Eric Turner, Supervisor of Assembly in Operations at the Distribution Center in Four Oaks, North Carolina, has been with Broad River for nearly seventeen years.
He shares details around a personal health crisis, his drive, and how important family is to him. Eric and Charlie recount stories from back in the day, how Broad River has grown, and how Eric has grown with the company.
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Stories from the River Podcast explores the personal journeys of Broad River Retail’s very own Memory Makers. Whether it’s interviews or standalone narratives, Stories from the River will bring you closer to what it’s like to thrive inside the company. This show will share personal experiences from stores, distribution centers, call centers, and corporate campuses, giving listeners a front row seat to what it’s really like to be a Memory Maker furnishing life’s best memories every day.
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FULL TRANSCRIPTION
Charlie:
You’re sitting in front of me today, and you look great.
Eric:
Thank you.
Charlie:
But I want to go back to February 3rd, 2018. Over four years ago, the day before the Super Bowl. Now you’re sitting in front of me today and you look, well, super healthy.
Eric:
Thank you.
Charlie:
But back then, you had a very personal health scare.
Eric:
Yes.
Charlie:
What happened?
Eric:
I had cardiac arrest on the golf course.
Charlie:
Tell us about it.
Eric:
It’s a day I don’t remember much of. I just remember going to breakfast before I would go to play golf and waking up in the hospital. I don’t remember making it to the course, anything.
Charlie:
And you were fine. You worked the day before.
Eric:
Yes, I did. It was Friday, I worked there Friday. And we went golfing that Saturday morning. And it was going to be about 60 degrees, we wasn’t planned. Guys called up and said: “Hey, let’s go play golf”. Went to play golf.
Charlie:
Did you feel anything the day before?
Eric:
A little bit. I think we were working on some big projects in Pine Field, and I remember, you know, feeling a little fatigue, nothing major. Just chalk it up as, you know, getting a little older. And I remember Amy saying: “Eric, are you okay today, that you’re usually an energetic self?“
“Yeah, Amy, I’m fine. Just a little fatigued. “
Charlie:
We’re going to come back to that.
Intro
Welcome to Stories from the River, a podcast brought to you by Broad River Retail, where we’ll explore the personal journeys of our Memory Makers and share real stories from across the organization.
And now for your host, president and CEO at the River, Charlie Malouf.
Charlie:
I’m here with Eric Turner, Supervisor of Assembly and Operations at the Rock, in Four Oaks, North Carolina. Eric, welcome to the pod.
Eric:
Happy to be here Charlie, thank you.
Charlie:
Thank you for making the drive. So good to see you again. Now that we’re not working in the same city, we don’t see each other every day.
Eric:
Yes, I miss those days.
Charlie:
Okay, Eric, let’s go back to before you joined the River. Tell us about your background and how you got into furniture.
Eric:
Um, love. I went to trade school, of course, back in the day, and I was putting together things, putting together windows, doors, locks, furniture, and life’s best memories back then, before I even knew I was doing it. Helping out senior citizens and low income families preserve heats.
So, I worked for home weatherization. Back then left there, went to work for Tech Furniture, which was a small mom-and-pop furniture company. And from there went to Our Band Furniture. And that’s where I learned of Ashley Furniture putting it together. I didn’t know they had Stores, though.
Charlie:
So you’re from Michigan originally?
Eric:
Detroit, Michigan, yes sir.
Charlie:
Yeah. And so how did you get down here to the Carolinas?
Eric:
Oh, I just wanted a change of pace, at the time. Detroit was having a few problems, and I had two young daughters. I wanted them to just have a great life and was just thinking I wanted to get to a warmer climate. And Charlotte was up and coming and moved down to Charlotte, North Carolina. Been here ever since.
Charlie:
Okay. So you joined around the time we opened the original Matthew Store, which is Store four back in 2025.
Eric:
Yes.
Charlie:
We’re about to have Store 31. So you’ve seen a lot.
Eric:
Wow. Yes, I have.
Charlie:
Take us through your career progression with Broad River.
Eric:
I started like you said at Matthews/Pine Ville. From there I was back then, they called the Showroom movers.
We just moved a lot of furniture every day, all day. I remember my first day, still very well, meeting Oscar, Jerry Peterson, King Brown and Janet.
And I put together some furniture. First thing asked me to put together a three pack of furniture, show me how you do it. And I put it together and looked at it, and I saw Oscar kind of smirking. And I looked and I realized that I actually put the end table legs on the cocktail table in the cocktail tables. And so the end table was taller than, and hurried up, swished it out before Jerry Peterson just came back to it. So he never knew Oscar and I, little inside joke.
Charlie:
I saw Oscar and Eric inside secret, your first day.
Eric:
First day.
Charlie:
I was going to ask you, everyone remembers their first day. So, I bet you’ve never made that mistake again.
Eric:
No, I have not. But I’ve seen a lot of people do it. Like I’ve been there, done that.
Charlie:
I gotcha. I gotcha. So you started as a Show remover and you’ve worn many hats. You’ve been in Visual Impact, and now you’re in Operations.
How long have you been in Operations and how is that going?
Eric:
Six months now and is going hopefully pretty well. On my end. It seems like it’s going well. Hopefully Cherie and Brad would think the same.
Charlie:
And what do you love about the operations? What do you get to do everyday that makes it enjoyable for you?
Eric:
For me, I’m supervising managing approximately six assemblers. And to get there when I got there at the time and just teach them how to build the furniture correctly. And just working with them every day, talking with them, getting to know them, and just making them be better individuals at work and outside of work.
Charlie:
Do you like to teach?
Eric:
Love it, love it.
Charlie:
Does it require patience?
Eric:
Very much so. Very much so. Which I have.
Charlie:
That’s awesome. Where does that gift come from?
Eric:
My mom.
Charlie:
Okay. All right. I love it. So you already mentioned furnishing life’s best memories even then, back in the Detroit days.
Eric:
Yes.
Charlie:
What has been one of your best memories at the River?
Eric:
Oh, that’s good. Best memories? Opening Stores back in the earlier days, with you guys being there. You, Johnathan, Jackson. And watching you guys kind of get in the way, so to speak.
Charlie:
We’re getting in the way. I think they put the guy on the land..
Eric:
Like getting out of here. But yeah, just doing that and seeing Jackson, I actually didn’t know he was the owner when he got introduced. He was out moving furniture himself. And it was interesting that he was doing that at the time. So..
Charlie:
I’m sure I was probably putting the cocktail legs on the end table, and vice versa.
Eric:
You were all on the computer. You and Johnathan didn’t mess with the furniture too much. Jackson did. You guys were on the computer side.
Charlie:
Okay. We’ve worked on many different projects, including many Store openings and Store remodels.
Eric:
Yes.
Charlie:
And you and I have been around the bend in the River quite a long time. We’re a couple of the old timers now, right?
Eric:
Yes.
Charlie:
With that being said, what are you most proud of in your Broad River career?
Eric:
The longevity. That I’ve been here every day, coming to work every day, hopefully furnishing life’s best memories with a smile on my face, doing the hard work, going the extra mile.
Charlie:
Awesome. You know, people know that they can always depend on you. Is that something that you pride yourself on?
Eric:
Very much so. I can probably count on one hand, maybe two. In the 16 years I’ve been here, I actually woke up and called in.
Charlie:
Wow. That’s, that’s a great characteristic. Just the longevity and the..
Eric:
Getting up every day ready for it.
Charlie:
So is there a certain accomplishment or achievement that really stands out for you?
Eric:
Winning the collaboration award at the, was it 2019 gala?
Charlie:
Yes, In January, 2020.
Eric:
2020, so yes.
Charlie:
For 2019.
Eric:
Winning that award to be recognized from up here is that they understood that I love to collaborate and work hard.
Charlie:
That was a great gala and we’ve talked about that on this podcast before. We can’t wait to get back to doing in-person galas again.
Eric:
Yes. That was awesome.
Charlie:
Tell us a couple of your favorite stories from Store openings.
Eric:
Wow, that’s a big one.
I could tell you one when we opened Gastonia. And we were out, doing a trash at the time, end of the day and just trying to push it down, make sure it was packed, got out, and I realized I didn’t have my phone. And..
Charlie:
You do not throw it away in the trash, did you?
Eric:
No, it kind of came back then you had like a clip on. And I was like: “Oh, it’s gonna be in there. everybody quiet, somebody call my phone”. And they called it. And sure enough, you heard it ringing and it was about to start raining, end of the day. And I don’t know if you remember Fabian, who worked here?
Charlie:
Yeah, yeah.
Eric:
And he got in there and we kept calling it and he went dumpster diving, and about 20 minutes later, coming up with styrofoam everywhere, and the rain started pouring out and he had my phone.
Charlie:
That is so funny.
I have a funny story about Jonathan Ishii, losing his phone in my office in a chair, and I watched him. He couldn’t find it in this recliner chair and he just sliced it apart so he could get in.
So, people will go crazy about finding their phone, and rightfully so.
Eric:
Yeah, he rightfully so. Is funny when you say that about John. I remember, being here that long, I remember when iPhones came out, Jackson and Jonathan got theirs, I believe, delivered or whatever at the same time. First time I seen the iphone at Matthews.
Charlie:
You may have seen mine, I stand in line for the first iPhone. I can’t believe we’re going back there to the original 2G iPhone.
Eric:
Yes.
Charlie:
Let’s quickly move off that topic, which just shows how long we’ve been around here.
Eric:
Yes, that is awesome.
Charlie:
All right. So we talked about health. And again, so glad that you’re doing well. How have you done it? How have you recovered?
Eric:
Just wanting to be here, man. Just wanted to be here for my daughters. One to see them get married and have grandkids. Just, you know, just for them. You know, I do have one grandchild, my son. But just to see my daughters thrive and become beautiful ladies, which they are doing.
Charlie:
That’s awesome.
Eric:
That’s my thrive.
Charlie:
That’s awesome.
Eric:
That’s the word, thrive.
Charlie:
We’re going get into thrive, we’re getting into that. Retail Stores. What was your favorite part about working in the Stores? I know you had a passion and an affinity for being in the Stores. What was your favorite part about that?
Eric:
The people. The sales team, the managers, the customers. Always, I was always engaged with the customers, just working, watching them look around, might not be a sales person some way around, just engaging with them and helping them the best way I can to furnish their life’s best memories.
Charlie:
I love it. Love you keep going back to that.
Eric:
Yeah, man.
Charlie:
You’ve done a lot of special deliveries. I mean, you were the go to guy, you and Oscar, right?
Eric:
“White glove delivery” is what you called it. And we did it.
Charlie:
You sure did. So what do you remember about those experiences being called on to do the special “White glove deliveries”?
Eric:
Just getting out to the customer and knowing that when Oscar and I got involved, that was the end of the line. They might say: “Hey, I’ve been out there four times, can’t figure it out.” And then Oscar and I will figure it out.
So just going to the homes and them being upset when you get there, and Oscar and I, you know us, always laughing and smiling and killing ‘em with kindness, just having a good time letting them know that we’re going to get it before we leave here, you are going to have everything in place.
Charlie:
It’s just such a blessing to have someone when they’re extremely angry or upset about how something has gone and you’ve got someone who’s going to kill them with kindness. That’s something my mom taught me at an early age.
Eric:
Yeah, yeah.
Charlie:
And it can really do good if the last up to turn that guest experience around. It helps our people, helps our stores, helps the guests, it is so important.
Eric:
Yes, yes.
Charlie:
Helps turn a negative to one of life’s best memories.
Eric:
Yeah. White glove delivery. And going to some of the celebrities’ homes, that we went to back then, you guys are like: “Hey, need you to get out the D’Angelo Williams house, make sure he’s okay”. Jonathan Stewart, I can go on and on about someone else.
Charlie:
There’s a lot of famous pro athletes and celebrities in the Carolinas. When you and I have been around quite, quite a long time, like you said, in this company, and we were much smaller and we used to, well, a lot of people don’t know is that you know, we’ve been around the bend in the River quite a long time, that we used to produce our own commercials.
Eric:
Yes, we did. And I’ve been in a couple of them.
Charlie:
Yeah, we had to find some actors who wouldn’t charge us an arm and a leg. I mean, you had your SAG card at that point, so there’s no royalties. It was just part of the day job.
Eric:
As it, I got to have some fun.
Charlie:
Hey, do you still get recognized or did you get recognized for being in our commercials back in the day?
Eric:
Yes. Well, I moved, I no longer live in Charlotte. I’m in Raleigh now, but yes, my neighbors and the Stores that I frequent, were: “Hey, I saw you on the commercial last night. That was awesome.” And damn we have some funny commercials. So, it was pretty awesome.
Charlie:
We really did, yeah.
Eric:
We rented a bus.
Charlie:
Tell them about the bus story.
Eric:
So, at Matthews, it was to furnish the delivery, we were promoting the..
Charlie:
Same day delivery.
Eric:
Same day delivery. And you guys rent the bus, and say you don’t want to be caught on the bus and we had a bus, and Customer Service came out. And I don’t know, I think it was a baby on the bus crying. And Oscar and I had a sofa out by the sign out front, like we had a sofa and the bus pulled up and down on, on the bus with a sofa.
Charlie:
Those were fun, fun times, just kind a come up with crazy ideas.
Eric:
Yes, indeed.
Charlie:
And in all seriousness, you’ve seen tremendous growth in the company.
Eric:
Yes.
Charlie:
What has remained consistent as we have grown, in your opinion?
Eric:
Just the honesty and integrity of the company. Being, for me, just being honest out front and just letting you know you’re going to do everything you can to just make sure that this company survives and be the best that it can be.
Charlie:
Okay. What secret ingredient or secret sauce do you think has allowed us to have the staying power to survive, the bumps and bruises, the trials and tribulations, and just to stick around?
Eric:
Great leaders, great leaders. You know, some have come and went on to other things, but a lot of them, they’re still here. Hopefully, like myself, and the Janets of the world and just coming to work every day, hard work. And you guys just given us the tools to succeed.
Charlie:
Love it. What about the company do you take the most pride in or are you most proud of?
Eric:
Just the staying power, man. To grow through a pandemic. Back when we had the credit crunch, you guys, you know, just getting through all the things, just steady moving forward man, and just open up Stores, open up distribution centers, and just being on top ahead of what’s going on in the furniture industry, it seems like, to be honest.
Charlie:
Awesome. So now you’re in Operations. Has this been, has this transition been a good move for you and for your career?
Eric:
Yes.
Charlie:
How so?
Eric:
Yes. I’m just learning the different fabrics of the company, seeing how that works there and how they’re actually getting the furniture from the racks down to the prep lanes, getting it ready and getting it out to the people.
Charlie:
So, you’re the supervisor of six people.
Eric:
Yes.
Charlie:
So you’re still implying that patience and then just the ability to furnish life’s best memories just in a different area of the business.
Eric:
Correct.
Charlie:
Okay. All right. Switching gears a little bit. Legacy. Let’s say you’re the, I want you to do a future vision, reverse vision cast. Let’s go to the end of your career. And you’re sitting on the porch drinking some sweet tea, sitting back and rocking a chair. Got the visual?
Eric:
Yes, I do.
Charlie:
And you’re thinking about how people are going to think about you who worked with you during your career.
Eric:
Okay.
Charlie:
What three words come to mind that you want to, to have them, to describe you for others to think about when they think of you?
Eric:
Dependable, caring and honest.
Charlie:
Love it.
Eric:
Dependable, caring and honest.
Charlie:
Tell us about caring. Where does that come from?
Eric:
My parents growing up in Louisville in the 50s. So back in the time, just my parents taught me to just always treat others like you want to be treated, always help anybody that you can and just be there for people.
Charlie:
That’s great.
Eric:
And it would always come back and serve you well.
Charlie:
Okay. Unsung heroes. I know that it always takes a village to achieve success and other people who come into our lives. And so, when you think about the unsung heroes on a personal level or the colleagues on a professional level in your life, who are those people?
Eric:
My family. My dad, who is no longer with us. He instilled hard work at a young age. My brother, he’s a hard worker, my sister. So, family brother, sister. And then here at work the Janets of the were, the Jenny Slacks of the were. Just watching them and seeing how they are, and start teaching a lot of great things in me and pulling out the best in me that they seeing, that I might not even be seeing.
Charlie:
That’s awesome to have a great leader or someone you work with who see something in you and wants the best for you and from you.
Eric:
Yeah. I mean, they’ve pulled me to the side and, you know, we’ve had great conversations, you know, at work out of work over some wine, some tea, cooked, great cooking and just having some great conversation.
Charlie:
That’s awesome. Advice. What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Eric:
Be true. Stay true to yourself and just just be kind to others. Dedicate yourself to your craft and work hard every day. Be kind to others and if you work hard, it’ll pay off no matter what.
Charlie:
Who gave you that advice?
Eric:
Going back to my family. My dad, my brother, my mom.
Charlie:
You’ve been with this for, like we said, nearly 17 years now. If you go back to your first day, when you were disassembling the cocktail table, to the end table legs, and if you can give your younger self some advice about what life is going to be like at Broad River Retail, which was not even known as Broad River Retail, back then, ishmore than etc., Broad River Furniture, then Broad River Retail.
What advice,what would you tell that younger Eric Turner?
Eric:
That is: all days are great days, but you power through them, do the best you can, come to work prepared every day. Is going to be a lot of twists and turns and just be prepared to take that twist and turn with it.
It’s not like you working on an assembly line and you just do that all day. Life comes that, like I say, you could be building furniture the next minute you are on a delivery, next minute you run into the DC. So I’ll just tell them, be prepared for anything that comes your way.
Charlie:
Yeah, be adaptable and certainly not going to be boring.
Eric:
Not at all.
Charlie:
Shifting gears to culture. Obviously we’re a little bit biased. We, you know, think our culture is special and unique, but, what in your opinion, what do you really love about our culture or what do you think makes it special and truly unique?
Eric:
For me, working with the leaders that have work, which is always being honest, always looking out for you and letting you know: “Hey, if you don’t like what you’re doing as different avenues that might be afforded to you.”
Back in the old days, we didn’t really have that. We weren’t that big yet. So growing in the company and offering different opportunities at different DCs, different Stores and people just let you know: “Hey man, if you’re not too good at this or you ever thought about, you know, selling furniture”. “You good?” We’re talking with people, you know, so it’s just people being there to let you know: “Hey, just might not be this for you, but there are other avenues and I think you might succeed here”.
Charlie:
Has the culture changed from when we had when you started fewer than hundred people to now when we have nearly a thousand people?
Eric:
It’s gotten better. It’s just you know, it’s not that it was bad it’s just grown and has grown in a good way. It’s like planning a farm or a garden and just watching the grow and keeping it intact every day. Leadership or yourself being around you for the whole time and seeing your growth and you spreading it out.
Charlie:
Okay. You mentioned thrive earlier.
Eric:
Yeah.
Charlie:
We love a good word of the year.
Eric:
Yes, we do.
Charlie:
2022. It’s our year to thrive. We feel like we’ve come from survival to thrive all to now it’s time to really thrive. And we’ve thrive throughout the pandemic. What does it mean for you to thrive?
Eric:
To get up every day and give it my all. No matter what. Just go to work, prepare and share my knowledge with others and seeing other people that might not be thriving or lacking a little bit. It just need that extra push to help them thrive.
Some of us don’t realize how great we can become. You just need an extra person and hopefully, I do that for people. When I see the good or what they can do and just help them thrive in whatever position or life that they want.
Charlie:
Yeah. So if that would be the advice that you’d offer someone to help him or her thrive this year?
Eric:
Yes.
Charlie:
Okay. Love it. Secrets to your success. What do you think they have been?
Eric:
Secrets to my success is just dedication, man. Just just making sure that you get up and you present yourself in an honorable, great way. Be kind to people. Be nice to people. It is always learning, always reading, always watching, just doing things that make you a better person or to help somebody else be a better person. Going back to thrive.
Charlie:
Okay. I’m a creature of habit. I love to study habits and hopefully try to develop good and better habits that will help me improve. What are some of your best daily habits?
Eric:
Best daily habits, um? Getting up. Prepare myself for the day, making sure that okay, all systems go you good, you good health. And just for me, golf. Golf is just in different ways, not just a sport, but it teaches you patience. It teaches you. that you have to work on your craft. Whatever that may be. Just hard work and working on what you do best in life.
Charlie:
Yeah. The game of golf is always something to work on.
Eric:
Always something to work on, always.
Charlie:
Similar, very similar to the game of life.
Eric:
Yeah, that’s right. Yes, it is. And I love it.
Charlie:
Mentorship is so important.
Eric:
Yes, it is.
Charlie:
Where from or from whom do you get your mentorship?
Eric:
Going back to family. My brother. He’s just a great guy, man. Just always helping people. He works in Michigan. Helping out everybody, and it’s just great to see him.
Here work has been, like I said to Janets and Jenny Slacks of the were and just getting that good advice from wise people.
Charlie:
Love it. What about your inspiration and motivation? Where does that come from?
Eric:
Just an inspiration, seeing how hard my dad worked, you know, coming up at a time back and you know for me the seventies and just seeing him as a young black man carve his way through what he did.
He was the president of a Union, for like 20 years, and see what he did and his work and relationships with the Jimmy Hoffas of the world and he’s got a lot of big background. And he was in the labor movement and just watching him and seeing him and then my brother, I didn’t want to be into public service, but seeing them do that just made me feel okay. I know I want to help people, but not in that realm.
Charlie:
I love that they modeled your hard work for you at such an early age. It’s awesome. What is something about you that would surprise your fellow Memory Makers?
Eric:
I like to play games, like to travel.
Charlie:
All right, let’s take you there one at a time. What type of games?
Eric:
Right now, Phase 10. Phase 10 is a card game similar to Uno.
Charlie:
Phase 10? I’ve never heard of Phase 10, you’ve gotta teach me that game.
Eric:
They’re awesome. They just came out with a new 40 year books.
Charlie:
Okay. I’m, I have to take look at that one, I love a good card game.
Eric:
Yes, it’s awesome.
Charlie:
Travel. What was your last best trip?
Eric:
Last best trip? My niece got married in Las Vegas. Probably two to three weeks before the pandemic.
Charlie:
Oh, wow.
Eric:
Yeah, we were in. My cousin actually caught the coronavirus early on, and then I think my niece might have had it as well. But yeah, just going to Vegas right before that. And it also happened to fall on Tyson Fury’s Heavyweight Championship fight. And we were staying at MGM where the fight was held so that was just an awesome experience.
Charlie:
Oh, wow. That’s incredible. And what do you have on an upcoming trip that you’re looking forward to?
Eric:
Yes, I want to go well, I’m looking forward to going to the Dominican Republic.
Charlie:
That’s great.
Eric:
Again. So I love the people and the culture there.
Charlie:
My wife and I did our honeymoon in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
Eric:
Oh, okay.
Charlie:
Yeah. Well, that’ll be a great trip. I can’t wait to get through this COVID situation. And so we can freely move about the country or other countries.
Eric:
But nothing but beach trips since then. Just you know, some days, a day trip.
Charlie:
Okay Eric, let’s say that I decided to retire. And I’m giving you the keys to the company and to – you’re the new president and CEO of Broad River Retail. And today’s your first day on the new job. What is your first order of business?
Eric:
You guys have the secret sauce, man. I wouldn’t change much. I mean, we’re thriving, we are moving forward, vacation days maybe just..
Charlie:
What about them?
Eric:
Split them up. We have to take so many before June 30th and then so many after. And for me, I do most of my travel later in the year, not early in the year.
So I’ve been caught where I’ve had to use them and not do anything because I hadn’t used them all up yet. So maybe just have whatever you have. Ten, five, fifteen, to be able to do them at your pleasure instead of half and half.
Charlie:
I think it’s great. We’ve heard that in our engagement survey and others who have come on the podcast have talked about that.
Yeah, it was came from good intentions to make sure that people are taking vacations throughout the year, not just burning out earlier and to pace themselves, but I think letting people kind of choose when they can do their own vacations and self manage, that’s probably appropriate. So we’ll probably take that.
Eric:
Because we can’t carry them over.
Charlie:
No, you can’t. Well, the Engagement Survey Advisory Council is definitely looking into that.
Eric:
Make sure you look into that.
Charlie:
They got you, they got you. I’ll make sure they listen to this episode. Okay. Do you listen to, other than this one, do you listen to podcasts?
Eric:
I listen to it, it’s called: “All the smoke”. Is retired basketball players Stephen Jackson and it just talks about more than just basketball.
Just talk, about their lives, culture and everything right now, it’s pretty pretty cool. I haven’t really been in the podcasts but I’m starting to get into it.
Charlie:
Okay, is that Captain Jackson?
Eric:
Yep, that’s Captain Jackson?
Charlie:
Love that. Must turn that into
Eric:
Yes, indeed. And Matt Barnes. If you know who that is.
Charlie:
Yes. Yes, I do. So, what show you currently binge watching?
Eric:
Uh, Queen’s Gambit, Schitt’s Creek. Uh, Peaky Blinders.
Charlie:
Those are great shows. Great shows. And so when you stop working for the day, what do you like to do for when you have some time for yourself or for your family? Would you like to do for fun or just to relax?
Eric:
For me, golf is the epicenter around me, other than working in making my family. Love to golf for me to unwind.
During the pandemic, we did our backyard, couldn’t travel so we made travel come to us. So I put in a brick paver patio and just go out, go out, sit at the fireplace, maybe have a cigar, and a glass of wine.
Charlie:
I love it.
Eric:
And just sit there.
Charlie:
You have your outdoor furniture from Ashley?
Eric:
Yes. Well, no, I’m sorry. I have a lot of furniture from Ashley, but not for the outdoors.
Charlie:
We gotta get you outdoor furniture.
Eric:
I do have that, my favorite piece is, I have the sectional, the Rock Live. So, we sit on that and watch a bunch of television shows.
Charlie:
Love it. Final question. Final advice. to someone who is not currently a Memory Maker and is thinking of coming to the River. What advice would you offer to that person?
Eric:
Um, to sign up no matter what you’re doing in life right now, we are furnishing life’s best memories. We’re thriving. You could be in retail, you could be in ops, you can be in sales. I mean, we have everything covered pretty much.
And we’re thriving like you said, like I mentioned earlier. And what I think, word was for the year, we’re thriving, we’re growing, we’re putting in new DCs, new Stores. So, I mean, come to work with Broad Rivers, some fun, fun company to be and a good time to be a part of the Broad River family.
Charlie:
Eric, thank you so much for taking the time to drive down, to be on the podcast with me. I used to see you a lot more regularly, but you’re so dependable, so loyal, such a hard worker.
Eric:
Well thank you!
Charlie:
And everyone enjoys working with you, and has such great memories from working with you. And it’s just your heart that just pours out to serving your guest and first, and your fellow Memory Makers, and coworkers and making sure that furnishing life’s best memories is something that we exude each and every day.
I’m so glad to see your health is remaining, remaining good and well and strong. You look great.
Eric:
Thank you, I appreciate it.
Charlie:
So thank you!
That is episode seven with Eric Turner Stories from the River. Make sure to check us out on YouTube or on your favorite podcast player, whether that’s on Apple, Google, Spotify, Amazon, or wherever you check out your podcast. And mash that subscribe button and we’ll be coming to you next week every Wednesday.
Thank you so much.
Eric:
Thank you.
Welcome to Stories from the River, a podcast brought to you by Broad River Retail, where we’ll explore the personal journeys of our Memory Makers and share real stories from across the organization. And now for your host, president and CEO at the River, Charlie Malouf.
