Another week has gone by. Only 2 & a 1/2 mths left to end of the yr. Let's end this yr with a BIG bang! The retail peak season should be coming up real soon. Really can't wait for the crowd to start coming in. Still remember what's the crowd like 1-2 weeks b4 the 1st day of this yr's CNY. It was shiok to see people keep coming in though at times no time to go toilet/eat. LOL! It's really boring when there's nothing to do in the shop. Even if we read mags/books/newspapers, we also won't be able to read for the whole day. Our staffs are given lee-way, they can do whatever they like as long as they take note of customers coming in the shop, they have to stop what they are doing & serve them. Only thing we dun allow in the shop are dvd players & laptops (coz last time a couple of staff took advantage of this privilege we gave them & ended up not serving customers resulting in a drop of sales). I know of some shops dun even allow staffs to sit let alone do other things on the shop floor even when there's no customers in the shop. I still remember having to stand at the entrance of the shop to fold clothes & greet every customers who walks in loud enough for the staffs inside to hear. I also remember than I was told if working time is for e.g. 11.30am then 11.15am is considered on time, 11.30am late, 11.45am is extremely late. That was when I was having my poly attachment in...(I won't review what shop it is).
Anyways, as I've blogged previously, our contract in suntec will end in march nxt yr. Dad got a call from suntec recently offering us another unit (a smaller one that is nearer the cinema side) at about 1/2 the rental that we are currently paying. We are not sure whether to take up the offer or not as our faith in suntec have weavered after spending almost 3 years there & yet not seeing any result. Gotta really pray abt it 1st. Dun wanna do anything that's my will BUT not the will of God. Sales in Iluma hasn't been good either. The reason behind the poor sales could only be the 'crowd', the staff, or both. Whatever it is we'll wait till 1mth after the peak period to see how it goes. If sales is still not good, we'll look for a tentant to take over the shop there. If that happens we'll have to cut down on the number of staffs we've. I won't be commenting on any staffs right now. However I do see potential in 1 of our staff as a long time staff / assistant of mine. We'll see if this is the case. Previously we thought we finally found a gd long term staff but as a saying goes "u only see if a person is loyal or not only when sthg happens".
Lately I've been busy with the packing, tagging and delivering of new stocks to the outlets. Backend job is much more tiring than the frontend job. Been having backache and stiff shoulders. Currently, all the new stocks are already in the outlets. So it's a break for now from stocks. More new stocks will be coming in around nov/dec in time for the christmas period. But for now I've to work on my accounts, I still have tons that is yet to be done. Haiz. Going to get myself busy with it the next few days.
My parents have gone to London since Fri morning to attend my younger sis's BSc graduation (she got 1st honours for her BSc. Congrats May! Well done!). She has got another 2 more yrs to go in London to complete her medical degree. I was supposed to go to London together with them. But as elder sis & future bro-in-law will be going to Taiwan for their wedding photoshoot with mum & I tagging along (we won't be going to join them at the photoshoot but will be there to check out Taiwan's fashion). As I couldn't afford to be away from the outlets for too long a period of time (15days to be exact), I had to choose between London and Taiwan. I chose Taiwan instead since I haven't been there b4 and also coz I really wanna check out the fashion there. So right now I'm home alone. Well not exactly home alone when I still have 1 golden retriever, 2 yorkies & our maid with me. But these few days is sure going to be quiet at home.
