An Intriguing Tale Of Being An Owner

???????? ????? ????????As a business owner.. we try to please everybody.. and if you asked me or my staff to hold something for you .. we always do. But experience have taught us… that if there was another person wanting to buy the exact same thing that we were holding for someone else.. we have to sell them. The likelihood of the person coming back for it.. is almost slim, especially if it is after 3 days. So if you ever go into a store.. and ask them to hold something for you .. make sure you tell them .. when you are coming back.. else .. don’t blame them for not holding it for you. Afterall, we need to pay bills eh.

Having worked in the hotel industry for the last 15 years before coming to Canada in a task force, that goes into a new hotel before its soft opening to ensure that all things required are set up as well as employing and setting the standard of procedure for various department, certainly make me a no stranger to commercial furnitures.

Contract Furniture Company is the kind of company that the hotel that I used to work for would hire for all their furnitures in the hotel including pool chairs. They are not just furnitures and furnishing, they are professional grade furniture that are not only affordable but of high quality. This is a one-stop furniture place for furnishing the entire hotel from indoor to outdoor furnitures. Choose from wrought iron, wood and resin in various shapes, sizes and style and they even have showrooms in Los Angeles and New York.

Customer came into the store.. and asked PB to look out for another customer who might try to sell us a PS3 machine. He claimed that he was robbed.. and that the system was stolen from his house.. when he had a party just the other day. And I had to laugh so hard.. because you see.. not too, too long ago.. it was this customer.. who had taught the supposedly accused to steal from stores in town.. because they were then underage.. and even if they do get caught.. they would only get slapped on their wrist. Karma..!

We have many customers who would come in .. and wanting to set up new accounts when they are told that their old account under their mother’s/father’s/g/f’s/ex-wife’s name has an outstanding balance on it. In order to rent another movie or game.. they would have to first pay up .. for the outstanding. In plain english.. it means.. “YOU OWE US MONEY..! PAY UP!”

Usually these ppl owes us for a long time.. and if i were to set up him/her up another account .. i know history will repeat itself. No way.. was I gonna do that. We ain’t no suckers.. BUDDY..!!

I find that ever since helping the man in the store.. i’ve put on alot of weight on the hips. Seriously, i think it is because when one sits alot.. and do nothing more than sitting.. and chatting up with customers.. and not standing too much.. and working only on the computer, you tend to grow around the hips. Already i have a tree-trunk body, better get some best diet pills if I don’t want a bucket for my hips and downwards.

You’ve got to love it.. when it comes to upgrading a computer for the customers. Some are so generous.. they just want anything money can buy even though the computer doesn’t need it. Such like the memory or rams we called it, they just want more put it.. so that everything would be at the top of the line.

For those who are not aware of this.. we do own our own video store in town. There is like 2 other video stores as well.. but ours charged the most reasonable in price. $3 a night .. for movies or games, older movies at $2 all tax included. We have both new releases .. and kept alot of old ones.. because alot of our customers comes for the old ones.

Today I had to go for a blood transfusion… and I realized that there are way too many movies we have in the store.. and yet. .i haven’t watched it. Sad eh..?? Yah.. indeed..! especially i get them for free. What movies have you watched lately..?? If you owned your own movie store.. would you rushed to watch all the new releases immediately..??

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This week .. is a week of entertaining walk ins who wants to sell stuff. Some called and wants to sell a 80 gig hard drive .. in which the man told him.. he would pay like $20 for it.. afterall, we sell them for new at $40.00 And the seller said.. no thanks.. and hung up the phone. Seriously, I wonder what these “sellers” expect ..?? how can we pay more than $20 for something that we pay $35 new..???  Seriously, i think the man was being very generous already.  Plus we are the one providing the warranty..to the next customer.. should we decide to purchase it.. and resell them. So where’s the logic.. in paying $30 for a used one..??

Being in business for almost 9 yrs now in this small town, we all know about getting the right connection or your targeted customers that you want to try and reach. Advertising is important.. but a good sales lead is definitely worth alot more when you can reach out to specific customers. Therefore a good business mailing lists is very important to your marketing campaign, in fact our success depends on them.

Customers we loved.. ! but they come in all at once.. and not just one or two.. but right now even though you see 3 in the picture.. there was another 3 more . .on the side.. and 2 more came in after I took this picture. Is it a coincidence.. or what..?? do you have such experiences. I noticed we can be dead.. for an hour or more.. and then.. just when you wanna relax.. everyone comes in.. and they leave at the same time too..!! Weird..!

But the best part about these customers were all of them bought something. Woohoo..!!

There are plenty of entrepreneurs not only in Asia .. but here in Canada, we see alot of folks opening restaurants and eateries as well. Food is of course very important, to make a restaurant a success but the decor and furnishing of a restaurant is just as important. Most people are willing to pay more because of the ambiance.

Just last weekend.. the family and I was in this small little restaurant for brunch and although the food was good .. and the service exceptional, I’ll have to say, they need a revamp. The furnitures were old and dirty looking and that didn’t really make my lunch a real pleasant one. Revamping one’s eatery or restaurant need not be stressful or expensive for commercial bar stools, can be affordable and by simply replacing them or some quality table tops at your restaurant, it will give your restaurant a new lease of life. Customer/s like me would definitely appreciate it.

Whether you are opening a new restaurant or already have one, Affordable Seating your one-stop online store, has high quality customized restaurant seating products. Not only are they stylish, they are readily available. Short delivery time and knowledgeable staff on hand to assist you in any way they can. You will definitely find that furnishing your new or existing restaurant stress-less.

It is funny how everyone flock into the store.. when the boss is not around. As soon as the man walks outta the store.. everyone starts coming in. As if they have some kinda radar.. or something.. or missed radar..?? Or there will be phone calls for him.. as soon as he leaves. And when he is here the whole morning.. NOT a thing..!

It is not with pleasure that i am posting this .. as I am writing this with a very heavy heart. Jeff Hipson is one of the most humble and genuine person I have met in this town. A man of little words.. but a big heart. He opened his own business in 1996 after leaving another establishment. 12 yrs is a long time… to run and owned your own business. But I am sure .. Jeff knows what he is doing. Come June 30th .. Paper Trail .. will closed its door for the last time.. with a charity drive. PB and I wished him all the best.. and good luck.. Jeff..!

Jeff always had a great sense of humor .. this sign had seen many funny quotes and we’ve been tickled alot.. when we drive by. There will be no more funny quotes to brighten up my days.. after June 30.

We hate to do it .. Jeff..!! but you are making us go to Staples to get our supplies now..!!

I wonder what special day it was yesterday.. for we saw so many of our customers.. that we haven’t seen for such a long time. It was absolutely awesome..!! to see so many of our past regulars back home.. from Ontario.. and different places.. and they still remembered to come look for us.. even though we moved. Too bad they didn’t stay long.. because we were busy at the store.  Never mind.. i’m sure we will catch up real soon.. since they are staying for good this time.

Customers asked us if we have any free time to ourselves.. because they see us at the store.. everyday.. and keeping long hours. Plus with a toddler we bring to work, you can imagine .. how stressful it can get. But getting a elliptical and exercising on a daily basis does help to relieve stress as well as staying fit. I don’t know how others to it.. but the man tries to watch his favourite show… and does his exercises then.