#101: David vs. Goliath

It’s great when Goliath offers new terms. However, David doesn’t need new terms on a bad deal. What he needs is a fair deal.

I find it both sad and amusing when I hear that a large corporate with close to 80,000 employees worldwide and double digit billion EUR turnover is kind enough to offer new terms on a business relationship with a small food vendor.

Last year, the vendor contributed to a programme run over the summer months aimed at making the space around the corporate campus more welcoming and lively. Two other vendors complemented the food and drinks offering. At night time, the corporate organized various events attracting people to the area thereby developing the corporate’s image as a generous contributor to the local community.

It so happened that last year’s inaugural series of events was hit by covid. The weather wasn’t too good either. As a result, the food vendor in question didn’t make a profit from selling his delicious product for 10 hours a day, 4–5 times a week over 10+ weeks.

That is unfortunate, isn’t it?

The corporate has now been made aware of the challenging business environment for the food vendor. The response was immediate, supportive and unbureaucratic. The terms of last year’s agreement would be re-negotiated. Not all of them, obviously, but some of the more critical ones for sure.

1. The daily booth fee? Well, that one had to remain. A change would just send out the wrong signal. Too bad.

2. So what about the revenue sharing agreement? There was apparently enough room to bring it down by a few percentage points. Too kind. The corporate making billions a year from selling high-quality tools around the globe has the nerve to ask for a few cents on the sale of every item of food on its premises. It is meant to cover the corporate’s expenses. Where there is a food stall, there are various kitchen tools. I get it. A refrigerator needs electricity and that obviously doesn’t come for free, does it?

3. Was there a possibility to reduce the number of daily hours from 10 to 8? Sure. That was a quick one. Great!

This makes me sick to my stomach.

We are all struggling, some more than others. And we are all trying to contribute to the economy, to our community and, last but not least, to ourselves. Electricity at home isn’t free either. That is why we depend on our income from manufacturing tools, selling ice cream or brewing coffee.

David doesn’t need better terms.

He needs a new deal.

A fair deal.

I was offered to fill the void for the coffee truck owner, who for undisclosed reasons decided not to offer his services this year.

I am still thinking about it.

As you would have guessed.