Today marks the last day of september. 3 more months & it is the end of 2009. How time flies eh? Been feeling stressed of late coz this month's sales really depressing. Only 2 words to decribe...."Jia lat". Whatever it is, it is in God's hands. Going to do my best, PRAY, and trust Him for the rest.

Currently it's the "wait and see" period for us. We'll wait till after CNY before we decide what to do next. But for certain suntec will close when contract ends next march (which is also shortly after CNY). That's when the contract of my staff from china (who's allocated in suntec) also ends. So just nice when she goes back suntec contract ends. That will mean another 6 more months of "wait and see" period.

We cannot rely our business on our franchiser for products already. We've losing so much for the past few years instead we're helping them (our principal) to earn more money & help promote their brands in Singapore. Contrary to our business here, business at their side been good. It's been very obvious. Our earlier batch of members have disappeared. Think they have gone to their side to buy instead. Some people who know the brands we carry commented that our prices cost more. But it's just a slight difference to cover up for the GST and transport that we have to pay just to bring the stocks in. Some people understand when we say this to them but others don't. Nothing we can do. Whatsmore, we're NOT the ones who set the price of our products, our principal did. We wanted to change the price, they didn't allow us to. The most we can do is to give discounts. But we can't give a lot. Other shops out there are afford to give a lot of discounts (like 60% or 70%) as their price markup (margin) is high but we can't. Our profit margin is very low. A lot of our current sales items are selling below our cost price. Lose money also have to do so or else how clear them? My house will just pile up with stocks if we don't clear the old stocks and new stocks keep coming in.

A friend (a boss of another shop in queensway) ask me why don't we go make and bring in our own products. Easier said than done! In order to do so, we'll need to bring in stocks in big quantity (like 100pcs of stocks per design). No factory will manufacture for you in small quantity. Now we only have max 3 to 5 pcs of stocks per size that's about 20 plus to 40 plus per design depending on how many colours and size that design have. Our stocks are limited but already we've the problem of stocks getting stuck. In order to clear them we have got to reduce price. What would happen when we have 100s of stocks of just one design. We got to think about this.

Hopefully the new products that we are bringing in from another supplier will sell well. There are a couple of unisex jeans, shirts, shoes and bags. At least this supplier not only allow us to bring in small quantities in stock then replenish when there's a need to, he can customise for us and also allow us to put our own on brand on the products. His jeans and shirts he is selling can be found in other shops in Singapore too (but most of those we bringing in are of different designs from the other shops). As for his shoes and bags, he will only sell it to us. He only wants to work with us for shoes and bags.

This week I'm working almost every weekday coz 2 of my staffs got things to attend to and had to change their off day. One of them changed with another staff & another changed with me. So instead working 2 days a week, I'm working 4 days. That means can't go for cg this week. Monday I was in far east, today in bugis, tomorrow in far east and friday in suntec. Next week I'll only be working 1 day but there will be a new girl so most probably coming down to see how she's doing though I'm not going to personally train her.

Recently a few shops in far east and iluma have closed and shifted out. 77th Street on our level in far east have closed. Not sure if it shifted out or it is closed for renovation. But the signboard is gone. But they still have the other 2 outlets here on level 1 and level 3. The shop beside 77th Street has also closed. In iluma the shop next door has shifted out. Heard from another neighbour that they found someone to take over. Some F&B outlets have also closed and shifted out.

Been spending a lot this month (new laptop, music cds, top up of cashcard etc). Dad's also complaining that my handphone bill is high. =P Must cut down expenditure. Arise and Build coming up end of next month. But my parents doesn't like me "donating to church on instalment basis". Got scolded by them big time when they found out previously (they know how much we have in our bank accounts as they keep our bank passbooks and update them once in a while). They said that if I do so again I can forget about going to church totally. Have promised them that I won't do it again. Think this time I'll only do a one time. Can't break my promise to them right? As pastor preached last weekend, "your word is your bond".

Was in suntec outlet today as my china staff who's allocated there is off. As usual it's really quiet in suntec. Level 3 is always like that. Wonder why.

I just gotten a new mini laptop and new mobile. Have been looking for a mini laptop for some time as it will much easier to carry around for work instead of lugging a heavy laptop around. Also I've a slight problem with my current laptop. It is still usable but it auto shutdown itself esp when I'm playing a video. Yilun had a lobang for a dell mini at a pretty good rate, so I've gotten it. Thanks Yilun! :) Save quite a sum of money on it actually. As for my mobile, it died on me. Sent it to Nokia Care Centre for repairs but was told that it is beyond economical repairs. My parents said that I can either choose a mobile/laptop as a birthday present. Since I've already paid for the laptop, my parents blessed me with the new mobile - Nokia N86. Yeah! So right now I've a new mobile and a new laptop! PTL! =D

Some new stocks have arrived but yet to bring into the outlets. More will be coming soon. We are also going to bring in shoes and bags also from another supplier. Hopefully sales will improve with the addition of these new products. Hari Raya is over. With Christmas and CNY slowly approaching, biz should pick up. This mth's sales is bad. Hopefully sales will improve in Oct. Nxt mth there will be a new girl joining our small group of sales staffs. She applied with us 2mths earlier but we didn't need any staffs then and told her that if she can wait she can start in Oct. And apparently she can. One of my previous staffs message me to ask if he can come back to work us but I dun think so. This is the SECOND time he left us. Main reason is coz of his attitude and we've already given him chances and chances yet he never cherished it. He has worked for a few places after leaving us and still is having problems staying in a job. He never seems to be able to stay in a job for longer than 2 months. Like I said earlier the main problem is his attitude. There's nothing I can do to help him any more.

Mum is away in M'sia since last tuesday. She'll only be coming back next tuesday. So what've been happening since my last blog. Nothing really special. My life basically just work & church. Not much of socialising other than just fellowshipping with CG members after cgm & svc.

I feel that fellowshipping is really important in our walk with God. B4 joining marketplace cg I haven't been really fellowshipping with my cg as I will always be rushing off. Not good but I have no choice. Now must make it a point to fellowship with cell members if I can make the time.

Workwise, I was working in far east and suntec on mon and wed respectively. Other than those 2 days, I've been at home working on my accounts and stocks. More new stocks are coming in. What are we going to do with the older stocks? Sales for this week is much better than the last. Maybe coz Hari Raya Puasa is just next weekend. Next week should be better I suppose. Talking abt Hari Raya. I would have to work on that day as I need to replace my malay staff who will be taken 2 days off. (21st mon is her usual off day. she's taking another day off as she worked on the national day ph. as such she's entitled to either an extra day OFF or an extra day PAY. she chose to take an extra day off to celebrate this festive season). So next week I'll be working 3 days, sun, mon & wed, instead of the usual 2. As such I'll be going for sat svc next week instead of sun's.

Painting is ongoing in my house. So on days I'm not at work, I would have to be at home as the painters are painting our interior. Painting in my room has been completed. Now it's purple and pink.

CG was on thurs night as usual and the msg Yilun shared was on hearing the Word of God. Indeed was a powerful Word. I want and need more of the Word of God (bread) and the Holy Spirit (water) in my life. Alright enough for today.

Sales is becoming from bad to worse as compared to last month. This is the case esp in Iluma. What's happening to Iluma? Got crowd but they are not shopping! Suntec is still the same...dead town as usual. Far East Plaza is doing quite good but ONLY on weekends. Maybe coz a lot of people are shopping around in Orchard area esp in Ion on weekends. It's been really stressful and depressing when we see the 'crowd' in the outlets via the shop cctvs from home/office and also when my staffs sms me the sales at the end of the day. Juz 2 more weeks to Hari Raya Puasa. Hopefully the crowd will start coming out soon.

Yesterday went to my very first dinner & dance organised by a university in Singapore. NTU Hall X Dinner & Dance 2009. I was one of their sponsors and was also one of the judge for the night in the main programme of the night - the manhunt and pageant contest. The winners was what I expected. It was quite a night and I can tell the organisers put in a lot of hardwork in organising the event. Well done!

Service followed by lunch fellowship at marine parade today. Woke up and make it to expo just in time. Little Yogi (1 of my 2 darling little yorkshires) gave me a wake-up call this morning by standing on his hind legs to lick my hands (he can't climb up my bed as he's too small). Carried him up the bed and cuddled him as I lazed on the bed for a while before getting out of bed to get ready. He's so cute man! I adore him to bits. And of coz not forgetting little Yoko.