Jim Harrod knew that service, above all,

was important to his customers. Jim and

Becky Harrod had opened their first store in

Medicine Hat, Alberta eighteen years ago.

Harrod's carried a full line of sporting goods

including everything from baseball bats and

uniforms to fishing gear and hunting

equipment. By the year $20$XX$,$ there were

twelve llarrod stores producing $$5$ million

in total sales and generating a profit of over

$$200,000$ per year.

On the positive side, there was an