I have made the decision to close my store at the end of the lease in August. Business has been very bad since Sept. and now with the country is heading into what I predict will be a long and deep recession, the wisest business decision is to close. I am hoping to break even at the end.
Several other small business owners in our village have been making statements that they will need to close if business does not improve in the next few months. Some of the small retailers have seen a marked decrease in sales for a few years and hoped to hang in there until the economy turns around. Good luck with that.
I think it is not only the economy but the mindset of the consumer that has caused a decline in small retailer's sales. They, our community friends, neighbors, and leaders do not shop locally. They prefer the easy shopping of the mall, huge grocery store, and the big box retailers. Most everyone is embracing "going green" but not "shop local". Which, if people did shop locally, many gallons of gas would be un-used, and all the stuff that goes along with less emissions etc. would help the "going green" part of their lives. But that sensibility has not occurred to the masses yet.
Our village and town leaders do not help promote the shopping district either.They hinder our advertising abilities with edicts of how the village must retain it's historic look and not allow signs, awnings, flags, sidewalk sales, that retailers could use to help identify a store.
I knew all of this when I opened, but was optimistic. Oh well,this experience has been fun, I met many new people, enjoyed the company of the kids that felt comfortable to come in my store to chat, and talked with a few "characters", (only one was scary thankfully). The business end of this was informative and I can use the knowledge to help with what every my next project will be.
G Man and I are at odds over my future. He would like me to earn money. I would like to go back to school. We want to travel some and enjoy the cottage. Going back to work in the outside world will be difficult. I am semi-skilled and lacking a college degree. Severely lacking a college degree, like only attending one semester 30 years ago lacking. The kind of lacking that would make me scoff at a potential candidate for a job.
AND....if working is the decision made, what type of job do I want? HHHHmmmmm.... books, genealogy, research, drinking coffee, photography, 2 minute relationships with most people is all I can take, animal lover. These are my interests and hurdles, ok one hurdle the 2 minute relationship thing. (Most people drive me crazy after 2 minutes).
After looking at the list of interests perhaps I could be a tour guide at a museum, work in a book store or a coffee shop. Maybe I could be a security guard at the museum. Telling people what they can and can not do will allow me to use the skills developed as a mom and wife, plus I watch all the CSI, cop and forensic shows. So I have TV knowledge on how to catch bad guys. And I am a tattle tale since kindergarten, very skilled at telling on people.
Time is on my side now. I have enough of it to think and decide. Suggestions from my blogger friends are welcome.
Instant Pot Christmas Roast
8 years ago
8 comments:
If you went to college what would you take?
Sometimes the time it takes to get the degree pays off in the end.
You could become a CSI like on TV!
Oh wait, if you were a CSI like on TV, you would have to go to all the crime scenes in killer shoes with lowcut blouses to show off your cleavage...
doad: something to do with research. I can spend hours upon hours in a library researching
SD: I could do that!!! I have the shoes, although not as pretty as the Choo's GKL just bought, but I do have some. The cleaveage is helped by my friend Victoria Secret.
I shop over the internet, I guess that's as green as you can get. Does your shop have an internet site?
Maybe you should be a mobile dog washer for the area up by your cottage?!
Oh, but don't wear nice shoes when washing mutts. ;)
I found a great job by temping and trying out a whole bunch of bad ones. You don't sound like the office type, tho.
I'm sorry about the business closing, Cheer. The upside for us is that maybe we will get to read more posts from you, though.
Piggy back to GKL's idea - didn't we establish last spring that your area was lacking in professional poop scoopers? The season is just, uh, warming up. Or should I say softening up?
Just kidding. As you know, I'm pondering similar issues. Pondering v-e-r-y c-a-r-e-f-u-l-l-y. I'll probably ponder by the pool here pretty soon. Like G man, Mr. Ex thinks I should make some money, too. But I need to ponder some more, me thinks.
Another thing we have in common - many people annoy me after about two minutes, too.
My husband is seeing many of the businesses on his route drop like flies, as is a mailman friend in AZ. It seems like this is just the tip of the iceberg, recession wise.
Having been my own boss a few times, I know how hard it is to go back to working for someone else.
This might be a good time to go back to school.
Post a Comment