Tuesday, November 03, 2015

When I was first looking to invest in the stock market I read a great tip: invest in the places where you do business that seem the best run. I immediately thought of the Publix supermarket chain: clean, well-stocked, lowest prices, lots of locations, pleasant, helpful employees. And something else that mattered to me and matters to me still, they seemed to treat their employees well. They just seem to do everything right. Publix shuts completely for Thanksgiving and the major Christian holidays, to give their workers a break. They really seem to have a social conscience. I don't see that much! The CVS drug store where I shop is open 24/7, 365, I always feel bad going to CVS on Christmas and seeing the poor, young person at the cash register.

Another example: A couple of years ago I went to my usual Publix and they had a young man with Down's Syndrome bagging groceries, gathering up the shopping carts and so on. He still works there. He is the nicest, friendliest person. It really touched my heart and I thought, "That's Publix." And just now I went to a different Publix and bagging my groceries was a 30'sh-something woman with  Down's Syndrome. "Thank you, young lady," I said to her. "You have a nice day," she replied with a big smile.

Never could invest in Publix, they're privately held, by their employees. Always have been.