his heirs can contemplate the conclusions of this study with much equanimity.
Yet the remarkable response to the survey
as 70 percent of the members in some commodity line
associations surely indicates the extent to which
the puzzles of perpetuation are a real, immediate concern
to wholesaler-distributors of the United States, and
by extrapolation, to the entire U.S. small business
community. Given that response, the authors have no
option other than delineation of the facts of the
present small business posture. If such facts are
far from comforting, they are useful. Almost seven out
of ten of respondents in this study are not yet 60
years of age.
There is time for independent U.S. wholesaler-distributors
(and for U.S. business at large) to do those things
necessary of their own perpetuation. If the idea of a
"sale to a conglomerate" is in most cases wishful
thinking, a practical preparation for the future
perpetuation of a solid, successful business is not.
The purpose of this study is to assist in that
preparation.
The several associations affiliated with
the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors
take an intense interest in this problem. Various
proposals, including ideas of equity building, sugges-
tions to make feasible the transfer of ownership to
key employees, and others, are being explored in
detail by NAW and other organizations who see the
perpetuation of independent business in the United
States as absolutely essential to the continued
viability of our economy and society.
Meanwhile you as a participant in the on-going NAW "perpetuation" effort-- have taken the first important step toward insuring the continuation, in the best, most practical mode, of the company you head.