My Father’s Business: The Small-Town Values That Built Dollar General into a Billion-Dollar Company by Cal Turner, Rob Simbeck

James Luther “Cal” Turner, Jr was the son of the founder of Dollar General, the largest discount retailer in the United States—and his father’s values are credited for the success of the billion-dollar business. In his book, “My Father’s Business: The Small-Town Values That Built Dollar General into a Billion-Dollar Company”, Turner talks about how his father’s small-town values were the cornerstone of the company’s success.

His father, James Luther “J.L.” Turner Sr., was a farmer in rural Kentucky. He opened his first store in 1955 in Scottsville, Kentucky with $5,000 in savings. The store sold name-brand merchandise at discounted prices, a concept that was not familiar to many in the small town. J.L. started his business with a very basic idea that “no item should cost more than one dollar.” Whether they were buying a flashlight or a can of paint, people liked the idea of being able to buy quality products at a low price.

The success of J.L.’s store eventually led him to open more stores in the Southeast. As the business grew, Cal Turner entered the picture. He joined the company in 1964 and began transforming the stores. He believed that in order for them to be successful, they needed to be more than just a place to buy items at discounted prices—they needed to be part of the community. He implemented small-town values into the business model, using local community-building activities like events, sponsorships, and donations to build relationships with customers. He also encouraged employees to “shop local,” so that their business could be a supportive member of their community.

The small-town values of the company were then expanded to the entire company, from the top executives to the store employees. This was a major factor in their growth and success. Cal Turner understood that the success of their stores largely depended on the people who ran them. He implemented an employee-centric culture where workers could feel comfortable and invested in the success of the company, rather than feeling like just another number in the organization. This allowed the stores to develop strong customer relationships, which is what separates Dollar General from its competitors.

Cal Turner credits much of the company’s success to the small-town values that his father put in place. These values allowed the company to become a part of the community, rather than an outsider. It made their stores more “relatable” to their customers and allowed them to build a loyal customer base. These small-town values also enabled the company to offer quality products at a low price, which is a real advantage for those with limited financial resources.

In this book, Cal Turner talks about how small-town values are the foundation of the success of Dollar General and many other businesses. He gives readers an inside look at the hard work and dedication it takes to become a successful business and emphasizes the importance of having an understanding of small-town values and a commitment to the local community. He encourages readers to not only emulate his father’s success, but apply these values to whatever business they may pursue.