So we have a Pet Valu in town, we just drove by the store and saw their sign up – so can this town support a franchise as huge as Pet valu? and the rent they need to pay at Starrs Road. We won’t know how they would do – since we don’t own our own pet – but like all franchise here – I can’t see it doing “that” well – but one can be hopeful eh.
We are sort of a electronic store – but really we don’t sell everything. A long time customer who turned into a friend came in to see if we have some trucking gps system for sale – alas, we don’t have them – so we re-directed him to the Source at the mall. Making money is great and who doesn’t want to make extra money – but like I tell everyone – we never dabble with stuff we are not familiar with – so I rather leave the GPS system thing to the experts. I loved sending ppl to the Source because I’m biased and wants to keep our money in Canada and not to big chains from the States. So folks ! if you are looking for any kind of GPS – check out the Source at the mall – they are a friendly group of ppl there.
The rumor has it that since Zellers had been bought over by Target USA – they are not going to convert this Zellers into a Target store – so the mall will need a new anchor tenant. I’m hoping that we get another Kmart – because years ago – the boss told me they had a Kmart and they had all sort of deal at the Kmart. A lot of people loved Kmart – and we could use kmart coupons for shopping. Unlike the current store locally – we don’t get coupons – so we can’t save as much as we would like. Therefore, I’m keeping my fingers crossed and hoping against all hope that we get another Kmart as anchor tenant. I asked the mall manager about it the other day – but she was quite secretive about it – but she didn’t set me straight – so I’m very hopeful.
Now that’s so nice to hear from a customer right? and yes! we do hear that a lot from our customers – especially the new ones – while other store may not want to help them or go the extra mile – we would. Today a customer called and asked for help about an iPad – while she called the entire town’s computer store – we were the only one who was willing to help her out with her iPad. She was so impressed – that she said she was going to be recommending everyone to us.
People come into the store and asked us for a lot of things – from information for a restaurant to health club in this town and also where to get fat burners – yes – you heard right and it’s no harm telling them what you know. Especially if you know of a good place to recommend them – and we always give recommendations.
We’ve had one of the best parade of light shows since I’ve been here – this is by far one of the best light displays on boats. Most years – you get a few good looking boats – but this year the killam’s wharf was filled with lighted boats. So I asked one of the organizers this morning if the YDC not being in operation made any difference – apparently, YDC played a very small part only in the Seafest – so I guess no one is missing YDC? poor YDC? poor Heather – i missed seeing her though. I wish her all the best though.
People come in all the time to sell stuff at our store – to upgrade and well – some need the money for it – and since we do take in used things – we will take a look at them and price them up. Some stuff – you know you will be able to re-sell quickly – like the PS3 controllers from Sony – and of course sony cameras are also in demand. Most people love the Sony brand – because they are synonymous to quality stuff – so if you bring me something that is Sony brand – we will most likely buy it as compared to the generic brand – or a no name brand. If we get a turntable with a Sony brand – we would also very likely buy it – but any other brand we will have to think about it. Sony brand of stuff last for a long time – and my first walkman was from Sony and till today – it still works. So yes – we do buy stuff – but it has to be a brand that we trust.
Need I say more?
Almost 12 years in business and we don’t really have a uniform for ourselves nor our staff – would be nice to at least to have a t-shirt with our logo on it – or even those Marcus lab coats the the Pharmacy used. Oh – the hair-salon across the road uses the lab coats too and I do like it. I liked the Baby Phat slim fitting lab coat – I told the boss and they are but only $25 – cheap, cheap – can keep me warm during winter – and even in the summer – when we have rainy days – it does get chilly – so it’s nice to get a lab coat to put on. So our 12th anniversary – you just might see me and the staff here wearing our new lab coats.
One great advantage about owning your own retail store is that it benefit your kids – if you have any because you get to meet so many people – and you get to know them well enough – to ask them for money when your kid needs to raise fund for their school. Pretty cool right? Yes! I love fund raising for my kid – and it’s so much fun hassling the customers – to see who are the generous ones and who are the stingy ones.
When I used to work for someone – I was careful of how I looked because I meet with customer/s all the time – I represented the company – so it was important that I am wearing make – up and look proper. Unfortunately, being the owner by association to the spouse’s business – you don’t have to look good for your employees right? but one still need to look good for the customer – so even though I’m not so paranoid or worried about my looks – I still bring some of my skin care to work – because the weather here is too dry and when you have hot air all around the store – all the time – it just dries up your skin so much more faster. Some of my other co-workers had used gratiae before and i read up a little more about it – to see if by changing brand – would help with my skin care – after all, I do like using organic skin care. One thing I know for sure is if you work – you shouldn’t leave your skin to take care of itself – especially those who work long hours like myself. So right in the middle of the day – I usually like to freshen up – and spray some cool mist on my skin and give it a little moisture. What about you?
Local sport store having a try out event with their New Balance Tech Rep – who will be in town with this all new 890 – said to be lightest in its class for the everyday runner. I wonder if they are good for walking as well. I read about the best post workout supplement and wished they too would bring that in for a try out event for the nephew – who is into body building but I guess that would be for the local gym to do. Maybe, the local gym would do the same for the town people who are trying to get healthy this summer eh. There are so many products out there and if they had this try out event – it would be great – because then we will know if they are good to buy – without making the owners pay a lot to get stuff in. Good business sense too – and promotion you would think. If only our supplier could do the same for us to – try out computers or games – now that would be awesome right?
Someone came in today at the store and offered to work for us for free – in exchange for a computer. But first we needed to get him set up for a computer and then he would work for us for free. MUAHAHAHAHA!! yes! it was too funny. First of all, we weren’t even think of hiring and if we did hire – we wouldn’t give someone a computer first and then he can come work it off – how stupid did he think we were? Plus to work for us – we really have to trust you – before one can – so working for us free – isn’t really the proposal is it? it would be crazy if we gave you a computer for free and then expect you to come to work. NO WAY BUDDY! young fellas are too funny eh.
A few years ago – we’ve heard about a mystery shopper in town from Microsoft and that was how the other computer stores got shut down because they were selling pirated software and that Microsoft had sued them for like half a million bucks. Little did we know that we too were paid a visit by this mystery shopper from Microsoft till we received this letter today. Woohoo!!! Microsoft just certified that we DO sell only legitimate copies of Microsoft software – and you see it certainly pays to be honest and truthful – we’ve never sold anything illegal and I’m so glad we don’t !
Mother’s Day is just round the corner and if you haven’t send out a gift for your mother who lives in another town or city like myself – it’s not too late. Plus with Shari’s berries guaranteed coupon you can’t go wrong with it – coz’ the coupons give you so many choices for discount and savings. I’m not sending anything to my own mom but my godmother lives in United States in New York – so I’m sending her a basket of cookies and i save 14% with the coupons I see online. I know she will appreciate the thought – and Mother’s day gift need not be only for your mom eh – it can be for someone you care about – the mother-in-law? sister? godma? yes – it’s nice to send and receive caring gifts – I’m one who loves all the attention – hehe!
We are preparing to put some table out in front of our store and attract by – passser to come into our store – like we do every spring and summer. But this year – I’m well-prepared – with sun-tan lotion and youthology for my wrinkles – no way am I going out there to battle the harsh sun without both. People don’t know that working out in the sun even just sitting down and looking after a table of goods – can caused both sun burn and wrinkles if you don’t take proper care of your skin. Today, we had just gone to get sun tan lotion for the kid – for school afterall, it will get hotter everyday now from now on. But for old farts like me – I have to make sure I take care of those wrinkles as well – can’t got out there facing customers – without trying to look my best eh.
So it’s the Federal election tomorrow – and we were having lunch with some friends who asked us who we are going to vote for? First of – you have to be a Canadian citizen to vote for the Federal elections and yes – it is important to vote for someone – but what will the outcome be? Well, it’s politics and truth be told – everyone is for themselves. So are we going to waste time and vote? Oh by the way – it’s not a public holiday like it is back home – where it is declared as a public holiday and it’s compulsory to go vote.
So we finally re-potted a plant that we’ve had in the store for years now – thanks to our good friend Gary! he’s the best! As you all know I’m pretty particular about the feng shui of the store and having the plant re-potted makes me feel so good – it can only mean that the store will do better from now on. Hurray!
Ever since we had our last employee in September 2009 – we’ve decided not to hire anyone else nor waste time training anyone – we kinda gave up because we are just so tired. It’s so hard to find someone you can trust and reliable and someone who really will take care of your business. But a friend whom we know that we completely trust have finally said he will come help for a few days while we take a short break this year – makes me really happy. We completely trust this person and know that he will do everything to help our business – now if only he will do it more often than just a few days – that would be perfect.
We went down to a 2nd hand store to check out what the store had – and managed to salvage a dirty old looking cabinet – for like $75 – but the boss offered $40 – i would have offered only $35 – but since they delivered it – i guess $40 is also a good price. Glad to have more locked cabinets for the stuff at the store – that way – stuff don’t have to walk out on its own. Suxs when items get stolen from the store.
They say health care if great in Canada – and I’ll have to say that the less fortunate are usually the ones that gets coverage for all sorts of medications and disability insurance provided by the government here. But what if you own a business like us and is self employed – can we still get disability insurance? I know that for the longest time – when you are making some money and is self-employed – you don’t really get a rebate or assistance from the government – unlike the many customers that we see in our store that gets all sorts of free medication just because they don’t make enough money. But those who does make enough money and are paying taxes – should they be penalized and not get assistance? doesn’t make sense right that those who makes more money pay taxes have to pay for their own medication and any kind of extra treatment while those who don’t work – gets everything free. Well, don’t get me wrong – there are some who really needs it – and I’m all happy for them forgetting the disability insurance – but for someone who can go out and work – who refuses to make themselves worthy – now those are the ones who makes me angry that they are getting so much help. Yes! health care and disability insurance are great in Canada – but only for some “preferred” people.
