So, we just found out this week that our gas had never been turned off by the former tenant and apparently they just realized it. Everything we cook with is electric, so we weren't planning on worrying with it until winter because the only thing gas is used for is to heat the building. Well, it's winter (close enough), and it never even crossed our minds until the "gas man" turned up, letting us know that we needed to call and set up our account right away so he wouldn't have to disconnect us. They're about as bad as the electric company with their security deposit, but we learn by experience, so the first thing I asked was if there was any way it could be waived. As expected, there was...by a Letter of Irrevocable Credit from the Bank or a Surety Bond from our Insurance Company. Again, from experience, I knew the letter of credit wouldn't save us any money, so I called the insurance company. Thankfully, they will do multiple surety bonds, and they're all on top of it.
Little by little, everything is coming together. We finally made the paper, and more people are coming in that never even knew we were here in Sheridan, and open. A lot of people also don't realize we're locally owned; they think we're a franchise - I guess because of our theme-y look.
We're still kind of watching the sales. What days/times are best, etc. We're planning on giving it to the end of the year to see what our final hours will be, but we appreciate all of our customers, and we want to make sure you have a tasty experience with us.
I'm adding a new poll, so vote for your favorite soup!
Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy the holiday and God bless!
Tiff
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Step by Step, Day by Day
As Melinda mentioned, we are novices at the whole starting-a-new-business thing, and it's been a roller-coaster of emotions. From exciting to stressful, then looping around enlightening several times, but it's nice to be open and past the construction.
I really can't express how great it is to have Melinda as a business partner. We seem to fit so well as a team. I'll go nuts with stress over some things, and she'll be as calm as stilled water. When she's flipping out, it's usually over something that doesn't seem as important to me, so we're constantly talking each other down. We've both kind of taken certain things under our wing as well throughout the whole ordeal. She's got her cheesecakes and cookies, obviously. I've got the cupcakes and candles. (I tried branching into helping with the cookies, but got fired from that real quick!) She's added cinnamon rolls, and I've added brownies. She did all of the paperwork for the sales tax permit and getting setup for Coke and Sysco; I programmed the cash register. The latest of these are paying payroll and sales tax. It seems as though she's got Payroll under control, while I'm tackling the Sales Taxes. The stressful part is just making sure it's done right. So, with it being the end of our first month, I sat down last night and calculated our Gross Sales and Taxes, and the total was shocking. None of us realized how much we'd made, and therefore didn't really know how much taxes would have to be paid now. I've been pushing separating taxes and payroll on a daily basis for a while, but we've needed the money to replenish inventory. Now, I think we see the greater need to put the money back as we get it. It's difficult as a new business to do payroll bi-weekly and taxes monthly without depleting our bank account. As a matter of fact, with the economy the way it is, I'm sure that's been difficult for even established businesses. But here we are: alive and kicking.
Another epiphany were our Hours of Business. Before we had opened, we researched and found statistically that Mondays were the lowest sales days for a business, so we decided to close. Jimmy has still usually been there baking, and noticed customers trying our doors, wanting some lunch. I've stopped by the store myself the last couple of Mondays during my lunch hour, and there were people planning to eat, and unfortunately disappointed. I hate losing sales! We've noticed slow times as well. Sunday after lunch is dead, and so we've decided to tweak our Hours of Operation. Sunday we'll be open from 12 to 3 instead of staying open until 5, and Monday we will be open 10 to 3. So, don't be shy, come on by!
Tiff
I really can't express how great it is to have Melinda as a business partner. We seem to fit so well as a team. I'll go nuts with stress over some things, and she'll be as calm as stilled water. When she's flipping out, it's usually over something that doesn't seem as important to me, so we're constantly talking each other down. We've both kind of taken certain things under our wing as well throughout the whole ordeal. She's got her cheesecakes and cookies, obviously. I've got the cupcakes and candles. (I tried branching into helping with the cookies, but got fired from that real quick!) She's added cinnamon rolls, and I've added brownies. She did all of the paperwork for the sales tax permit and getting setup for Coke and Sysco; I programmed the cash register. The latest of these are paying payroll and sales tax. It seems as though she's got Payroll under control, while I'm tackling the Sales Taxes. The stressful part is just making sure it's done right. So, with it being the end of our first month, I sat down last night and calculated our Gross Sales and Taxes, and the total was shocking. None of us realized how much we'd made, and therefore didn't really know how much taxes would have to be paid now. I've been pushing separating taxes and payroll on a daily basis for a while, but we've needed the money to replenish inventory. Now, I think we see the greater need to put the money back as we get it. It's difficult as a new business to do payroll bi-weekly and taxes monthly without depleting our bank account. As a matter of fact, with the economy the way it is, I'm sure that's been difficult for even established businesses. But here we are: alive and kicking.
Another epiphany were our Hours of Business. Before we had opened, we researched and found statistically that Mondays were the lowest sales days for a business, so we decided to close. Jimmy has still usually been there baking, and noticed customers trying our doors, wanting some lunch. I've stopped by the store myself the last couple of Mondays during my lunch hour, and there were people planning to eat, and unfortunately disappointed. I hate losing sales! We've noticed slow times as well. Sunday after lunch is dead, and so we've decided to tweak our Hours of Operation. Sunday we'll be open from 12 to 3 instead of staying open until 5, and Monday we will be open 10 to 3. So, don't be shy, come on by!
Tiff
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