In today’s newsletter I talked against the idea of hiring family and friends. One of my subscribers takes the opposite view. Listen to her view

I really enjoy reading your basket business newsletters and am in the planning stages of my own gift basket business. Your success is very encouraging for those of us just starting out.

I do, however, must voice my opinion on your recent article about hiring family members. It was obviously one-sided AGAINST hiring family members. Did you know that over 80% of America’s businesses are family owned and operated? From mom & pop gas stations to billion dollar corporations - and they function VERY successfully in most circumstances.

There are many Family Business Centers across the nation - mostly in educational/university settings such as University of San Francisco: www.usfca.edu/fbrc- that support family business. In addition, there is an international organization - The Family Firm Institute - www.ffi.org.

There are many positive aspects to owning a family business and working with family members - farmers and ranchers have done it since this nation was founded - husbands/wives can spend more time together, children learn the importance of responsibility, it perpetuates a family heritage and legacy, it builds a future for the next generation, it ensures retirement and personal security for family members, respect for one another is developed as well as pride, loyalty, and trust…and the list goes on. I’m not saying it will be a painless process, but hiring family members should definitely not be excluded from anyone’s business plan without serious consideration of both the pro’s and the con’s.

In conclusion, it is not my intent to alter your viewpoint on hiring family members; however, I appreciate your time in allowing me to express mine.

Sincerely,
Linda Burcham

What do you think? Do you run a family gift basket business? Speak up.