Houser and GB Shoe Warehouse, a family-owned business founded in 1973, believe that some things are sacred, including spending time with family and loved ones on Thanksgiving and other holidays.
The madness of the holiday shopping season has come to this: It's no longer notable when a retailer says it will stay open on Thanksgiving Day. Instead, it's news when one says it's going to close.
"We profitably run our business during the remaining 358 days of the year, so we don't have to sacrifice tradition for the sake of sales," said Gary Houser, president of Houser Shoes. "Our family-oriented focus has been the cornerstone of our culture since the day we opened, and that is never going to change."
Houser and GB Shoes confirmation that it will close again this holiday stands in contrast to the recent trend of more retailers opening their doors on Thanksgiving, starting the Black Friday shopping ritual before the turkey is even off the dining table.
Gary Houser explains his decision to close, as a thank-you to his employees and respect for the customers and their families "Vacations are precious, our employees work especially hard during the holiday season and we simply believe that they deserve the opportunity to spend Thanksgiving with their families," states Gary Houser, "nothing more complicated than that. If you treat consumers with respect and treat employees with respect, good things will happen for you."
Currently, there are approximately 150 people employed with Houser Shoes. Houser Shoes, GB Shoe Warehouse, and GB Shoes form a ten-store operation that is one of the Southeast's largest independent retailers. The company is still owned and operated by Gary Houser. Houser Shoes and GB Shoe Warehouse is a small company that believes in making people feel special. Gary Houser realizes that his staff is the backbone of the company's existence and that the customers have faces and names, and not just numbers. Gary Houser has always kept the same philosophy in mind - that customers are the most important people in any business.
