Sump Pumps

[rrich]

I think that I can explain why Bunnings failed in the UK. It is called 'Management from afar'. It is all about sump pumps.

There was a Bunnings in the Napa California wine country, only it was called Orchard Supply Hardware. Sears wanted to get into the home center business so they acquired Orchard Supply Hardware and renamed it OSH. The management duties and the responsibilities for stocking the shelves migrated to Chicago.

So what does this have to do with sump pumps? In many areas of the US, a sump is built into the basement floor about 350 to 400 MM deep. The sump pump has a float valve and when water in the sump raises to lift the float the pump turns on. This prevents basement flooding. In my home in Ohio the sump pump really got a work out as the house was built on subdivided farm land. In my home in Pennsylvania we didn't need a sump pump as the house was built on a hill side.

The key to all of this is a basement and ground water during the rainy season. Almost all of the homes in Southern California do not have basements. As logic follows, no sump pumps are needed. One other thing to remember that in retail, shelf space is at a premium.

Keep the above background in mind as Sears opens a brand new OSH in Huntington Beach.

SWMBO says "Let's go look. They are advertising neat stuff." As we wander through the brand new OSH, SWMBO stops at about 2 meters of shelf space holding 6 or 8 models of sump pumps. The models vary in capacity and price. The conversation goes like this:
"Those are sump pumps, aren't they?"
"Yes."
"Let's go. They aren't going to survive."

I think that I was in that OSH one more time to check out the "Store Closing" sale. Everything of interest had been shipped out and the junk that was left was over priced.

So the answer to Bunnings failure in the UK is a pseudo sump pump.

[Bushmiller]

Rich

I like the analogy: Being, if I have read it right, that people who have no direct or immediate knowledge of a situation should not presume to know the local situation. It is a particular gripe of mine that at work somebody who spends his whole time in the office (air-conditioned) should dictate not only the clothes I wear out in the hot sun with the added radiation from a large large boiler (power plant), but also how I wear them.

Recently, they have mandated that we are not allowed to have our sleeves rolled up. We are coming into winter now so it won't be a problem for a while yet, but I have already pointed out that I am sincerely hoping they won't be disappointed when I refuse to venture outside the control room on hot days if I am unable to have my sleeves rolled up!. We have not resolved this issue and for the moment it is a highly contentious issue!

The same as Bunnings in the UK and OSH in California. People making decisions on other people's behalf and more than likely without any ability.

Regards
Paul

[rwbuild]

Hey Paul, isn't that how the management mob in Canberra do it too?

[KBs PensNmore]

That's right Ray, they're saying that the oils in the Bass Strait, off the west Coast and the gas in the north can't be measured properly, because the dipsticks are in Canberra.
Kryn

[rwbuild]

[rrich]

That's right Ray, they're saying that the oils in the Bass Strait, off the west Coast and the gas in the north can't be measured properly, because the dipsticks are in Canberra.
Kryn

Ouch!

Superb!

[rrich]

The most terrifying words that we can hear in the US are:

"I'm from the government and I'm here to help you."

I assume that those words are terrifying in Australia also.

[Christos]

The most terrifying words that we can hear in the US are:

"I'm from the government and I'm here to help you."

I assume that those words are terrifying in Australia also.

Not at all terrifying, we love our government and all the political discussion that come our way.

[Mobyturns]

Its not just Bunnings management - many retailers use supply chain logistics and stocking level software with preset levels for minimum stock holding, reorder stock levels etc. The local floor, inventory and store manager's on the ground experience and intuition no longer has any sway. What is worse they cannot easily modify those preset levels or seasonally adjust them to accommodate extraordinary phases such as the local footy team is having a blinder of a season and everyone wants in on the bandwagon with their branded merchandise. They have to rely upon a "merchandise team / buyer" from afar who rarely listens to their input.

Personally I'm not in the retail game but I'm observant and have had many friends who are in the retail trade. You don't have to be real bright to know that surf rods, alvey reels, snow gear (clothing, skis etc), gas space heaters, deep sea winches, waders, fly fishing gear, ..... are going to be very slow moving stock in the tropics. Then when you ask staff when are they going to be reordering more of a range of very popular leading brands of fishing lures the response is we are waiting for the computerized ordering system to catch up, when it does we sell out in a few days, just keep an eye out for when they come in. Local staff loose out on potential sales hence their sales quotas and bonuses are affected.

Retail management stupidity, stock on hand you can't sell, and empty shelf space in their potentially leading sellers - but they will never know or learn because the store can never sell more than what they receive therefore the stock levels are not adjusted upwards.

Then you see the bastardry that went on with the MIK franchisee's who were conned into ordering and purchasing stock levels that were always grossly optimistic to the point of being fraudulent advice. Most of that stock was still there when those franchisee's went under. I've seen stock in closing down sales that has been in a store for ten years or more.

[BobL]

Its not just Bunnings management - many retailers use supply chain logistics and stocking level software with preset levels for minimum stock holding, reorder stock levels etc. The local floor, inventory and store manager's on the ground experience and intuition no longer has any sway. What is worse they cannot easily modify those preset levels or seasonally adjust them to accommodate extraordinary phases such as the local footy team is having a blinder of a season and everyone wants in on the bandwagon with their branded merchandise. They have to rely upon a "merchandise team / buyer" from afar who rarely listens to their input.

It's not just retailers, this is rife through all bureaucratic systems and organisations which cuts out grass root input into management.

At the first high school I worked in, a small 400 pupil government school in the country, the week before classes started the new senior science teacher and I checked out the science department cupboards and found them overflowing with unopened chemicals including 7kg of sodium metal and 3L of concentrated hydrofluoric acid. The story behind this is that during each year the local teacher had the choice of ordering a standard supply of chemicals for the following year as determined by the Education Dept for that size of school, or not to order the chemicals. Most teachers would just order the same chemicals every year so as not to run out in the following year. However, if the chemicals were not used they stockpiled and over a number of years became increasingly dangerous.

Needless to say the senior science teacher and I has some fun in disposing of some of these chemicals.

I believe new OHS regs about chemicals in the 1080's-90's forced a change for the better, which is not always the case.

[Handyjack]

I believe new OHS regs about chemicals in the 1080's-90's forced a change for the better, which is not always the case.

Your memory must be fantastic. I have trouble remembering last year.

[Bushmiller]

Norman the Conqueror was a bit of a stickler for OH& S and a long way ahead of his time.

Regards
Paul