well, surprise! the store may be back on...

[Anonymous]

Paulette had the suggestion to open it up right on the main floor of the house. For those that don't know, we live in a 4 (techically 5) story Victorian home, and the 1st floor is big with room for about 40-50 tanks. It's also zoned for 'family business occupancy' which allows up to 10 people living here to work in the business, and one outside person.

I'm mulling it over, for sure. Work from home, doing something I like, in an area I can dominate as far as sales...it's tempting.

Comments/advice?

Peace,

Chip

 

[Anonymous]

Go for it! Tell people the place is haunted too! Call it the Haunted Reef!

 

[jusreefin]

Keep in mind if you ever try to get a MTG. loan on the home it will be harder to get approved for a "mixed use" property!

 

[Anonymous]

Keep in mind if you ever try to get a MTG. loan on the home it will be harder to get approved for a "mixed use" property!

She already has one of those, and paid it off and got rid of it!

Peace,

Chip

 

[jusreefin]

Ya but ya never know when you may want to cash out to buy that New car or 1000g frag system

 

[Anonymous]

i'd advise to never, EVER, live where you work (i've been there) your personal life will be eaten up faster than you can say 'ppor'

 

[Anonymous]

i'd advise to never, EVER, live where you work (i've been there) your personal life will be eaten up faster than you can say 'ppor'

Examples, vitz? Convince me why I shouldn't...

...or, in other words...PPOR!

Peace,

Chip

 

[dizzy]

Be careful that all the rooms don't create a shoplifter's paradise. I prefer a big open space for that reason. A concrete floor tends to hold up better to "accidents". All the water/humidity can cause mold and mildew problems, which can lead to health problems. Saltwater tends to destroy hvac systems. And if you ever piss anyone off they know where you live.
Mitch

 

[Anonymous]

The first floor is very large and open, Mitch. 16-foot ceilings, and the living room opens right up into the dining room. All dry goods would be located in that wide-open space.

Same deal with the mold/mildew...the main room is about 40 feet long and about 20 feet wide with the 16-foot ceilings. The floors are hardwoord, but indoor/outdoor carpeting would be laid down under & around any tanks.

I *never* piss any customer off.

Peace,

Chip

 

[dizzy]

I *never* piss any customer off.
Peace,

Chip

Chip just wait until someone's undisciplined kids start tearing up your store and the parents don't give a rat's ass. Or someone kills a $200 fish and you won't replace it. Or if you catch someone stealing. I wish everyone was nice but we live in the real world, you can't turn the other cheek everytime. But I'm sure you will do fine if it's really what you want to do. I wish you the best.
Mitch

 

[JennM]

Hardwood floors in a LFS?! Terrazo, vinyl no-slip or bare concrete... I've got the no-slip vinyl.

Mitch and Vitz are right (can you believe we all agree about something?!) I work a half mile from my home and that's ball-and-chain enough - I can't imagine living where I work I already feel like I live at my shop.

Better get a bigass dehumidifier too... my store EATS blower fans.

Jenn

 

[Anonymous]

I did the whole live where you work deal and it doesnt work very well. The customers figure out you live there and then they start wanting to come at all hours of the night. They might have an emergency with their tank and start banging on your door at 2am. etc... etc... Sometimes you need a place to get away from work and if you live where you work it aint gonna happen

 

[JennM]

I have people call me at all hours - some have looked me up in the phone book. I'm also careful about whom I give my cell phone number to, because once people have that, they never bother calling the store phone (which is always answered during business hours, and after hours messages are always returned the next day). They just figure they're above all that and call whenever.

Many know that I live close by - and while I'm not against helping people out in a crunch, there are some that will take advantage of that - you really have to use your discretion at times. I'm sure that if I lived here at the store I'd get a lot more of that.

It's nice to live close - that way if there IS a situation at the store I can attend to it, or if I'm at the store and there's a situation at home I can run home to attend to it - but there are definitely drawbacks too.

Many people don't have a problem hanging around well after closing time ... if they're buying I don't get too anal about it but at the end of the day we all want to quit and go home - and often I have work to do well past closing time, but I need to close in order to get it done. They know I don't have far to go so they assume it's OK to linger... and darnit sometimes I just want to get the heck outta here

Jenn

 

[Anonymous]

All valid points, and I appreciate everyone taking the time to let me know their experiences.

We'd really like to have a business here to help with the monthly house-running costs. Plus, we're not really in a location where people would just 'pop-in' at odd hours.

Thanks again....I'm still pondering.

Peace,

Chip

 

[JennM]

Heh you'd be surprised at who can detour at odd hours

Jenn

 

[Anonymous]

Heh you'd be surprised at who can detour at odd hours

Yeah. I promise to drop in at least once. At 11pm. On Sunday. Wanting to see your selection of purebred puppies for sale.

 

[Anonymous]

i'd advise to never, EVER, live where you work (i've been there) your personal life will be eaten up faster than you can say 'ppor'

Examples, vitz? Convince me why I shouldn't...

...or, in other words...PPOR!

Peace,

Chip

no examples, and i'm not trying to convince you of anything-go right ahead

 

[Anonymous]

besides, you already know the example

 

[Anonymous]

besides, you already know the example

:?:

Peace,

Chip

 

[Anonymous]

your short term memory is fading

what was i doing when selling you fish while you were at crevers?