About Me

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I have a background in sales and product management. I enjoy finding products that make it to the retail shelves and sell. I am wired half creative and analytical. I tend to see both sides of the issue. I know how to approach things rationally and I can switch gears to think “outside the box”. I enjoy traveling. I have had the opportunity to travel to many places in the world: Europe, South America, Asia, and Africa. I try to take on a global perspective when looking at the dynamics that are effecting an industry becasue we are in global economy.

Monday, August 30, 2010

From Humble Beginings

                                    
Family Dollar first opened its doors in November 1959 in Charlotte North Carolina. It was started by a 21 year old entrepreneur Leon Levine to promote sales of merchandise $2 and under. His idea was simple; have a self service store with product categories sectioned in the store. On this platform his stores grew and today there are over 6,700 stores throughout the US from southeast coast to Arizona generating sales of over $5 billion.  In the last decade over 4,000 stores have been added to the corporation. This is an impressive feat.

Stores range in size from 7500, to 9,000 square feet. Most merchandise is under $10 retail. Stores are placed in free standing location or are in strip mall settings. Family Dollar’s headquarters are located in Matthews, North Carolina, just outside of Charlotte. The Company operates automated full-service distribution centers in Arkansas, Virginia, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Iowa, Texas, Florida, and New York. The Company has been a publicly held corporation since 1970 and its stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol FDO.