Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 27, 1993 TAG: 9301270075
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SANDRA BROWN KELLY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ROCKY MOUNT LENGTH: Medium
SEARS FRANCHISE OWNER SEE'S LIFE'S WORK FADE
Less than three years ago, Sears, Roebuck and Co. offered George Nevins a choice: an attractive job buyout package or the opportunity to buy the company store he managed.He bought the store.
With this week's announcement that Sears will close its franchise stores, Nevins wonders if he made the right choice.
"I'm just hoping to walk away out of debt and out of my lease," Nevins said Tuesday.
Sears supplies the merchandise for the store, but Nevins pays the rent, insurance, electric bill and other operating costs.
Nevins also put up money to buy the Sears franchise and is obligated into 1994 on his lease at Franklin Plaza on Virginia 40 near downtown.
But he's keeping a sense of humor. He said he had planned to be wearing a sign reading "Will Work for Food," but said he hadn't had time to make it.
Instead, he had been unloading a shipment of catalog orders, which he said explained his fashion choice for the day - jeans.
When you own the business you do everything, he said, adding that he has "loved" being the owner.
The 4,500-square-foot store offers large appliances and electronics for sale and serves as a pickup center for orders from the Sears catalog.
In addition to closing its smaller outlets, Sears said it will shut down its catalog operations, which includes Nevins' store, by the end of this year.
For many of the area's senior citizens, Nevins' place is a link to the store they grew up with.
"A lot of older people use us to order for them because they don't like calling the catalog center," said Libby Emler.
When Emler and the store's other employee, Pamela Meeks, place orders they call them in to a telecatalog center just like any other customer. But just making the calls gives customers a "personal touch," Meeks said.
Nevins said he and his two employees were as shocked as anyone Monday by Sears' announcement of a massive restructuring that will eliminate about 50,000 full- and part-time jobs.
Nevins said that when he heard the news, it was in a radio broadcast that said Sears was giving up its large catalog but would continue to issue specialty catalogs.
"I said, `Yeah, fine. Getting rid of the Big Book would be positive,' " Nevins recalled.
But later in the day came a computer telegram that began:
"We regret to inform you that a decision has been made to close . . . "
The Dear John message was even stranger because it came when business was doing so well, said Nevins.
"Our business was great. We had a 45 percent increase in sales in December. A 20 [percent] increase in November.
"We were real excited and thought we were on the upswing. We were even going to lengthen our hours," Nevins said.
Instead, they're cutting hours, closing at 5 on weekdays, at 2 on Saturdays.
When Sears divested itself of its several hundred catalog stores several years ago, it also closed catalog pickup centers at its retail stores. The intent was to encourage customers to order by telephone and receive shipments at their homes.
The franchise catalog sales centers, of which there are 55 in Virginia, were a compromise for small towns.
"This is going to be a big loss for this community," said Meeks, a five-year employee.
Emler came to work 2 1/2 years ago, replacing her mother, Emmaline Sigmon, who worked for Sears more than 20 years.
"We're going out in style," she said. "We're going to smile if it kills us."
It will be a challenge, said Nevins. "Being 45 and starting over.
"But until we know when and how, we're open for business," he said.