No ! we are not getting into the pawn license silly but we are watching the show religiously  not only because it’s fun to see what people sell and what they are worth but because we get to learn a thing or two from these guys on how they do business.  And from them we learned to tell people – ” it’s not because we don’t trust you – we just don’t trust anyone”  and that should be the way to go when it comes to doing business.  But unfortunately, the boss is sometimes too lenient – and still goes out of the way to help people.  As for me – I’ve learned my lesson and never to trust anyone.  2 regulars that I had trusted and told the boss too – didn’t come back and pay us – one was like 10 years ago and the other was like 2 yrs ago.  Yes! Losers!  so whenever I trust anyone – around this town – I always get slapped for trusting them – so I trust no one in this town no more.

For the last one year – the entire town has been in debate  – some more actively than  others and some care more than others – some couldn’t care less but some pretend to care for their own gain.  *shrug* but I can’t really blame them can I?  Most people would say – to each his own – we take care of our own first.  Is that your assumption too?  Is that your stand too?

I think the boss must think I’m mad sometimes – for being so passionate about what’s going on in this town – after all – truthfully I’m really not from here.  So why you asked am I sometimes so pissed off?  especially when we are doing a lot better than when we had the ferry and tourists.   Some may think that I’m crazy and spending too much time in trying to make things better but I’m thinking not for myself only but for the rest of the people in town and the kids and the future of this town.  What has this town gotta offer the younger generation?

Christmas is tomorrow – and as I reflect on the many hours I spend reading up the forum and FB pages – I think next year – I’m going to give it a rest and concentrate on what matters most first.  My kid and the store – and the rest is going to have to wait till I’m free.  So for now – debate or not – the above cartoon tells you how I feel about the situation in this town but not at our business or life.  We are doing pretty well – despite everything.  I think the town had ignore the signs for far too long – so this is where we ended up.

ikoni

I don’t know about other working moms – but I know how hard it is for me to help out at the store – do my own work yet gotta go home and cook and clean the house.  Some people I know don’t really care what they feed their kids nor if their home is clean but I on the other hand being brought up different – is quite OCD about cleanliness.   When in Asia – it’s easy to hire a maid from Philippines to help you clean and cook while you are out working but in the West – they don’t practice having a maid.  I wished we had residential maid service durham nc here – so that I can get some help with cleaning my home – that way I don’t have to do it on the weekends when I actually want to spend time with my kid and spouse.  Plus truth be told, I don’t really think I clean so well either  – so I do envy those who can get maid service at a reasonable price and who does a great job.

I’ve tried hiring people to clean my house – but they either don’t clean well – or need specific instructions to what I need them to clean.  I don’t have good luck with part time cleaners because they are not trained – and they don’t even come with their own cleaning products.  Why I won’t hire a non-professional anymore is because the last one I hired used one cloth to clean just about everywhere in the house, from the kitchen to my dining table and the other rooms of the house.  And no that cannot be hygienic, so I won’t hire anyone who don’t have a reference have is qualified to clean my home.  When you pay someone to clean your home, you want to make sure they really clean it – and not leave halfway.

Movies have been picking up steadily ever since Movie Gallery closed shop – but to say that we are making thousands every week on movie rentals alone – then you are wrong.  For those who wants to open their own movie rental store now – should re-consider for we too found out that a lot of people are downloading their movies and steadily becoming a pirate.  So rental may be steady – but to say that we are making lots of money – then you might be in for a shock.  For being in rentals for 11 years – we still have people come in and tell us that they didn’t know we rent movies – muahahah!!!

So we broke down and bought 2 infrared heater at the store – just to see if it would help with the oil bill since oil has gone up again.  But after using it for a few days now – it doesn’t seems to work as good as we would like it too.  The store is still pretty cold after turning it on for a few hours – and it’s still running to bring the temperature up in the store.  But having said that we have quite a long store – so that might be why it’s not heating up as well.  Perhaps, it’s only me – we shall see – in a few more days.

]]> http://www.babybokchoi.com/2011/12/05/infrared-heater-store/feed/ 0 http://www.babybokchoi.com/2011/12/01/new-opportunities-new-business/ http://www.babybokchoi.com/2011/12/01/new-opportunities-new-business/#comments Thu, 01 Dec 2011 03:30:02 +0000 bochupU http://www.babybokchoi.com/?p=5119

While we won’t have the ferry back next year in town – another store has opened in town and their US office had just called today to ask if we would like to do some work for them.  Now that’s really good news because we had wanted to do something like that with the other existing company in town – but they had been such slackers and never took our offer.

I’m just glad that we had the foresight to do anything that will make money in this town – had we stuck ourselves to do only one thing – we wouldn’t have survived for 12 years.   I’m happy that we are beginning to see a lot of new customers coming in and realizing that we do so many things.   But like usual – people still feel that we should be able to match the big chain store and even when we explained to them – they still go to the big chain stores for certain stuff.  But I cannot complain much – despite all the things that is happening in this town – we are still holding up pretty well.

Yes! the xmas parade was this evening and for the first time being in Canada – the weather was great – not too cold nor too warm  – just nice for a Christmas parade.  The boss came out to watch the parade with us till customers starting going into the store.  Unfortunately, the parade is still nothing like the ones we have at home – but at least I get to see them first hand and not on tv eh.  So I count my blessings – you can`t have it all.

About a week ago, a business associate from 2 doors away – invited us for a presentation – by our landlord – for a big announcement with regards to the revitalization of the town.  The business associate asked us to be present if possible to show our support for the landlord but little did we know that the landlord`s agenda wasn`t exactly what we thought he was going to present.  In fact, it had little to do with doing good for the small business owners but for one particular group.  I was very pissed to hear what he had to say – when he announced that this was what the rest of the business owners wanted – to bring a certain tax back for the small business owners.  WTH!!  who in the right frame of mind would want more taxes? and even though he is our landlord – he definitely doesn’t speak for us.  What gives him the right to manipulate all of us – into making time to go listen to his ridiculous suggestions?   And whoever originally invited us thru’ this business associate who was also blind-sided – definitely is cunning to the max !   The nerve of this fellas!!!  who do they think they are!  GOD! or the MAFIA!

We want to carry the Wacom Bamboo Capture at our store but before we do – we have to try out the gadget first and see how we can sell it right?  so yes! we went ahead and bought the Bamboo Capture and will be carrying them at our store.  There are lots of great artists in town apparently – or college student using it in this town.