Jean called Glenn to review the ideas he had for the dealership.
That’s why he asked her to lunch at Gus & Tom’s. A minute before 12, she walked in.
“Hi, Jean,” he said while getting up to greet his sister-in-law, “how are you?”
“I’m fine. Did you hear that Steve Jackson who worked with Pete died in a car accident; that was tough. It helped Pete to meet Steve’s nephew a few days ago, but he’s still taking it hard.
“What’s up with you?”
“I had interesting meetings with several dealers and a few of those meetings led to others. After we order, I’ll tell you more.”
Tom walked up, “Hi, folks. Are you ready to order?”
Jean looked up with a smile, “Nice to see you, Tom. We’ll have two specials, an order of fries, and two Pepsi's.”
She turned back, “So, what’s the plan?”
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Vicki James and Kathy Jones were at the station, working on ways to fill the holes in their schedule caused by the cancellation of baseball. The station had to refund ads purchased for the Brewers; the high school game of the week; and American Legion ball. They needed something.
As they tossed out ideas, they agreed on a couple, but took another hour of conversation before landing on one they really liked.
It started when Kathy mentioned watching an I-Sport race on TV featuring NASCAR drivers.
Vicki suggested they localize it, “what if we get locals to play games and do what they did when Ronald Reagan was calling ball games?”
“What’s that?” Jones asked.
“Well, Reagan read the ticker tape and added sound effects as he re-created the game. We can do that; in fact, with help from your coaching friends, I bet we can put on a doubleheader every week.”
James continued, “Let’s get a bracket together with 16 teams from around the listening area. Eight games in the first round, we can have doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday the first weekend, a Sunday doubleheader the next, and the championship the Sunday after that.
“Then start a new group of 16 teams. When that three-week cycle is done, we’ll have two teams to play a best of seven WRSE-RIES.”
“I like it!” Jones exclaimed as they high-fived. “Assuming it works, and I think it will, we can change sports.”
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At Gus & Tom’s, Glenn opened his laptop. “The two closest dealers are open to becoming partners. The next three are interested in merging and putting Marberg on their sign.”
“Wow, I am impressed.” Jean thought the business wasn’t aggressive enough in the past. “Can you tell me the difference between a partnership and merger?”
“Sure. partners work together on the service side. They have staff, but not enough work, so when we need extra hands, they ask us to come in or send our work to their shop. We'll share parts inventory, and the idea is we’ll keep the John Deere tractors at our shop and send the Case – I. H. and AGCO stuff to them. There is no change in ownership, just a memorandum of understanding.
“With the other three, we become a minority owner ranging from 20 – 45%. We also get the first opportunity if the current ownership group wants to sell.”
“That’s a good plan, Glenn. It will take time to hammer out, but it’s promising. What can I do to help?”
“Jean, I think it would be great if we can arrange a get-together. The virus restricts how we do it, but I think it will be a great gesture.”
“Here comes the food, Glenn. Give me a week and I’ll have a plan.”
Tom set the blue plates on the table and headed up front.
“To change the topic, Glenn, I have a question; in two months can you walk me down the aisle?”
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