Spider-Man and the fiamily business

IIJIIT! Wunr? Spider-Man is

V

Y going into the superhero business with his long-lost sister? Marvel Comics has announced a new graPhic novel set to debut in 2Ol4 in which a mysterious woman claiming to be Spidey's long-lost sister shows up, helps get him out of a tight spot, and drives them off at breakneck sPeed, thereby saving the day. It's called "spider-Man: Family Business."

Family and family business themes are fairly common in the comics. Think Batman and the ever-prospering Wayne Enterprises, X-Men and the artificial family created bY Professor X and his band of mutants, or the intense sibling rivalry between Thor and his adoptive brother Loki. It's uncertain whether Spider-Man's sister will become a permanent fixture or if this is just a one-off graphic novel, but the appeal of the connection and drama inherent in family and family business is universal and apparent.

If Spider-Man was real, based on our knowledge of family businesses it would be easy to imagine some of the thoughts going through his mind as his sister reveals her identity and they embark on adventures together.

Trust: Does he trust that she is who she says she is? If she is his sister, why did she wait to reveal herself? What's her angle? Or is she the real thing to be loved and cherished? She helped save the day in their initial meeting, but does he have a genuine basis for developing bonds of trust with a woman about whom he knows very little?

Threat: Is she somehow a threat to Spidey? Does she have capabilities similar to his own, and what might that mean for him? Will she stand for the same values he alwaYs has, or does she have a different code? Will her appearance make him less needed, important, and diminish his standing in the community? Will she somehow replace him? Or will she become a tremendous asset?

Ownership: What will her appearance mean for the Spider-Man "brand?" Will she dilute his "ownership" somehow? He has Put manY years and a great deal of personal risk into his career; will she have to PaY the same kind of dues? Will she automatically be catapulted to hero status by piggybacking on his accomplishments, and, if so, where's the fairness in that?

Legacy of Departed Parents: What would their deceased Parents have wanted? Who did they think more capable, ultimately, of managing the family superhero business? How would they have advised and guided their offspring, and what potential difficulties would they have seen coming and helped to ward off? Whether superhero or average mortal, a family business is a complicated place to be. Unmanaged fears and negatives like doubt, frustration, mistrust, worry about position, concerns about prestige, and anxiety over power and control can often overwhelm the love, connection, shared memories, and shared successes of a family business. Perhaps Marvel will take this opportunity to paint family business in a favorable light, and Spider-Man and his newly discovered sister will highlight a positive path for the rest of us in the family business world.

- Wayne Rivers is President of the Family Business Institute, Raleigh, N.C. Reach him at wayne.rivers@familybusi' nessinstitute.com or ( 877 ) 326-2493.

Reprinted with permission of the Family Business Institute. No portion of this article may be reproduced without its permission.

Heirs Liquidate Newhall Lumber

Newhall Lumber, Newhall, Ca., was liquidated during an Oct. 20 auction, following the death of owner William "Bill" Kellerman.

Kellerman died Sept. 3 after a battle with cancer, three weeks shy of his 70th birthday. Since he was not married and had no children, proceeds from the auction will be divided among his siblings.

Kellerman started the business with his father, William Kellerman Sr., in the 1970s.

"It survived the big boxes," said Kellerman's brother, Patrick Kellerman. "We have to change with the times. If someone decides to tear it down,I'm fine with that."

Weyco Relocating Stockton DC

By the end of the year, Weyerhaeuser Distribution will relocate its Stockton, Ca., operations to a new site seven miles away.

The move will consolidate two existing facilities, boosting efficiencies and expanding capacity. The new facility also is convenient to major north-south transportation lanes and accommodates up to five box railcars-three more than previously allowed.

"At present, our Northern California operations are split between inside and outside inventory, about a mile apart within the Port of Stockton. Merging into one site will significantly streamline internal operations," said region manager George Perrault.

The new location will provide 150,000 sq. ft. of operational space and 14 acres of storage. It is currently undergoing renovation, including repaving, a new roof, a new rail spur, and a new fire system.

BMC is adding a second, 43,500 sq. ft. branch in Colorado Springs, Co., for a retail showroom of doors, windows and millwork.

Weaver Lumber, Redding, Ca., held a grand opening celebration Oct. 11 to mark the company's 50th anniversay and the unveiling of its remodeled 11,000-sq. tt. True Value Hardware store.

Weaver moved into the former Moss Lumber facility last year and recently signed on with True Value.

Sender's Market & Hardware opened a new location in Valley Springs, Ca., on the former site of Valley Springs Home Center.

Shuttered Riffenburgh Lumber, Big Bear Lake, Ca., lost two storage buildings in a Sept. 29 fire.

The business closed last year and the property is for sale'

Center for ReSource Conservation is closing its ReSource reclaimed building materials yard in Fort Collins, Co., later this month after seven years.

Ace Hardware opened a new store in Rio Rancho, N.M., Nov. 1 (Sharon Alire, mgr.).

McGoy's Building Supply, San Marcos, Tx., is now selling Pefla windows and doors at its 85 locations.

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