Beginning of the end

The signs arrived on Thursday.

The hanging process was well underway by the time I pulled into the parking lot on Friday.

Heavy sigh.

Even though I knew it was coming, I was not prepared.

I opted out of hanging signs, choosing instead to help customers.

Tack shops are a business, but they are also a hub for the local equestrian community. 

On this day, the community came out in force to express their shock and sadness. The phone rang non-stop. Tears were shed, and not just by the staff.

I spent the entire day having the same conversations over and over again. 

Not just our store, the whole company. Yes, even the website. Catalog, too. All of it. Nothing to do with profitability. Private equity. Leverage. Extract. Exit. Use your gift cards. They expire May 29. No more USEF or military discounts. No Rider Rewards either. No closing day set. About sixty days. We don't know. It's all in the hands of the liquidation company. We don't know.

Despite everything, I remain committed to this job and this community. Even though it’s hard, I plan to stick it out to the bitter end. Most of my coworkers feel the same way. If you shop at Dover Saddlery in the next sixty days, please be nice to the employees. We are trying really hard, and this isn’t our fault.