Giving away the Store,,,

This afternoon while it was slow I started taking a quick inventory to see how much building I need to do this week to keep the store stocked.
I noticed that the amount of money I took in didnt match the inventory gone.
And it dawned on me why,,,,This month I've had kids drooling over the Db's etc who's parents didnt have the money to purchase the piece for them so,,,,,,,,
I've had a military guy who has and will CONTINUE to serve his country buy a 3 string and mention that next time he'd like to get a Can-jo so him and his kids can play together ,go home with an extra Can-jo as a thanks from me for serving our country ,,,,,,,
I gave another 3 string to one of my boss's,
I shipped a 3 string and a Can-jo to a former customer for thinking of me and shipping me a case full of cigarboxes.
All in all I've probably given away well over $300 worth of stock out of the store this month.
No wonder the tally books didnt look so good lol
I'M a so so musician, most builders build better the me, and to top it all off it appears that I flat SUCK as a business man! LOL
Warning to all that want to build for profit,ya cant give the store away and make a semi- living selling CBG's and DB's,,

Though I'm not much on kids, ( raised mine , I'm done, I thought). When a young one comes up to my table and starts drooling on my stock , I cant help but think of his/her future , if they take an interest in our " alternative" music.
The fact that their thinking , dare I say, "outside the box" already is so encouraging to me that I simply hate for one to walk away empty handed.
Folks at work think I'm a tough guy,because part of my job working for the MALL itself may mean throwing a drunk out before they hurt themselves or somebody else,,,,,asking a salesman to leave ( due to them bothering shops thats trying to make a living,,,towing illegally parked cars when necessary, ,asking/telling a smart mouth teenager he's not welcome in the building,( usually for using foul language where customers and young ones can hear it,(I wont stand for that) and other not so nice things I have to do when we're busy.
My closest friends at work keep telling people that I'm just a teddy bear in disguise, and I keep repeating that I have a rep to protect and not to let it get out that I have a soft side,,,,,,,,lol

Replies

Alan Roberts March 22, 2010 at 12:17pm

Hey there, Roger! Let me know next time you need cigar boxes and I'll send you a stack of them! (I have my own favorite tobacco store, and no I will NOT say where). I'll toss in a lifetime supply of corian to make nuts/saddles with, and maybe a bunch of fret markers.

But as a businessman, you MUST keep track of everything that goes out the door, paid for or not. Anything still unaccountable is "shrinkage" and THAT has to stop.

I'm not so generous. If my friends want one, they have to cover the cost of materials.
Roger Martin March 22, 2010 at 10:34am

Though I'm not much on kids, ( raised mine , I'm done, I thought). When a young one comes up to my table and starts drooling on my stock , I cant help but think of his/her future , if they take an interest in our " alternative" music.
The fact that their thinking , dare I say, "outside the box" already is so encouraging to me that I simply hate for one to walk away empty handed.
Folks at work think I'm a tough guy,because part of my job working for the MALL itself may mean throwing a drunk out before they hurt themselves or somebody else,,,,,asking a salesman to leave ( due to them bothering shops thats trying to make a living,,,towing illegally parked cars when necessary, ,asking/telling a smart mouth teenager he's not welcome in the building,( usually for using foul language where customers and young ones can hear it,(I wont stand for that) and other not so nice things I have to do when we're busy.
My closest friends at work keep telling people that I'm just a teddy bear in disguise, and I keep repeating that I have a rep to protect and not to let it get out that I have a soft side,,,,,,,,lol
Jason Nelms March 22, 2010 at 10:23am

HAHA! The one in my pic is nice. It is built by Darren "Big Daddy" at backporchmojo.com. I am actually gearing up to make my first batch of guitars in the next couple of weeks.

Roger Martin said:
LOL, uhhhhhhhhhhhhh ,,,,,,,,,,, no,,,,,,,, lol
Swap ya for that 1 in your pic tho LOL
Roger Martin March 22, 2010 at 10:21am

LOL, uhhhhhhhhhhhhh ,,,,,,,,,,, no,,,,,,,, lol
Swap ya for that 1 in your pic tho LOL
Jason Nelms March 22, 2010 at 10:06am

Can I have one? =p
Peter King March 22, 2010 at 8:20am

Look on the bright side - if you keep giving stuff away due to your generous spirit, you'll be broke, but all of the best blues music comes out of poverty.
Roger Morin March 21, 2010 at 10:55pm

Hey name sake I second whay Jeff said about spreading that good will around LOL.
Jeff "Sweet T" Tinsley March 21, 2010 at 10:15pm

From my flea market/festival experience, I have sold more as a result of giving things away than from following a logical business model. Lol.
Every freebie goes out packed with good will and word of mouth.
You're my kinda businessman. :~þ

BTW, if you feel the need to spread any more good will, I can send you my address. hehehe

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