Working on accounts today. Keying in the past few days/weeks of sales for all outlets that I've yet to key in. Starting with suntec's. Will be going down to far east ltr to help out our temporary staff (the FT staff is off today). Now it's still early still quiet, he can still handle.

Really envy a few other shops who have really very good staffs who are loyal to the company. We don't only observe our staff, we observe other people's staffs too. Despite how much I wish the staffs of other shops can work for us, but I won't be so mean to go & snatch their staffs. Good staffs who work FOR the company & are loyal to the company are hard to find. Though this batch of staff have been disappointing us time after time but at least they're still the best batch that we've so far. No more "don't come to work without prior notice" anymore. But they really have to buck up la. Need to be more responsible, honest, hardworking and push sales (not any1 in particular). We also don't allowed any1 to play politics in the company. Any1 play politics they'll end up kena backfired as they can never crossed the eyes of my parents' watchful eyes. I've a lot to learn from my parents abt managing staffs. After all they have been in the biz line for half their life. After CNY will be retrenching staffs. If can, we also dun wanna retrench any1. But biz is slow, gotta cut cost so cannot blame us that 1 staff (or maybe even 2 staffs) have gotta to go. We'll observe them esp when they working alone focusing on both performance & attitude at work. Sounds like Big Brother eviction. LOL!

Tmr night got LYL appreciation dinner but can't make it as I've got to be in the shop. 2 staffs are off tmr (their off days suppose to be on thurs but since both christmas eve & new yr eve falls on thurs & we foresee that there'll be pple on these 2 days, we shifted their off day to wed instead & got our china staff who's off day is on wed to OT for 2 wks). If only I can "fen shen" then I can be in both the shop and at the appreciation dinner. LOL! But there's no best of 2 worlds right?

Should get back to work liao.

I wanna wish u a merry christmas fr the bottom of my heart

Didn't spent my this yr's christmas eve & day in the shop. But have been bz at home w the arrival of the new stocks (toughest time working on the new stocks was when the new shoes arrived. it was like O_O). Still have got a bit more work to do with the new stocks b4 bringing them to the outlets. That can wait as we will ONLY be bringing them out to the outlets. This is b'coz there're still some gift vouchers (2pcs out of 6pc) & cash vouchers (200pcs) expiring end of this mth out there somewhere in the public. After which I really have to start working on my accounts again.

It's been superly duperly quiet in the outlets this christmas period. It hasn't been like the past few yrs when the crowd would come in almost non-stop...that at times we dun even have time to go to the toilet/eat. When there's no/lesser crowd, we had to take the opportunity to run to the toilet or to grab a bite. Our sales this christmas have dropped by an average of 35% as compared to last yr. This is really bad. Praying for breakthrough of sales in the new year/CNY.

Have decided that none of our FT staffs will be stationed in just 1 outlet. They'll be transferred ard all outlets (except for suntec as that plc is a dead town. we're going to shift out of there when contract ends. confirmed gurantee chop). So right now we've got to train the only FT staff who hasn't been trained/worked in bugis b4 (our china staff hasn't worked in bugis either but she doesn't need training as she knows v. well how we operate in all outlets. we can just pass her the keys & she'll take it fr there). Anyways, we've already been closing one eye towards them too many times already. Ain't going to be too lenient to them liao. Else they'll take advantage. But also cannot be too strict lah. Must have a BALANCE.

Ok...enough talk abt shop, stocks & staff. My maid joined me for christmas service today. She doesn't have any off days but mum let her follow me to church as it is christmas today. The only thing I'm disappointed is that my friend couldn't make it for service. Sigh... Nvm. At least I've sown a seed in her life & she has already gotten to know peeps in W525. I can still invite her for service or other events any time. :) It's a breakthrough for me already since it's been yrs since I brought a friend for a church/cg event. Sandy Jia Youz!

The christmas drama in church was AWESOME. Both funny and touching. Ok...I admit it...I may be biased. But still...CHC has the BEST drama & creative team ever. Great job put in guys! And of course the other ministries in church. I'm proud to be part of CHC, LYL zone & W525! YEAH! Looking forward to the many many many more greater & glorier years to come in CHC, LYL zone & W525! U guys are awesome man! Thanks for everything!

Personality Type - ISTJ

ISTJ - The "Examiner"

ISTJs are responsible, loyal and hard working. They have an acute sense of right and wrong and work hard at preserving established norms and traditions. Because of their deep sense of duty they are dedicated to everything they do and are very dependable. ISTJs care deeply for those closest to them.

ISTJ Career Matches

ISTJs are often happy with the following jobs which tend to match well with the Examiner/Protector personality.

Accountant
Administrator
Auditor
Computer Programmer
Computer Specialist
Dentist
Detective
Doctor
Electrician
Executive
Financial Officer
Judge
Lawyer/Attorney
Librarian
Manager
Marketer
Math Teacher
Mechanical Engineer
Military Leader
Police
Scientist
Steelworker
Systems Analyst
Technical Specialist
Technician

Last few weeks of 2009

Another week has passed by just like that. The crowd still not here. A few days ago I heard that a survey this year shows that this year 91% of people have YET to start their christmas shopping and only 8% have completed their christmas shopping. It's almost christmas yet more than 90% have not done their christmas shopping? Why's that? The economy? I thought it is already picking up but it doesn't so in the retail sector. Whatever it is...just "keep on walking, keep on walking....keep on walking". Praying for breakthrough of sales.

1 of our FT staff doesn't seem to be able to work with anyone else. She doesn't even seem to put in the effort. I see teamwork among the rest but not her though others did try to work with her. She behave as if others step into her territory. VERY CHILDISH! If she still can't work with the others, she won't last long in the company (I've a feeling she'll be the 1 who is retrenched mar next yr). Teamwork is so impt in the retail industry lo (in fact all industry). In this 1 mth, EVERY single of them (I'm tokking abt full-timers) have gotten scolded for various reasons. These staffs ah...dun wanna scold them also cannot. Some time "ren" them until cannot take it man. Staffs are really difficult to manage. God, give me wisdom on how to manage them!

Our shoes are moving...but moving really slow. Only sold abt 5% of our total shoes stocks we've on hand. A lot more to go. Though it's moving slowly, it does help increase our sales in a way. Praying that everyday we'll be able to sell AT LEAST 5 shoes. It's almost the end of the year which also means end of school holidays. As such, we're currently focusing more on our bags for this is the period when students will be looking around to purchase new school bags for the new term. Tomorrow another batch of new stocks will be coming in. Been working on stocks these past weeks that my accounts is piling up. Yet to start on them. Only managed to organise them into the file. Haiz.

Ever since I got started in this retail biz, hadn't had the chance to socialise much. Feels like my life is surrounded between just business and church. I only get to keep in contact with friends via msn and facebook. The only time I really got to socialise this yr was when I attended my uni's alumni gathering early this mth. Got to meet a number of other new peeps from my uni of different age group then.

Met up with my poly mate after service on sun & brought her along to join our cg bbq at our appreciation. I am really glad she joined us and had a good time. All these years have been trying to get my friends to join me at svc, cg and/or church events but always got turned down. It gets really discouraging that at times dun feel like reaching out. But the times that we don't feel like doing sthg are the times we SHOULD actually go and get that thg done. "For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak". Gotta crucify the flesh. For those friends who did join me b4, a few mths/yrs down the road they're now integrated into another church/cg. To think of it, at least I've sown a seed in their life & they're now serving God as well. =) Really happy and proud of one of those friends when she graduated from SOT this yr. All the way man! I'm aiming to go SOT too. 2010 intake a bit tough as during that period of time we foresee a lot of things to do as that happens to be the time we close suntec and shift out. So I'm aiming & praying to go for 2011 intake. Praying for open doors from my parents. 1 of my goal for nxt yr is to get San Street well known in Singapore by the end of 2010. Jia youz! Okok...got side tracked. Back to main topic. Not going to give up no matter how many I get turned down. YEAH! Tmr will be meeting up with another 1 of my poly mate for coffee. She's attending another church. Haven't met up with her for years. A time for us to catch up and for me to take a short short break.

Ok...better go to bed...feeling REAL tired of late.

Short entry

Many more busy days to come. So many stocks at home to clear. Both new and old. Esp headache with the old stocks. At least managed to clear some stocks at flea market after svc on sun. Still have a lot more to clear. Going to put up the new stocks in the outlets to sell until after CNY. After which will do warehouse sales in all outlets to clear all old stocks (esp since after CNY is the quiet period and there's the only way to boost days to come). After which can start closing suntec liao. That's the plan la.

Been feeling tired and giddy these few days. And also quite a number of times of nose bleeding. Think not enough rest and not enough water. Got to rest more and drink more water liao le. Thus far have sold close to 40pairs of shoes since we displayed them up to sell 2 weeks ago (most of them are sold in far east). Not bad. Our target is to sell at least 1-2 pair of shoes a day in each outlet. Can be done if the staffs do their best to push. For some reason which I'm not revealing here, we're separating a few staffs by not allowing them to work with each other in the same outlet & allocated them to other outlets for a period of time. Cannot let them do whatever they want or else they'll step over your head & it'll be hard to control them. Must be wise in managing them liao. Going to observe all of them in the while and see who is the unlucky one with the worse attitude and/or sales to be retrenched.

Ok lah...got to get back to work liao. Blog another day.

Giddy-ish days

Feeling giddy-ish these few days. Head spinning (on & off). Tired! Body aching. I need more iron. My blood pressure gets rather low almost every mth. Maybe also not enuff rest. So many stocks (old stocks & new stocks everywhere) but still not much crowd. Too many malls in Singapore already lah...pple all spread out now. Went to the outlets with mum to get some furnitures shifted from home to suntec and bugis. Then went with mum to the doctor to get some med and go get some other stuffs b4 heading back home. Was feeling tired and giddy so had a nap. Feeling better now. Think will sleep earlier tonight.

Bosses of neighbouring shops & some friends (who acted as customers to test our staffs) commented to us that a couple of our staffs ...cannot make it. When pple are looking ard in the shop for quite some time, they dun notice/are too engrossed doing their stuff/just dun bother. They also say that our products can sell is b'coz of our products. If our staffs take effort to push, our sales can be even more. They work as if to just kill time & get pay only. I don't call standing there looking at customers and talking among themselves as serving customers. Do you? If we say anything to them, they will give us either zero sales or really really really poor sales. Worse they can walk out on us. Experience that b4! Now (with christmas, new year, and cny approaching) is not the time to lose any staffs. Might as well keep quiet & tahan them until after cny. But DEFINITELY will take note. We already are aware who're the ones who "bo chap" and who are the ones who really want the job.

We've decided to extend the contract of our china staff (but it also depends if she wants to stay on with us. a high chance she'll). After march of nxt yr, we'll cut down to only 2-3 staffs (that's including our china staff). That will mean the staff (or maybe even 2 staffs) with poor sales and poor working attitude have got to go. Teamwork is also impt. Not just within the outlet but with all staffs in all outlets. They should work with one another & help one another to hit individual targets so that it'll be easier for them to hit team target as well (they get more commission in this way). Laziness is another thing we don't like. Also they may think we dunno but we know that there's even bullying going on. That's e.gs of bad working attitude. And those with theses attitude will have to go. Will be joining in the flea market at expo after svc this sunday to clear some stocks. Anyways, I hinted to a staff abt this plan we've for nxt yr & I think she told another staff abt it (these 2 staffs are rather close) as we see both of more active today. Shall continue to observe ALL of them esp when they are working alone in the shop. Though we already know who is the one most likely to go, we shall double confirmed it & have everything settled after march.

Busy month (updated)

Past few days (since saturday) have been busy with the shoe stocks. All shoe designs are now out in outlets. From what I know Far east has sold a total of 7 pairs (maybe more). But yet to sell any in Suntec and Bugis. Took us many trips to deliver the shoe stocks to each outlet. Our shoes are all handmade designer shoes made of leather/leather w fabric / pu / pu w fabric. (For those who dunno what is pu, pu is a better quality pvc, some people called it synthenic leather). All shoes come with leather in-sole and can be made-to-order if requested. We just ordered ladies shoes too. Nice and elegant. I got them to customise a few designs in my size (coz their smallest size doesn't fit me). Those will come much later.

Almost Christmas soon. But the christmas crowd is not here yet. The crowd during this period in the past years were so many that at times we don't even have time to eat/go to the toilet. Got a lot of new stocks....but we've yet to stock check them and bring to the shop. Going to be a busy mth. So tired!

Won't be going to svc this week. Got to work in shop coz 2 staffs are on leave. Talking abt staffs. We're really disappointed in almost all of them. Except for our china staff. She really really really do her best to push sales (can tell coz we see her talk and talk to customers, befriend them and even recommend other colours or designs to customer when anything is out of size. she has a lot of repeat customer who will come back to find her and buy things from her). But english is bit of a problem for us but she still try with a lil hand gestures here and there. Even I'm her boss, I'm also still learning from her. And I think the other staffs should observe and learn from her too. We can't stand it when staffs just keep talking and talking even when they know that there're customers in the shop. They know but they just don't go and serve. Sales can be better if they really serve the customers. Also the way they serve customers. Stand so far & just look at them. When customer want something than only they approach. It makes us think that they have the "want to buy; don't want than forget it. don't waste my effort to serve you" kinda attitude. Come on lo. Some pple can turn ard and buy if u just know what to say. SOMETIMES I feel that it will be so much better to cut down to just one shop (far east). Just employ just one staff to work or maybe work by myself (just like aunty sandy next door). so happy-go-lucky. No need to worry abt staffs problems & no need to pay salary. Don't have to depend on anyone. If that is the case, they will ALL lose their job lo. We may extend our china staff's contract but it is also up to her if she wants to stay on. We asked her to think abt it & let us know b4 the govt letter comes.

During this busy period fr nw till cny, I pray for strength and good night rest, that we'll have a breakthrough of sales, and that all in san street will walk together in one vision. Really hope that I can still go for cg and svc. Usually during this period I'll have to miss a few weeks of cg & svc coz of the peak crowd & my parents want me to be in the shop to help out so as to cut down on part-time staff costs. I haven't even touch my accounts for almost 1 and a 1/2 mths. No time to do so...busy with stocks only!