December 2009

Hi Folks!

In some of my previous emails I mentioned that I've lived a scattered, yet interesting life so far. Not since my high school days have I spent more than three years in one place. When I came to Aptos I arrived with everything I owned in a VW van. I slowly acquired furniture and a perfect place to live. I put down roots for the first time in my life. It felt good.

During my short time in Aptos my staff and I have managed to fend off all the economic negativity heard on the news. In fact, we beat the odds and grew the business by more than 50% in less than two years. We wholeheartedly believe that our business is about connecting with people. I don't think it's a fluke that this philosophy has successfully led our charge through the looming recession.

Fleet Feet is a national franchise of 91 stores. It's still got a "mom and pop" feel because we refuse to allow size get in the way of service. The guys in corporate take care of franchisees like family. The CEO of Fleet Feet, Tom Raynor, called me on my second day in Aptos and sent me home. Literally. It was 1:00 am and I was burning the midnight oil but he told me he wanted to hear the door close behind me. He said that we need to make sure we take care of people. Ourselves included. Aptos' commitment to people stems from the top. It's how we live and how we work. In that order.

Last month I was presented with an opportunity. I was asked to be a part of a training team that will attempt to bottle all the good things I did in Aptos and translate it franchise-wide. It would require me to relinquish my ownership in Aptos and move cross-country. The offer was a huge compliment to my staff and an honor to me. It validated all my long hours and sleepless nights. But it meant change. And I thought I was done with that.

As proud as I am of what I've done in Aptos, and as comfortable as the community has made me feel, I am still the same guy who has bounced around the world always trying to make a positive impact wherever I landed. Having a chance to work nationwide with a variety of stores in different markets makes this sort of lifestyle a lucrative career path. At this point in my professional and personal life it made sense. I accepted the offer.

My departure will be bittersweet. I've made some wonderful, lifelong friends and have had an opportunity to feel the embrace of an entire community. I will be back occasionally but in a different capacity. Aptos will always be the place I chose, for the first time in my life, to stay. But as it ends up, I wasn't meant to stay here forever.

My friend and store manager, Jon Knapp will be the new owner of Fleet Feet Aptos as of January 1, 2010. Jon and I have worked a lot together and run a lot of miles together. He, his wife, his son and a baby on the way are embracing their new opportunity as I am mine. I leave you in good hands.

Words cannot express how thankful I am for you all. There are so many things I'll miss - the beach, the redwoods, great weather and great people. But most of all I'll miss welcoming you as you come into my store. It's Jon's turn to do that now.

Happy holidays to you and your families.

To Your Health,

Tom Griffen
tagriffen@yahoo.com

November 2009

Hi Everyone!

As most of you know, we have a weekly Saturday Run. Compared to our other store events, this one is tough to nail down. One week we'll have five or six folks show up and the following weekend we'll have one. When the weather's nice we have less folks than when it's pouring rain. A holiday weekend may bring extra runners one weekend but none show at the next. I'm left scratching my head as I try to figure out how to make this run a valuable community resource.

I think I may have just figured it out. Our one-and-only regular Saturday runner, Keith, enlightened me.

I can always count on Keith to show up for our Saturday Run. All too often he's the only attendee. But this doesn't deter him. He still comes, religiously, and helps me brainstorm how to get the word out about the run. Though we enjoy each other's company we also would like to include others on the list of Saturday "regulars".

During a run a few week back, Keith mentioned a way he and his wife help raise money in their church. Coincidentally, at this same time I had been thinking about how to do something similar in the Fleet Feet community. Keith's idea was exactly what I needed to hear. Serendipity. With his permission I decided to steal it.

I want Fleet Feet to be an integral part in the local community of giving. So we're challenging our entire customer database, some 7500 folks, to identify someone they know who would benefit from a financial gift of some sort. Giving just to give. It feels good and it is good.

Now for the challenge...

Fleet Feet is giving five customers $50 cash with the challenge to turn it into $500 for their recipient. We hope that this initial $50 gets the ball rolling and multiplies over the next two months. But there's a catch! If you accept the challenge, you MUST tell us how you did it and for whom you did it. We can't wait to read those stories!

We call ourselves a community. Well, now's the time for us to act like one.

Thanks Keith for making me see the value (and potential value) in our Saturday Run. And thanks to you ALL for considering this challenge in any capacity. See below if you are interested.

I toast you all at my Thanksgiving table!

To Your Health,

tom