An Intriguing Tale Of Being An Owner

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.

Spring is almost here and the last few days – the sun had been shining from the back of the store and it’s time for our landlord to get some  custom plantation shutters for us. The glass panes behind the store are rather huge – so the normal shutters isn’t going to work so well for us.   I figured with us renting from him for closed to 5 yrs now – he would give us some new shutters eh.  So lets see if we can negotiate some outta him after all, I rather pay a little bit more for the good stuff than to buy something on the shelves since we are going to be in this location for a long time.

I am really happy to see the sun come out but the back of the store is where the kid spends her time there and the tv as well as the couch becomes way too hot for her to sit and watch tv or do her homework during Spring and summer.  So if the landlord doesn’t want to give us some custom shutters, I am going to get them myself – shouldn’t make the kid suffer because the landlord might be cheap eh.

Teenagers and young adults love coogi clothing and I fully understand it – it’s the “in” thing in this town  – but unless you are working in a casual environment or a sport store, shoes store – then you probably should leave those clothing and shoes when you are going out for the night with the girlfriend or boy’s night out.   If you were working at our store – for sure coogi clothing would be a great match – because we are on a casual environment type -  we ourselves wear jeans and sneakers to work – so we won’t expect our employees to be putting on a tie and suit to work.  But if you are working for a law firm or an accounting  firm – then probably  not.  So yes – you want to be dressing appropriately for work – and if you are not sure – ask ! and I’m sure someone will let you know.  Good luck all!

I have to say that we have a darn good repertoire with our customers – so much so, that we’ve come to know them personally, their children, their parents and friends as well.  Yes – we are that good, we talk about anything under the sun – from having babies to beauty products to eye check ups, food reviews and even going to the gynecologist for thrush treatments.  Yes! you get the idea – we do compare – talk and learn from each other – we do pride ourselves for being so good with people and most customers actually turned into friends.   And I like the fact that there is nothing we can’t talk about – even personal stuff, it’s great to have customers like that eh.  I really love what we do at our store, many are such good people.

So we had a bit of more snow than we liked – but it is afterall February – and anyone who’ve lived in this town for this many years – would know that we will be getting one sooner or later.  Lets just hope that this will be the last one for this winter – but you never know.

Our store was still opened albeit the fact that we were only opened at 12 – 5pm – and even then – people said we were crazy – ahhahaha!!  We shoveled almost the entire day – but it was alright – we still got our morning coffee and managed to get lunch from Jessy’s.  We’ve had worst – and at least we didn’t lose power this time.

Many teenagers of our town – actually grew up with our store.  In business for 12 years this August – we’ve seen many young boys – turned into fine young man – we can no longer call them boys anymore – for they have all grown up.  One particular customer – is turning 18 this week – and he is a very special boy to us – you see – when we first met him – he was only 6  – 7 yrs old and when he was 10 yrs old – he told his mom, he wanted to work in a store like ours – so cute right?  Anyhow, we are searching for an 18th birthday gift for boy to find a gift appropriate for him – after all he is in college now and coming home during March break.  Not easy buying for an 18 yrs old boy eh?   But i did get some ideas from a site online – what do you think? A gadget car charger for his “new” car – that his parents are gonna surprised him with.  We are pretty cool shop owners eh?  but yes! i think we might just get this – I bet all 18 yrs old would love this.

The YMCA is just right across our store – and this year – i intend to lose some weight instead of just sitting around all day.  And no excuse for not having time – because the spouse and I should seriously take an hour lunch each every day – to do whatever we want.  So I’m choosing to skip lunch and head for the YMCA and do some swimming or aerobics since we are members of the YMCA.  Plus I know they also have  weight loss supplements that they recommend which are also safe – I have to check with my family doctor first though to see what she has to say about it – so it doesn’t have any conflict with the medication i am taking for diabetes and high cholesterol.  Losing weight shouldn’t be this hard – if I can only motivate myself to go to the Y – maybe i should find a friend from the store and get her to kick my butt if i start to slack off.

So more snow came down today – and we could go sledding if we chose too – but of course shoveling was in store for us at the store.  Did you know that we have to shovel our own building when the snow falls?  the town don’t take care of it – so everytime we have snow coming down last night – i wished the spouse could send me to work earlier – so that I can shovel earlier – instead of 11am when we open our store.  This has gotta be the best fat burning exercises during the winter – don’t you think?  I read somewhere that 30 mins of shoveling – you lose like 150 calories or is it 250 – well – no matter how many – it is definitely good exercise i find.

On the same note – about exercises during Winter – last year – I had bought a Wii Fit – to do step aerobics with – so i have no excuses to not keep fit.  So I better get moving – and doing something for the festive season was over about a month ago.   Burn the Fat!!  Burn The Fat !!  I taught my kid to chant this every morning when we wake up to remind me to do my exercises.  What about  you ?  how do you burn fats and keep fit?

Although most people wouldn’t agree with me – i find that thus far – we’ve had a very mild winter as compared to previous years or is it me being a lot more Canadianized.  Come March this year – it would really be my 12 years in Canada – and during this time – I know that I’ve been disappointed with some of the customers here and a lot of the employees that we’ve had.  I’ve met many good friends here – and have kept them for a long time.  Unfortunately, for the spouse – I find that most of his long time friend isn’t that good a friend – in fact, most of my good friends – eventually becomes his friend too – because he knows how much i appreciate them.

Owning a business in Canada – isn’t as easy as some people may think – about 3.5 yrs ago – the store wasn’t doing as well as we had wanted to.  The spouse made some bad decisions on things and of course – we lost a lot of inventory due to the fact that we rent new games and movies out.  The day he decided not to buy new games anymore – was the day – the business turned around.  We don’t make millions of dollars but you can say that we don’t owe anyone any money  – we are also comfortable with having the store and not worry about the next bill from the supplier or power bill or rent – because we have been doing quite well for ourselves.

So maybe i find that the winter is mild – because there is no need to stress about a lot of things no more – no employees to raise my blood pressure, no bullshit – no trying to do right by time – no trying to reschedule around them.  No worries about stupid lies from employees – our attitude these days is – don’t know don’t care.   We just look after our family, kid, store and ourselves – the hell with the rest.

I wished we had some kind of contract with our local hospital here – because it certainly looks like they are spending a lot of money not only on equipments but stuff like  exam tables , office chairs and computers every now and then.  I know so – because they throw out completely perfect furniture and computer monitors all the time.  A friend who works in the local hospital told us that he had gotten a doctor’s chair when it was in the trash at the hospital – and according to him you can get all sorts of things from the lounge as well. I bet – I probably can get one of those old blood pressure machine from my doctor – if it was the right timing eh.