Off to Edmonton

I'm off to Edmonton in the morning. I guess this is the start of a new chapter in my life. Lara and I now own the building in Edmonton, and we're working our way through getting all the various licenses and accounts set up. For the next couple of weeks I get to finalize those details, and also get started on the renovations. The showcases are ordered, We're doing good!

I really like Edmonton. It's an exciting city. I love our new building... here's some pics:

There is a lot of work to do to turn it into a little jewel, which it will have to be. Setting up a new business is a huge challenge. I've been swamped by it, but excited at the same time.

On the flip side, there are some parts that aren't making me overly happy. I'm going to have to spend a lot of time away from Lara. That will be hard. We spend virtually every day together, and have for ten years now. Suddenly we'll be spending a lot of time apart. Not fun.

There's also my personal political ambivalence towards expanding the business. From a pure political stance, expanding the business doesn't square with everything I believe. I'd prefer to stay small. The unfortunate part of it is that we really don't have a choice. Like every small business, we are facing price competition from companies like Wal-Mart and CostCo. While they aren't in the same league as us in terms of quality, it does affect the perception of price. At some point we have to expand, merely to get our costs down, creating a larger market for our workshop, making larger purchases with the price breaks that come with that. If we want to keep paying our workers and ourselves a living wage, we have to do this. Sometimes you have to compromise with yourself. Still sucks. I don't want to become a chain, but I think we need to become one to a certain extent. I guess what I have to make sure of is that we don't become what I hate.

Comments

[Tango2]

Best of Luck, I know what you mean about having to do something even though it go's against what you believe in.

Hopefully you will be back and forth to Victoria. Keep up the good work, and if I know anyone needing Jewelry I will send them your way.

T2