The speaker was Charlie Horton, founder and then owner of this magazine. I wish we had room to rerun it here. In fact, space shortage be damned, I'm going to make room to run a truncated version, because what Charlie Horton had to say way back in 1983 is every bit as relevant to today's wholesalers as it was then. Something's gone wrong with this industry that I'm sure has my old boss Charlie thrashing around in his grave. It's the lack of engagement in one's industry, leading to the disappearance of a sense of community.
Wholesalers seem to be looking at their role as merely a job rather than a calling.
It's a demoralization exemplified by two conversations I engaged in at the convention's Friday night party. In any case, you'll never hear me complain about Texas barbecue, a country band and a chance to mingle with industry citizens letting their hair down. One was an old acquaintance, the other someone I'd just met. The first wholesaler forlornly told me of waiting for a call that has never come from one of the big boys. Moving on about the room, I chatted next with an individual who let on that he had deflected some acquisition feelers several years ago.