Stepping into 2014- walking in My Shoes with Mooloo

Feral_Moon

I wonder whether you can use a phone with built in answer machine at the shop so you don't get disturbed by unsolicited calls. The problem is, once you answer one then your number gets hot listed to all of them, hence the high number of calls you're getting. I might get one in a blue moon if I'm unlucky as I never answer the phone to them. I'm sure potential customers wouldn't mind leaving a short message for you to call them back at your own convenience.

Lozzy88

I think it's a little rude to assume that they can use your business premises, you already do a awful lot of charity work so do not need to feel guilty about not letting them take advantage of your space that you pay for.

Also regarding the calls when you answer stay silent, if it's a cold caller they usually won't connect properly and the line will go dead within seconds, if it's a client they will speak and you should be able to tell the difference quite quickly.

You are doing brilliantly so far, long may it continue. Getting dgd to help now is a really good idea one day she will be a independent adult needing to care for herself. My 1 year old helps me load the washing machine and helps me pore the powder/ squirt the gel. My 3 year old loves to help wash up and will try to dry the dishes (well only the plastic plates/cups. My 6 year old helps me Hoover and put away clothes. They don't do loads but are aware of what needs to be done IYSWIM. Enough from me back to reading

Savvy_sewing

I should have remembered talc. I will try it, although at least today it looked better.
The GF was late and that made me late for collecting my things, and getting home to eat. So it was tinned meatballs and pasta.
I was not looking forward to this evening, but the lesson went well, and we even had a laugh! God I needed that laugh!
I have had a hot chocolate and now I'm going to bed.

Tomorrow we will not answer the shop phone but let it go to answer machine. I will go back to putting the mobile number on the invoices to customers.
Hopefully register with the nuisance call thingy and that they will take effect in about 10 days.
The jobs that are in, I will prioritise, and if there are some that can hang on I will put them further down the list.
Any that come in for the rest of this week I will say a fee extra days for collection, so I can pace the work.
My helper can unpick zips etc ready for replacements. The zip customers are aware that I have to order the zips so less pressure as I have to wait for them to arrive.
The workroom is booked with my courses for several weeks and so the Other dressmakers will have to see at another venue.
( if they do come to mine then they can hire the room the same as anyone else, to pay for the electric, etc)!
I feel calmer now, and hopefully I will sleep better especially as I just had a hot chocolate.
The business is going well. There is money in the bank, I paid out the staff wages for the last 3 weeks. So I am comfortable about that side of things.
The shop is looking good and the stock is attracting interest.
Other then the phone calls stressing me out I'm happy at work.

Thanks for de lurking a bit people. X

tootallulah

Hi Mooloo delurking to say congratulations you are making brilliant progress. It sounds like the lessons are good fun which means you will get good word of mouth and hopefully more students.

whiteguineapig

i thought you should put them off as well
maybe say you'll have another think when you'r well established in a few years time (see i have every confidence you will still be there in a few years time!)

Savvy_sewing

Morning, slept a little better, except to get up to the loo!
Set alarm an hour later. This means less time this morning but I needed the sleep.

At least I'm not in melt down anymore!
Have a good day everyone.

Savvy_sewing

whiteguineapig wrote: »

i thought you should put them off as well
maybe say you'll have another think when you'r well established in a few years time (see i have every confidence you will still be there in a few years time!)

Thankyou! So do I! The response work wise is brilliant. Now I need the sideline work to bring in the profit making funds!
Finally got the wool prices so we will see how that helps bring people in. ( although not my money- other grannies money, I will get a %)
I hope the extra footfall will mean people also look at the makes etc I have.
I have also decided I need to earmark a part of the day to create extra makes so I get a break from the alterations.

Almost-free

I would be tempted to keep a whistle by the phone and give them a blast when you know it's the pests on the phone again Mooloo! It worked for me a couple of years ago when I was being pestered by people looking for my ex, although I have no idea whether it's legal!

Savvy_sewing

I let the answer machine answer today!
It was ringing as I unlocked the door at 9.10 this morning. Funny nobody waited for the message to finish and leave me a message.
The work load is huge and I am so relieved I took on staff.
I'm wondering if I need a sewing help as well! 260th alteration job in today.
I have masses to do. If tomorrow is as busy, then I will have to bring work home and start to work into the night. But that is not practical, nor sustainable for long.
The clothes are selling and dispite the charity shops near by, people are interested still.
Today I have been trading for two months! Where did that go???

thistledome

Mooloo wrote: »

The support group want to get together every couple of months and make clothes for children in Africa, and they want to use my workshop on a Saturday.

Even if you wanted to, you can't commit to anything as your workshop has to be available for work, classes and private tuition, often at very short notice. Especially on a Saturday, a very busy day for a shop I would have thought. I think they've got a cheek to ask, especially as a new business usually struggles to make a profit at first.

We get a lot of sales calls, I just hang up on them as soon as I know it's them. It is infuriating though, especially when you're busy doing something and have to drop everything to get to the phone. Btw, I make it a rule never to buy anything from a cold caller. My OH agreed to change our phone supplier once and we got embroiled in a 4 year contract with some absolute scoundrels. They are unscrupulous; ours lied throught their teeth, but a so-called "verbal contract" is deemed to have taken place over the phone and you're stuck with it. Safer just to hang up.

You're doing so well Mooloo, here's to your continued success :beer: