Preparing For Halloween

Halloween is round the corner.. but ever since the episode with the last employee being all stressed up because she had to dress the window.. we decided not to ask any of our employees to do anything anymore.  But Katelynn, our babysitter/store employee offered to paint the windows.. and promised she wouldn’t go to unemployment office to complain about having to paint the store’s window.. we let her.  But not before we made sure .. that it wasn’t too stressful for her.

Not bad at all eh..??  and for someone to say that they were stressed for drawing on the window.. when they had actually volunteered in the first place.. now that is too funny.  But we all get the big picture.. wherelse the unemployment office used this as one of the reasons to justify.. giving her unemployment for more than 1.5 yrs.  Collecting unemployment here means.. you get paid every other week .. without having to work.  Whatever you were making .. you get like 80% of what you made from your previous job.   Darn lucky hor..?

I seriously think that the system is flawed here.. but i hear that it is just as bad in the States.  The people who really needs the money .. they never get.. but those who don’t .. they get everything.  The people here .. even know exactly how to work the system.. it’s just too sad.. because people like that will never get no where in life.  Plus people who works so hard.. they get taxed left, right and center .. for the longest time .. ever since i came to Canada.. we never got our GST back.. like everyone else.  I have no idea why.. and they never ever explained it.

Gadget Info

Owning a computer store, even just being an owner by association, it means that I have to know a little about the geeky stuff too.  Like it or not, I do have to be able to understand our customers needs when the spouse isn’t around, else the customer will just leave the store and go somewhere else.

The Gadget Advisor is a relatively new site that is great for someone like myself who wants to find out the latest and the best gadget information in order to be able to carry on a decent conversation with our geeky customers and not sound like a fool.  Whether you are looking for information on online backups to recommend to your blogging buddies or universal remote controls to our older customers and even those networked media players that the spouse is very interested in, here is where I can explore and learn a  little bit more.  So no one can say we women don’t know anything about techie stuff.

Harper & The Liberals

So instead of wasting money on this .. why don’t you tell us .. what you Liberal would do for us Canadians..??  Politicians for you ..!!  It is election time again … this month.. and we’ve met Robert Thibault .. the only MP  .. who came around our business on Main Street, Yarmouth.  Unfortunately, this week.. i also heard from our customer.. who had immigration problems.. that Robert Thibault’s office refused to help .. because they are having an election.. !  OOOOOOOOOOOOOOooK .. so here we have someone who is running again to get elected.. and he wouldn’t even bat an eyelid to someone who is obviously in need of some kinda advice…??  Ya..!!  my thoughts exactly..!  sad.. sad..!!

Mingling With The Customers

In our kind of business, it’s important to know your customers.. and mingle with them.  Irregardless, whether they are young or old, you still need to know what makes them tick.. and what are their fancies.  Building a good repetoire with your customers is not easy .. and keeping the good ones are even harder.  Here the man mingled with the younger customers.. by playing the Rock Band game with them.

Our Customer/s Looking Better

Is it me.. or is our customers looking better each time they come into our store.. or if i met them outside.  Just today .. i saw one in the mall.. and I told her i almost couldn’t recognised her.. because she grew smaller.  Well.. she wasn’t fat by any means.. but she was big.. but today.. she looked so slim.. and so prettttttyyyy..!!!!  i’m envious… and totally in awe..1! i want to look as sleek as her.. i wonder if i take Fenphedra, will i get the same results..? I want to win my weight problem war..!!

A Week Of Thirsty Laptops

It had been a week of thirsty laptops/notebooks.  We’ve had some pretty nasty looking laptops come in that either had the cat pissed on.. or coke accidentally poured over it.. and as much as the man tried to clean and resolder them.. they don’t want to turn on.  Alot of time wasted.. yet not much money made.  *sigh* .. but that’s our job eh.

Then of course the man wants to be superman.. and repair or replace a DS screen for a customer.. and it took him like hours. . and for how much..??  $15 ..!!!  yes..!!  $15 !!!  i told him.. i will pay him $15 to spend an hour.. with his kid… instead of doing that thing.

Advertising Your Business

As an owner by association to our own albeit small business, we still want to make sure we retain the old customers but also pick up some new ones. After all a particular customer can only spend so much on computer upgrades and games every month right?  So yes we’ve explored many ways in which to attract new customers such as advertising in the local papers, radio ads, the local sub-directory papers and even flyers and in store promotions. Even TV ads, you name it we’ve tried it. Unfortunately some of the above mentioned methods did not yield any good response which in my opinion is money wasted.

For all the things that we’ve tried, we have never had a one to one experience, unlike what an online marketing company like Network Solutions can promise.  At this time and age, we strongly feel that online advertising is the way to go.  They are there from the very beginning to help you identify your possible targeted customers that you want to reach on your website in order to direct sales to you.  You and your company also get an extensive tracking and result report that no other advertising we’ve had done in the past could offer. Like with any advertising plan, you set your own budget and then review your results to see if you want to continue.   Advertising online is actually easier than you think, don’t be intimidated by all those geeky words. The sales people at Network Solutions have an online specialist to assist immediately if any problems arise, I like that the most. You can also reach them thru’ the toll free number on their website.

Retail

Being in the retail business .. is not easy.  Owning one .. well.. it’s even harder.  The man is rarely upset with his customers.. for him to even show his displeasure is quite unusual but today he did. And I really can’t blame him coz’ we have this customer who would come in every week, buy a game for say $11 and come back 20 mins later.. and wanting to exchange for a $15 game.. because he claimed it doesn’t work.

The funny thing is the second game always works for him but not the first.. plus he always chooses a game which is of a higher price and he doesn’t wanna pay the difference.  He claimed that since he had to drive back to the store again.. that would cost him gas.. but you and i know.. that gas does not cost that much for a few mins drive.

We take a deep breath .. and sux it in..?? most times.. what can you do right..?? but the man was kinda upset.. i think because not only was he doing it regularly .. he really try to huff and puff each time .. to make himself feel good.  But we being in business for so many years.. we really appreciate honesty up front.

Company’s Car

Our current car is almost all paid up, in fact to be exact it is in March next year that we will be able to save about $450/month on our car payment.  But since this car is pretty much used as a company car because the man uses it mostly for work and not for personal, we feel that we should pretty much get another car just for the family.  Like separate the work car from the car we use for leisure. After all we will have some spare money once the other car is paid up.

We currently have a Ford Focus, we’ve had one since I came to Canada, but I’m really not too, too happy with our current Ford for various reasons.  The man and I were looking at a  2008 acura TL and found that the Car Connection gave some detailed reviews of it.  They had the information gathered from other sources and then combined with their own findings from testing the cars personally. They were able to give an unbiased review and what they really think of the car.  We were also able to check out the photo galleries of the different types of Acura to compare what we like best.  I really appreciate the reviews gathered from real consumers, nothing beats getting first hand reviews from real people who have tested the cars or used them for a period of time.

You get to also compare quotes with your friendly neighbourhood reseller from the comfort of your own home or office.  For people like us who own our own business, you can imagine how helpful that really is, since we really don’t have a lot of time to spare.  It’s really awesome what TheCarConnection.com can offer everyone who is looking to purchase a car some good honest information.

A Visit From Robert Thibault

I don’t know what kinda luck we are going thru’ but we’ve been having quite a few busy weeks of late.. and today . .we had the the Liberal MP - Robert Thibault visit our store on one of his campaign runs.  In the last 8 yrs since I’ve been here.. the only important people we saw yearly was our happy Santa Claus during Christmas time.

Anyhow, Robert Thibault is no stranger to the people from Nova Scotia .. especially Digby, Meteghan, Yarmouth and Middleton.   In Singapore, I’m sure you all back home will know how aggressive the MPs would be . .when it comes to election time.  You can see them visiting home to home. .and having numerous talks.. and going back and forth .. in public speeches with their opponents.. and sparring verbally as well.

Here in Nova Scotia.. it had been so far pretty quiet.  This afternoon a news lady had invited us to the wharf to hear Mr Newman talk.. but i didn’t get to go.. because i had to be home with my kid.  I can’t say i know much about Mr Thibault.  I’ve heard good and different things about him.  So do we re-elect him..??    I don’t know right now.. but we’ll have to see eh.  But it was nice.. that he was the first to visit.. and that means something.

Drawing The Line

Ever since coming to Y-Town.. i have a person whom i really admired.. when it comes to doing business.  He is kind.. and always smiling, he would stop and chat with you in and out of your store.. but nothing too long .. nor elaborate.  Unlike myself.. i can be too personal.. and even recommend treatment for acne to a kid, if i see that he or she needs it, without even thinking if i might offend him/her.  These days.. i tend to draw the line.. and keep a wee bit distance.. that way.. i don’t put myself out there to be criticised.  I wished i had known this business etiquette earlier, for i would have saved myself a lot of heartache.. by giving my heart too freely with people who don’t really matters.

Business Acquaintance

You would think that business acquaintance should have some common courtesy about not doing their business in your store… and try to under cut us..?? but nope .. apparently it doesn’t work for this guy who owns a gym in town.. and sells legal steroids for the guys who goes to his gym for body building.  This fella is quite annoying.. and i’m only too glad.. we don’t get to see him too often at our store.  Do you have someone in your town who does that to you and your business all the time..?? what would you do..??

We Love Our Customers

We do love our customers. Those who say otherwise.. are LIARS..! MUAHHAHHA!!  nah. .really we really have good customers.  Once in a while.. we get a thief.. a liar.. and a crazy customer.. but overall..  99% of our time at the store.. is actually good.

We enjoy having our customers come in and stay .. the good ones of course.  But sometimes we are really busy .. with other work. Even though you don’t see a crowd at times, it doesn’t mean we have nothing to do because there are lots of computer work the man does.   But ultimately, I’ve gotta remember customers like them.. when the bad one comes along.  It makes life easier in Canada… knowing that there are nice folks like them out there.

Local Couriers For Our Business

Our local couriers are in demand in this part of the country.  We see a high turnover and each time the courier man seems to be different for a certain company and at other times, these couriers don’t come on time.  Perhaps some CDL training can help these courier companies to train their drivers to be a little more professional…??  because some courier services in this town sure needs it.

Cleaning The Store

Having a store as small as ours still takes alot of cleaning.  The dust is never ending .. and if you are like us and brings your kid to work or invite other kids to come play at your store, then you have to keep your carpets cleaned.   We use a  steam cleaner once a month just because and since the play area that we use for our kid’s playroom has a carpet, we had been really paranoid about making sure no one walks in that area with their shoes.  The kids are easy to tell.. but the adults.. *sigh*.

Mistaken Identity

If you had been to our store, you will see that our set up is such that i sit behind PB and do my own work.. unless he is not in the store.. and i have no choice but to stand up and serve the customers.  Usually when he is around.. i just continue doing my work.. but if they are someone i know .. i would turn around.. and chat or walk nearer to the customer/s and chat.

We had been having some “customers” in of late.. who used to work for us… so today .. when someone who looked like one of our ex-employee came in.. i didn’t even turned my head.  Well.. not until she said her name out .. to PB for renting a movie or game.. did i realised she wasn’t “IT”.  So I quickly turned around and started yakking .. else she must think i must be mad not to great her.. afterall, she was a great customer before.

Relocating & Moving The Store

In our 9 years in business, we’ve moved 3 times but each of these times were just moving from one street to another, not too far away from the original store.  But lately, we’ve been thinking a lot about relocating entirely to a different city or town altogether due to various business strategy reasons.

Moving or relocating is such a huge deal to us, where does one begin right?  A moving guide like What Moves You is a great place to start because they do answer a lot of issues, questions and concerns that one might have regarding relocation. They even offer packing tips and storage solutions.  But if you have a question that is not currently answered on their blog you can even leave one of your own and get some moving advice from them.  I’ll be sure to remember to check this moving survival guide if we are ready to move or relocate.

Experience Comes From Making Mistakes

I had known of this wise saying since I was a kid and I can tell you after being owner by association for 8 yrs that it is all so true.  The things we would never do AGAIN .. if we had another go in the same kind of business in a different country or in a different town.  But it was mistakes that were inevitable because PB and I never really owned a business before.  And for him, it all started from being a yard sale place.  Strange as it is.. it evolved to where we are today.

We noticed that used games and trading games gave us a lot of learning to do.  We actually didn’t know the worth or how much to offer at first.. to now being an expert in the wheeling and dealing of everything.  Now we also learned to take things easy, no need to pay for stuff at a price we are not comfortable in losing.  As you all know theft is a big thing in this town, Peter can rob Paul and bring Paul’s stuff to sell it to us and we may end up losing the thing we paid for and also being accused of buying stolen stuff.  Like we know they were stolen.. or like Peter would tell us it was stolen.. *slap*

After 8 yrs in business .. we also learned another important thing.  The RCMPs (police) here are great in public relation, they can even stop my babysitter in the middle of the road while she is driving to get her to call a friend of theirs who is interested in her *slap forehead*.  We also learned that in the event where your business gets broken into or you are robbed, you can go right ahead and do all the researching for them and yet they cannot do a lot to arrest the thief or the robber due to no concrete evidences.

In the event whereby you buy something unknowingly from someone who had robbed his friend, girlfriend or grandfather, you are still at the wrong.  Plus you will never see the thing you paid for nor get restitution, they are even too lazy to bring you the “blue” form for restitution.

Having said all that, I’m sure these folks are very nice people but just when you want to see results.. you probably need to get a higher being to help.  Like they all say around here.. catching a offender takes 3 cop cars and 1 on the bike.. and another on a horse would definitely be of heled.

Office Space

Tell me about it..!  Office space negotiation can be a real hassle and for someone who worked for representative offices moving from one country to another, it can get really stressful.  Reason being because you don’t really know what is the actual market price and the different landlords you are dealing with.  But if you trust the professionals like Don Cox and company for Austin Office Space, you eliminate all the above problems I had mentioned, all at no extra cost to you.  Why not eh? Find the right office/warehouse for leasing and subleasing in a jiffy.  Any smart office manager would take advantage of their expertise.

Why Our Prices Are Different From Walmart

It is quite simple.. and quite logical don’t you think…?? but obviously not for we get asked all the time, the same question.  We cannot compete with the big boys like Walmart  because we are locally owned and not buying in bulk like Walmart.  But when you need something you an be sure that we will go all the way out to get it for you unlike Walmart, who will tell you “they don’t know when the next shipment is coming”.

Shops like ours are customer oriented and since we are there for you .. in time of your need.  Like if you needed work done on your computer, we allow you to pay us later..when you have the money, so don’t you think you should support your friendly, local business.. instead of going to the big boys..??  would the big boys tell you to come pay when you have the money..??  Yes.. we do that for customers we know for a long time.. but no matter how much you spend at Walmart, you will never be able to do that.. nor Staples.

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