An Intriguing Tale Of Being An Owner

If you are thinking of flying to Halifax from this town – then you are out of luck because the airline that pulled itself out because they used the federal funding meant to last for 5 yrs within 2 years.  Yes, there is an audit but when will the audit come to an end or will anything yield from it – i don’t know. Apparently, everything is still up in the air and although there had been mails sent out to previous passengers – we have yet to know if it is going to do anything good.

It was a lot of money invested into this airline link – the people of this town who brought them in – might as well have invested in shares with Amazon books as far as i am concern.  Afterall, Amazon books proved to be a lot more lucrative and everyone is using it – and it’s still in business.   How much more will it take to make the people of this town who runs this place and who holds the money come up with wiser decision?  Like i said – the next time they ask me for my opinion – my best bet is to invest in something feasible – like the online bookstore – everyone needs it – everyone buys from it.  What i meant was to be able to bring in something that everyone needs – and won’t cost them an arm or a leg  just to use them.  Cater to the needs of its people!!!  how hard is it to understand – to stay in business – you have to have a transport that everyone can use!

I’ve time and again told you that this town is extremely funny !  you see they even have bylaws for signs – that means you need to get permission to put up a sign and no flashing signs too.  Yes – apparently – flashing signs can cause accidents?  Mannn!! this people haven’t been to Las Vegas or Japan eh – muahahah!!  anyhow – we were out looking for door chime from the local hardware store when we heard a conversation between 2 customers that the sign bylaws were gonna be changed but there is going to be a big debate about it.

The town planner fears that with this new bylaws or freedom for putting up signs without getting a permit could lead to more cost – because they might be asked to remove it. *sigh* – how ridiculous right?  businesses need a permit to put up signs!  how is a business gonna thrive if they need a red tape on everything they are doing?  Makes no sense to me !  is the concern of the town planner a real concern?  I really can’t tell – but this town sure looks pretty dull in my humble opinion – even India has some awesome signs in the city. So more debate i heard soon – we didn’t continue listening as we needed our door chime and head back to work.

I’ve known Josh Purdy for a long, long time – not only is he a good customer – he is one of the most honest person i’ve met.  Josh is a straightforward and easy going person who works at the Youth Center – yes ! i’ve known this a long time ago.  So today – while i was reading up about wrinkleremovers i saw on local news online that Josh had applied for a Pepsi Grant of $100K – well – it’s really a contest – but the $100K isn’t going to himself.  So if you are from this town or even if you are not but a reader of this blog – please help Josh make a difference by going here to vote  http://www.refresheverything.ca/yarmouthyouthcentre – i hope Josh wins – why?  because this town deserves something good.

Purdy is the executive director of Split Rock Learning Centre, located in the DomTex building on Water Street. He says up to 300 youth drop in monthly with a wide variety of issues: homelessness, addiction, looking for work and more.

“We try to help them focus their energy, sit down and talk with them, try to get them help through our many partnerships with other organizations like the Tri-County Pregnancy Centre, Mental Health department and others,” said Purdy.

“We also try to get them engaged in the community. A lot of them have been in trouble with the law or are in danger of being in trouble. We get them involved in community cleanups, peer mentoring and other activities. – source – novanewsnow.com

Everyday I get calls for the boss – when he is not in the store – everyday I get asked the same questions.  When will he be back? where has he gone? Will he be back today?  How long will he be gone? Some even asked me for his cell phone number so that they can call him directly.  hahahaha!!  So like usual – i was in the store – the boss had to run some errands – do work for a customer – you know the paying type – that keeps the store going – hahah!!  and i was reading on  lipovox side effects and minding my own business and another call came in – looking for the boss!  what a surprise eh?  Sometimes, I really don’t know what to tell them – because honestly – even if you call me every half hour – i still won’t know when he is gonna be back – he will be back .. when he gets back – folks.  Don’t mean to be rude – but he doesn’t report to me.

Has it really been a year already – since we re-joined CFIB?   Yes – it sure has – said the boss – and the year had treated us good in our business and therefore – when Tom came by this morning – we re – signed again for another year for membership with CFIB.  Said to be powered by entrepreneurs – like the boss – how can we not support them right?  Plus Tom is a good fella and very on the ball – and response immediately – when we have any questions or needed any clarification.   So even if i had to give up a little on the Lipofuze we still will continue to support Tom – oops !  i meant CFIB -  why?  it’s the people skill  – the genuine concern of Tom that really caught our attention.

You see – we weren’t always doing so well – some 3 years ago – and we had to stop supporting CFIB for a year or two – i can’t remember now.  But Tom had always been steadfast – checking in all the time and giving a word of encouragement here and there – and never brushing us off – i appreciate that.  So yes! another year – another good year – we can all hope for eh.

While i was reading about a diet supplement a local resident pointed out on a local Facebook page about what Percy Paris – the Minister of Economic Development had said in his recent interview on one of our local papers.  Apparently, with or without the transport report that they were all supposedly to be waiting for – wouldn’t make a difference.  If that was the case, why did they waste the tax payer’s money by hiring a professional survey company to do the study?  It sure doesn’t make any sense how these people are trying to run this province.  So in other words – they are saying – if i wanna screw up the town – i can screw you up regardless?

The interview continued to say that it wasn’t an overnight decision and if that was the case – was the locals here being brought in at all – to review the decision or to be given a chance to make a presentation and state our case?  It is really sad – and i cannot imagine – staying here and being toy with -  your entire future!  your entire business !  these people donch care about us here in Y-Town do they?

Happy Canada’s Day, everyone!  And yes! we are open for business from 12pm – 6pm – yes yes! the boss is a slave driver.   It was kinda busy at the store – i didn’t even get to look up the 5th wheel insurance that i wanted to because when you have a kid with you – you have to think of her first.

Not many stores were opened on Main Street – even the Chinese restaurant was closed – darn!  no food!  but Tim Hortons was opened but i didn’t get to go out at all because it was busy at the store.  What was in store at the waterfront – free hotdogs and some face painting and lots of music – in the hot sun with no canopy or shelter if it rains – so kinda pointless.  But if we were in the city – they were having fireworks today.  Here in this small town – nope we don’t even have a parade – till Seafest which is much later in the month.   The weather is definitely good today and definitely good for some fireworks but usually this town chooses the foggiest night for that.

Anyhow, we are closed now – back home – woohoo!!  when the kid learned that her daddy didn’t need to go back to the store after he sent us home – she was all excited and said – YAYYYYYY!!  the JOYS of owning your own business.

So i’ve been in Canada for 10 yrs now and with the by election a few days ago, I thought i would do my part as a Permanent Resident and go vote.  Now when i got my Permanent Residency many years ago, i was told i cannot vote for provincial only but i had a rude surprised.  I was told rudely by a big woman who was manning the poll that i am not a Canadian..!!!! mannnn!!  i mean it’s ok.. if i cannot vote but to tell me off so rudely – mannnn..!!  so i said that’s ok..  and took my  tiger direct coupons and went shopping instead.  What i found really strange was – i could vote for the town councils and for the Premier but i can’t vote for MLAs???  darn weird !!!

So my customers asked me if i was going to be a Canadian citizen anytime soon..??  Well, truth be told, i would rather keep my Singapore citizenship because it’s a lot safer to keep it this way – at the rate things are going – i better have a back up plan and that is to keep my citizenship.

Register.com is currently the only place in town that pays a lot of money – well – more than most businesses in this town to the people who work for them. I don’t know which online printing services they used – but I had seen one of their brochures not too long ago advertising their services.

Register.com’s head office is in New York and had opened an call center in this town – for many years.  At first, the people that they had hired were really well qualified ones but these days – just about anyone can be hired on – some who even cannot get their spelling correct nor can write good english.  But looks like they are now bought out by Web.com and the Canadian operation will be maintained.  Is it really good news for the people of this town?  I don’t really know yet – i hope it is and i hope they stay – coz’ this town cannot take another blow.

I was checking out  eczematreatment.org when a customer walked in and told us that some business was going bankrupt and having a liquidation sale.  Yes ! another business in this small lil’ town is closing !  who?  a competition.  Many had come in and said – ohhh! it must be good for your business !  but what they don’t understand is – how it will impact the economy of this town.

I’m sure they don’t mean anything bad – but you can also see they don’t look at the big picture.  As a resident of this town and a small business owner – having competition/s is healthy – because it keeps the prices competitive for the consumers.   It is also important to have lot of various businesses in this town for this town to flourish – it’s not all about one or two business – it’s about everyone.  Now that one business is closed – that means more unemployed and more who needs to be careful with spending – so if they have no jobs – meaning they are going to spend less and the tax payer will be tax even more.  Vicious cycle eh.

As I sit and enjoy my patio furniture cushions that we had just bought – I took a look at some of the recent elected candidates for MLA for this town.  One was the ex-mayor of this town for the last 20 yrs  – someone whom I’ve walked by now and then on the streets but never once said hello to me – not that i’m a small woman either – that he could have missed me.  Most likely thinks i’m just poor immigrant from China – muahahhaa!

Then we have  few others that I have never met or seen in my entire 10 yrs here – and then we have the above  – the youngest – and most promising one – only 26 years old.   I saw a video clip on his nomination speech this afternoon – and yes – he was full of zest, aspiration, hope, promises – boldness and personally, i do want to believe him but his speech was so overwhelming for me – why?  In the last few years – I’ve heard a lot similar pitches and in the last few years – I’ve been truly disappointed by our “leaders”

We are not into politics, we are business people as I had sat down and written to one of the candidates on his website, I had asked him the reason/s why I and my household of 5 should vote for him?  I’ve yet to hear back from him and it had been more than 24 hrs and the general consensus after speaking with several customer was – does it matters?  Does it matter who gets voted in?  Does it?

Is this depressing or what?  this week – we’ve heard 3 small businesses closing its door – due to different reasons.  I  buy diet pills online and was minding my own business at the store when someone from the cafe came in and talked amongst themselves that they didn’t even know that they didn’t have a job anymore.  They went to work and the restaurant weren’t opened.  This is shocking to me – I remember this place so well because when i was pregnant with my only child – this restaurant and its quiche was the only thing that kept me and the kid alive.It is very sad – even though it doesn’t affect us directly but to see one after another leave or closed is just too much for the week for me.   Are there anymore depressing news next?  and what is the town doing for people like these restaurants?

So i was looking at my term life insurance when a customer/friend walked in to collect her notebook – she had left for the spouse to fix.   Then the big news came – that she and her entire family is moving out of Canada.  Of course, I’m happy for her – but that would mean that my hope of another expat in town sharing the same ideal of making it home here is just  not feasible to make good in this town.

So yes, yesterday was there last day of operation and they will be leaving town as soon as their kid is outta school.  I am very happy for them but it certainly left mixed feelings in me.  I want what is best for my kids too – but what has this town gotta offer?   What future has my kid got here in another 10 yrs?   Is she gonna be able to meet decent people and build a life here?   I have so many questions right now – running around my head.  I woke up feel rather depress to be honest – what has this town got for our future?

So a buddy sent a email informing me that a restaurant that we had been planning on going to has closed shop – due to political reasons.  I went like huh? what do you mean..??  Well, in fact the reason was because they were unable to obtain a liquor license and the taxes were too high for them to make it without one.  Now that made more sense to me now.

Now for the life of me – i cannot understand this town – why wouldn’t they give them a liqor license – this is like a family restaurant – owned by people who are trying to make a living.  Would this town rather they go on welfare – ???? mannnn!!!  i can’t get over how stupid this town can get at times – and i seriously think the owners should fight for it – it just makes me mad – that the town or whoever who holds the license – doesn’t have some common sense here.  I don’t know the full story – but i can see that the people enjoyed the food there – and i’m sure these good people must have put in lots of money and time to take over this business – it is just beyond me – why they cannot get a license for liquor – i was so infuriated i couldn’t sleep but to get  over the counter sleeping pill because this is not the first time – the town is making it hard for honest ppl to try and make it in life – they rather people be bums.

So we received an email from Telus regarding our credit card machine that we had to comply and pay $700 a year to ensure that our customer’s credit card transaction will be saved.  And if we refused to comply – we may get fined or even have our credit card services canceled.  So it’s like telling us that we need to buy diet pills for men even though our husbands don’t need it?

I can understand if we are like the big boys in town – like Walmart or Staples ringing in like millions of dollars every month – but ours is a small business – so if you want $700 on top of the transaction fees that you are already charging us – what else will you come up with next?  Taxes are going up – so are our rent – and water and sewage – what else is next?  no one can make a living here can we?   So was that email a scam or for real?  I will let you know once i find out.

Source :  The Vanguard

During Dexter’s campaign to become the next premier on the last election – he had promised if i remember correctly that he wasn’t going to raise taxes.  But guess what – like any politician – he lied.  Here we have the NDP government’s budget for the provincial – putting up the HST back up to 15% !!  At 15% – this makes Nova Scotia the highest harmonized sales tax in the country.   So here i am waking up in the morning – happily ever after – reading up on  acnepril when we got a notice from our landlord that due to the changes come 1st July 2010 – our rent for the store will changed because of it.  In my last few posts – i had written to say that our commercial tax rate is up – now the HST is also up – what else is next. I can only began to fear – with no ferry – and all sorts of scandals with local leaders here – I don’t even want to start – i really feel bad for a lot of people.

Sometimes – I don’t know to laugh or to keep quiet with certain customers.  Like i said – majority of our customers are the greatest of the great – even those that had been mean to us – comes back and become our loyal customers – because they know that we are the cheapest in town and know what product we are selling at our store.  Whether it is a computer parts or a magic card – but once in a blue moon – you get some very, very funny customer/s.  Today, while i was going thru’ some life insurance quote – i saw the boss – talking to a group of guys.  And one of them offered the boss – $120 for a PS3 machine – that for new goes for $399 because it had a bigger hard drive – or something to that effect.

Anyhow, when the boss said – no  – he can’t take that offer politely – fella claimed he can go online – to Kijiji right now and get one similar to ours for $120.  You see – normally – i try not to get involved but this customer – well, lets just say – even if he had $250 for the machine – i rather not do business with him.  So i turned around and told him – good for him and good luck to him.  He was shocked of course – coz’ normally – i don’t wanna say a lot to these people.  And then he turned and told the boss – if he changes his mind – let him know – in which i replied very loudly – ” FOR SURE!! YOU WILL BE THE FIRST TO KNOW!!”  i feel bad for Dear kijiji been used for all sorts of excuse – even to cut a deal.  Oh mannnn..!!

So the town met – and by the town – i mean the people who makes the decision for the town – and determined how much they wanna tax us.  The commercial rate increases this year – and even though the occupancy tax is said to be eliminated – you and i know that our landlord whose commercial rate is gonna go up this year – will also in turn raise our rent to get back the extras they are asked to pay up.

How can we not expect it – when even the sewage rate is going up by up by 25% and we don’t pay for sewage at the store – so you really think the landlords are gonna pay for it?  come on..!!!!  they get taxed..and they tax us !  easy calculation.  Our lease is coming up this month.. and i can only imagine  what is going on in the minds of all landlords of this town afterall, they won’t even give us our own  personalized basketballs when we asked for one – they were giving away during seafest.  Will update – once i see the lease.

So we closed the store for the first time – to head up to the city – because I had an eye doctor appointment and to look for  stainless steel drums.  I feel better closing up then to get in a part time employee to help for the day – because then you know that you don’t have to worry about anything. You have to make sure that the person you hire will not need  Cocaine Rehab, or have some other personal problems. After all when you have a good security system it is better to not chance it!
The store is secured with a new security company and we had put in more sensors even in the basement and on the windows in front and at the back of the store.

Of couse, I’m sure the spouse wasn’t really, really too keen on closing the store – but when you can’t find the right help – what can you do eh?  and the person we wanna hire – well, he just ain’t barging at all – hahah!!  you know who you are bugger     Anyhow – if i had it my way – i would stay another day – but this summer – with good rates from help from a customer – who works for Westin – we are staying longer – for sure.

Crime fighters we are not but we just want to do the right thing and hope that by doing so – one day – someone would stand up for us too.  It is hard to make an honest living when someone keeps breaking into ppl’s car or houses in broad daylight – so when a report comes in like that – we keep a look out for the things that were taken and we try our very best – to get any info we can to the owners or cops.

A few days ago, a stolen item came in – and even though we tried to get the name of the person – the person didn’t fall for our bait.  But we took a video footage of the person – and was able to give it to the cops and the owner of the said item – they tracked him down and yesterday we were asked to give a statement.  Of course, this would mean that we might have to go to court to identify the person – and waste a day’s of work – but doing the right thing is important to us – because we have to make sure that crime does not pay for those crooks – what say you?

Lipovox