Family Ties That Cost
Sports people usually find themselves drawn to businesses and opportunities that support their favorite activity. A genuine desire to help leads most folks to take active positions on Boards, organizations and national leadership roles.
Often a sense of loyalty leads people to buy from the people who are giving time to the organization. There is an inclination to go with the “local guy” even though his prices are a little higher than a national retailer.
This makes sense to me. The problem is that sometimes these folks take advantage of that situation. I have always had a strict policy of not doing business with friends. It never ends well. Too often someone tries to take advantage of a close relationship.
As a Board Member of a local hockey organization, I have to walk a fine line between my business interests and my personal interests, because they run in the same circles. If I bid on something and cannot match a price of another vendor, I don’t want the organization to waste its money – my money and that of other parents – if a better deal can be had elsewhere.
Business practices by larger Soccer Organizations have drawn scrutiny from the IRS. We in the hockey world need to pay attention to this as well. We may be next.