1 /5 Kevin B: Variety Wholesalers, Inc. has crossed the line this year (2025). Directly from the highest authority in their corporate structure, namely CEO Art Pope – whos endorsing this - and adjutant district manager Tom Nickles, they are forcing staff to be in store and open for Easter this year. This has never been done before in years; and for very good reason. What kind of business, especially one operating in the southeastern bible belt, would do that sort of thing to people? Easter is about family. Not about greed, gluttony, and endorsing quarterly values and estimates. Even customers are offended by this travesty! The very notion is offensive. We expect this kind of deplorable behavior from big names like Wal-Mart. We all know what those companies are about, and what they stand for (profits!). But to see this kind of unethical practice from VWI is just shocking, to say the least, and down right mercenary. Art Pope prides himself on being a philanthropist (definition: a person who seeks to promote the welfare of others, especially by the generous donation of money to good causes.) Well... I guess nobody ever stopped to consider where, or by what methods, he was getting that money for those donations. By stomping on time-honored, respected values, that go back decades if not hundreds of years, just so a few proprietary executives can delude themselves into making a quick buck off the people. I sincerely hope that it was worth it in the long run. Because youve lost ANY integrity with, what I can only rightfully assume, is a massive clientele who are just as equally infringed by this avaricious decision. Congratulations! You lost the respect of the entire christian community as a whole, all for the soul purpose, of selling a few “trinkets” on a day that should – AND IS – sacred to the community. Bravo! Enjoy your paltry wad of $1 bills for forcing your stores to be open this Easter. Sincerely, a customer that will have no more dealings with your unrespectable business from this moment on.
