I was asked what I thought about the recession. I thought about it and decided not to take part.

Focus on something the customer wants, and then deliver it.

Ignore the conventional wisdom. If everybody else is doing it one way, there’s a good chance you can find your niche by going in exactly the opposite direction.

The way management treats their associates is exactly how the associates will then treat the customers.

I pay low wages. I can take advantage of that. We're going to be successful, but the basis is a very low-wage, low-benefit model of employment.

Information is power, and the gain you get from empowering your associates more than offsets the risk of informing your competitor.

I not only knew I wanted to go into retailing, I also knew I wanted to go into business for myself.