A Crazy But Gutsy Chinese In Canada

We are sending out 2008 with gratefulness and ushering 2009 with hopes.  EB games will be in town next year.. and like when Walmart and Staples arrived.. we thought that we might have to do different things with our store.  So with EB games.. i’m sure the first couple of months.. everyone will flock there.. and we will lose some customers.. but gain some.  We survived Walmart .. and Staples due to our loyal customers… due to our service.. and reasonable prices.

Unlike Walmart or Staples.. we cannot compete with their prices.. but when it comes to service.. no one in town can compete with ours.  You send you computer for repair.. we send it back to you within 24hrs.. lowest price for repair and reformatting.  Plus we offer the best prices for your used games.. and even better prices if you want store credit.  9yrs and 4 months in business.. i can say we’ve seen the good times.. and the bad ones.. and all we ask for is.. to make an honest living.

As you all must know by now.. we lost 1.5 day of work because a storm had hit us earlier this week.. that rendered us powerless.  Yes, when you are having winter with temperature below 10 degree celcius and without power, it can get really frightening.  18 hrs altogether.. but we are definitely blessed because customers turned friends .. Gerald and Adele .. had a warm house to offer us.. and they even fed us.

Yes of investment in this friendship paid off that day..  not that Gerald or Adele haven’t been the best to us.  In fact, amongst the friends we have had, you can always count on Gerald and his wife.. for just about anything.  From moving home to moving the store.. and like this bad storm.. a place to stay in.  If anything about owning this business.. that came out good.. if the steadfast friendship of Gerald and Adele.

Yes.. Gem of Life Episode 48, I’m gonna watch at the store.. because we are open on Boxing Day.. that is today..!!   We hope it will be busy.. that way .. it would be worthwhile opening.. since it is a Public Holiday.  Anyways, I’m watching the show now.. and if you want to download or watch it online, check out my entertainment blog.

When the big boys like Walmart and Staples came to town a few years ago, we really had a hard time trying to keep afloat.  Small businesses like ours cannot beat the prices of those big boys have to offer and if a customer can buy something for less than a few bucks, they go where they can save money on, and you really cannot blame them right? So yes, things were tough for us .. the first year they were in town… and with money not coming in and bills to be paid, we too wonder if our business can survive?

With not knowing what to do and how one can find help or advice to  avoid bankruptcy, we were quite stressed and totally lost.   If you are ever in such a situation where you have too much debt and you are looking for ways to solve your debt problems, a good site like ClearDebt has comprehensive information and advice for you.  With knowledge brings a clearer head and better planning for what to expect and what one can do.  Find out your other options, the advantages, the disadvantages and get all your questions answered online with absolutely no obligation and free.  No hassle, no embarrasment, doing it in the privacy of your home at a time convenient to you.

It’s unbelieveable how busy it is at the store for us. A lot more busier than we were last year… and the timing cannot come any better .. because our online job with a certain company didn’t come thru’ for us.  Sure we are still doing good with other advertising companies.. but this one whom we had great hopes for .. well.. lets just say.. we are disappointed lah..!

We just want to thank all our good customers for all your support and believing in us, you know who you are.. .and we wish you a blessed Christmas and happy holidays.  Stay safe everyone.

You know when you own a business, you kinda need to decorate your store according to the season . .and you can imagine, just how much we spent after being in business for 9 yrs.  Yes.. the man isn’t too concern about it.. but i am.  What about you ..?? But having a store is a disadvantage for the family and home.. because the store comes before anything.  So all the good decors goes to the store first.. and then the home later.  It can get quite stressful.. and i know of some ladies in our community .. they put on weight .. because of all the goodies around at this time of the year.. but they also use Decaslim, know to be the best in the market for being safe and the natural approach.

There are a lot of dishonest people everywhere but when you do own a business like we do, you probably get to see a lot more than any others . .just because.  We have many good customers of course.. and that’s the only reason .. why we are still in business.. but there are those whom we have recently come across.. that one don’t really know what to think of them.

They come in one day and sell stuff to you .. a week or two later.. comes and buys it back from you .. and that goes on . .for a few months.  Finally the other day.. a woman called to say that the things they had sold us ..  belong to her.. and the guys had not paid her for it yet.  A call to those “guys” .. actually was quite funny.  While one made it sound like they had never heard of us.. the other was so quick to jump into defence.. to say they didn’t steal anything from us..  and we never said anything about stealing.

So today .. one of the two came in with some headphones.. in a box and not even open .. and tried to pass it off as something he had gotten.. but he already had one.  So why did you buy it then..?? come on..!! we weren’t born yesterday you know.  And nope. .not gonna buy anything from them no more.. because obviously .. they shoplifted it from somewheres.

For someone who uses the spa very often because we know we have to take care of ourselves.. and pamper ourselves every  now and then, I  had consider owning my own spa or a beauty salon here..  providing facials, manicure and pedicures .. and other spa/beauty treatment.

But having no experience, I would have to look for a beauty school like the girlfriend of mine living in United States, beauty schools in kansas are listed with FindABeautySchool and it has the most comprehensive listing for all the beauty schools around United States.  Just do your search by zip code and you will get all the information of the potential schools you want to look into.  I certainly wished that they have a listing for Canada.. because I could use some useful information and a comparison.

We just had our outside sign for the store done up.. and had contacted someone to put it up for us.  Recommended highly by the landlord .. you can’t go wrong right..?? but nope.. they came in .. and said it would cost $80 or less.. and when we told them it was just a small sign.. they assured us that it’s probably less.  I know we all need to make a living… but charging us $100 for an hour’s work..??  that’s daylight ROBBERY..!!  $50 we can stomach.. but $100 to put out a sign.. that had already been up there already in the first place.. ??  they either think that we are stupid.. or they are desperate.  I will never recommend them to anyone.

A lot of our customers are going away for vacation right after Christmas.  A customer turn into friend.. is heading to Las Vegas with the whole family just after the New Year .. and boy ..!! are we envious. Hotel in las vegas are awesome.. and i know it is cold there.. but not as cold as it is here in Canada.  And I told him not to miss those shows at Ceasar’s Palace as well.  Everyone whom we have spoken to, said we deserve one too.. and boy .. do we know..!! but how to leave your store.. when you haven’t got anyone to entrust it to. Afterall, the man is the only one who does computer work.. and since computer are our major thing.. there is just no way.. to up and leave.  *sigh* .. why do i have to be with a businessman..??

I’m done watching Gem of Life Episode 33 and waiting for Gem of Life Episode 44, sometimes they do come out in the middle of the night here.. or even the weekend.  So don’t forget to check back at my entertainment blog for the latest while i check out some horse supplements.  Winter is definitely here.. and although they don’t get any sunshine, I still have to make sure their coats are healthy eh.

Only 8 days to Christmas.. so i thought i should post this up to our friends and customers of our store.  We had been busier than we were last year.  But of course, it’s because we are in a smaller store.. with a lot more goods to sell.  Today there were more ppl trying to sell things.. and the morning was a lot of buying.. so it balances out. So Merry Christmas from the boss to everyone..!!  i’m just owner by association . .so i don’t need to be nice.. muahahhahahahahahaha!!!!

Gem Of Life Episode 40 Up For Watching !  Head over to my entertainment blog.

It is always such a joy to see these kids who grew with our store.. coming in to shop and saying hi.  These kids had been coming to our store.. for many years now.. and you cannot believe how much they have grown.. each time we see them. It delights me.. to see how so many of these kids actually turn out to be really good and sensible kids.   They are well behaved… and absolutely polite.. and of course they have an adult with them.. everytime they are in our store.  My kinda young customers.

They are awfully friendly and accommodating too.  And yes.. !! i told their father not to sue me $40K .. if he saw their pictures on my blog.  You must be scratching your head.. but nevermind.. that will be another story for another day.

I thought i was gonna send you good news.. with Gem of Life Episode 40 .. but here sitting at the store.. I still can’t see any come online .. what a bummer.  Oh well..!! i’ll check again. .and make sure i have it post up on my entertainment blog .. once i find it.  Check back later.. while i close up the store.. it’s about 4pm already.

Like i said .. good thing we own our own store.. else i won’t be able to watch Gem of Life Episode 39 now.  What an odd day to have it on eh.  Anyhow, i know you are dying to watch too, so hop over to my entertainment blog for it… for most people don’t have to work on Saturdays .. like we do.

Today, we were really busy at the store.. Christmas rush.. and welfare day as well.  So yes.. folks were coming in constantly.. and lots of computer for repairs today too.  Boy..!! we were so busy.. the man didn’t even get to eat.  He sure don’t need no alli this month.  But guess what..??  a $20 speakers were stolen from our store this evening.. while we were busy.  It was at the end of the day.. when we realised that it was missing.   Why are ppl so dishonest..?? it’s just some crappy speakers.. that PB bought from some guys..outta good will.. and i suspect it was the guy who sold it to us a few days ago.. who came in to steal it.  What an awesome town eh..??

Gem Of Life Episode 37 is ready to watch.. i’m watching..at work.. and waiting for the man to bring back my lunch for me..   woohoo..!!!  have fun and enjoy eh.

2 months ago, a new tenant moved into our old store.  If you recall, we moved outta our old store.. because of how cold it gets .. in the winter.. because of the two huge display windows.. at the old store.. that wasn’t double paned.  We could literally feel cold air coming in.. and i’m not even talking about draft.. cold wind.. coming thru’ those display windows.  As our cashier counter was next to the display windows.. we needed a small heater on all the time.. on top of having to crank up the heat in that store.. and still the store wouldn’t warm up.

Well.. my wonderful landlord offered not only lower rent to the new tenant.. but changed the display windows.. as well.. as repainted the walls.. and also changed the carpets.  What an awesome landlord..!!! Yes.. royally pissed..?? yup. for sure..!!  Now why would he do that to us right..??  Maybe he thinks we are not doing that well.. to continue..?? oh well.. ! nevermind.. we are doing so much better in this new location..!! i like it here better..  :)  donch feel so spooky.. like our last place.  Feng Shui just not good enough.  Here feng shui is fantastic.