh eating—fruits, vegetables, meats, and bread are often bought the same day they’re consumed. In the U.S., it’s more ...

by Adam Zack — May 28, 2025

“It’s like nature’s way of reminding us to slow down, even in the middle of a
grocery run.” By Scott, guest blogist

Hello, this is Scott, Adams ghost writer for when he needs a break. Thought I’d pop in for a little observation for all you hard working store owners/managers/employees.There’s something unexpectedly soothing about the mist that gently sprays over the produce at the grocery store. It’s a small, everyday moment that most people probably don’t think much about, but if you stop and pay attention, it’s almost hypnotic.Picture it: you’re strolling through the produce section, maybe searching for the perfect bunch of lettuce or the ripest tomatoes. Then, without warning, a soft mist rises up, coating the leafy greens and vibrant vegetables in tiny beads of water. The sound is gentle—a hushed whoosh, like a distant rain shower.For a brief moment, the store feels quieter, cooler, and calmer.It’s a sensory experience that taps into something primal. Water is life, after all. The mist makes the produce look fresher, crisper, like it was just plucked from a garden. But beyond that, there’s something deeply relaxing about watching it happen. It’s like nature’s way of reminding us to slow down, even in the midd...

by Adam Zack — May 21, 2025

“If we can’t be bothered to walk a few extra steps to return a cart, what else are we cutting corners on when it comes to kindness and responsibility?”

Scott here, Adam’s oldest friend—not necessarily the best of his friends, but definitely the oldest!There’s a small but telling act of consideration that seems to be disappearing from our daily lives: returning the
shopping cart. It may not seem like a big deal, but it says a lot about where we are as a society.
We’ve all seen it—abandoned carts scattered across parking lots, wedged against curbs, or even worse, blocking
perfectly good parking spots. Some are left just a few feet away from the cart corral, as if those last few steps were
just too much to handle. While some folks may have legitimate reasons for leaving their carts behind—like physical
limitations or wrangling multiple kids—most of the time, it’s just a case of convenience winning over courtesy.
What happened to the simple principle of “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”?
Returning a cart isn’t just about keeping the lot tidy; it’s about respect. Respect for the next shopper who now has
to maneuver around your abandoned cart. Respect for the employ...

by Adam Zack — May 14, 2025

“What was once a lively gathering place is now an empty parking lot.”

When Customer Service Makes All the Difference: Lessons from Island Life.By Scott, friend of AdamHi, it’s me, Adam. I’m off on a 5+ week sabbatical vacation in Europe with my wife. While I’m gone, I’ve volunteered my best friend of 55+ years, Scott Lawhon, to fill in as the guest blogger. If you like his topics and style, you can vote for him to be the new DW Green full-time blogger. If you pine for my style, I’ll be back with some worldly observations that I will no doubt gather on our travels. Until then (or maybe until never, if you choose Scott), cheers to you!Hello, this is Scott—Adam’s friend from kindergarten. That was 55 years ago, so we’re definitely not in kindergarten anymore! I thought I’d pop in and help Adam out with a blog.I live on a small island in Washington state, where we have a few local stores that we support. While we don’t have a huge selection, the nearest big-name stores are about a half-hour drive away.The other day, I overheard a customer at one of our local stores complaining to the manager about not finding a particular brand of sauce. They mentioned that a big chain store carried...

by Adam Zack — May 7, 2025

“If you’re telling your appreciation, your love and your gratitude to a casket,
it really doesn’t help you, and especially not the guy in the casket. “

Once a year we have a small family gathering at my Uncle Paul’s in Long Beach for brunch and mimosas. It’s a mini reunion, with my daughters, their spouses, my brother John and his wife Uncle Paul and Aunt Mary. It’s a relaxed, fun and very comfortable time. This year Paul said something that got me thinking. In a somewhat whimsical, and somewhat resigned way, he said that we were the only family he had left and how much it meant that we all traveled to see him. The more I thought about it, the more I had a feeling that he was in reckoning with his mortality and the fact that these annual gatherings would not be going on forever.My uncle is 84 and I have two (yes two) dads in their mid 80’s. I had not thought of them in terms of their inevitable exit from this earth sooner rather than later. It weighed heavily on my mind, so I decided to contact a close friend and mentor who is also an octogenarian, albeit much more agile than my uncle. I know I can always be honest with him, and he will never hesitate to tell me when I am irrational or full of crap. I asked him if he had thought about his mortali...

by Adam Zack — April 30, 2025

“If you’re not investing in your store, your marketing, and your people, then you’re not staying in business — you’re just waiting to go out of business.“

Man, investing takes guts. It’s a commitment. It’s scary. It’s risky. It’s expensive. And often, it takes years to see any return. Sometimes you hit the jackpot. Other times, you lose your shirt. When we were younger, my dad always encouraged us to stretch our financial limits to gain assets. “If you want to get ahead,” he’d say, “you’ve got to take a chance — a smart one, with your homework done.” And that advice mostly worked. Except for the times we didn’t do our homework and jumped headfirst into things like the tech bubble… or deals that were just too good to be true. Live and learn. Remember the mistakes, but don’t repeat them. Whatever you do, don’t stop investing.Saving isn’t investing. Saving protects. Investing grows. Saving is like standing still in a bad relationship — you’re technically safe, but you’re missing out on a better life. Investing — in your store, your house, your future — involves risk, yes, but also the chance for real reward. Some people just aren’t built for risk. And that’s OK. There are safe, steady, reliab...

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