The shop - preparations

 

Chapter 2

 

3 The Shop, Preparations.

 

Joshua and Beatrix were outside the main door to the shop premises at seven thirty am.

Joshua handed the key to Beatrix.

‘Hear you are Mrs Stubley, the key to your new shop; please my I enter it with you?’

They entered Beatrix looked around her at the empty space. ‘Will we be able to fill all this?

‘It looks so huge.’

Joshua replied. ‘Let’s have a quick look around.’

 

On the way upstairs Beatrix was mentally planning each room.

Dining room and bedroom in this north window to minimise fading.

Beds and lounge furniture, possibly prams, kitchen furniture

First floor clothed men and ladies, children’s, jewellery, cosmetics and underwear

Second floor Offices and workshops

 Oh look, there is a staircase, let us go up;

It looks like a roof top office suite.  it has a nice large entrance room; this could hold three of four desks.

Accounts, next room another large room Boardroom.

What's next? Three large rooms. Oh. just look at the view. You can see right across town. It's, like looking from a windmolem balcony; Sorry windmill. This must be my room for when I am working late or when you are away on your travels. There is space for a bedroom and lounge; perhaps they could fit small bathroom in for me.’

 

They were returning to the ground floor when they heard a man’s voice calling out.

Reaching the ground floor, they saw him standing in the centre of the empty room. He saw them on the steps and came towards them.

‘I am sorry to intrude; I saw the carriage outside and the door open, so I came to investigate. I am George Goodman, secretary for the Mechanics Institute; I have a walk around every morning look to see if there are any one requiring help; like yourselves.’

Beatrix asked Joshua in her native Dutch. 

‘Why does he think we require a mechanic?

‘My Dutch wife is asking why we need a mechanic.’

‘Oh, yes it can be confusing; the institute was formed years ago by the mill mechanics as a means of communicating with the mill owners; over time we have become a way of matching peoples skills with those who are searching for employees.

 

Beatrix said.

‘I understand. What I want right now is this place cleaned and decorated. Ready for fitting out to sell anything from floor coverings to beds, also clothes.

‘You said floor coverings; There is a firm that   already has a monopoly selling a whole range, their warehouse is about the same size as your shop.’

‘I See.’ Said Beatrix.

‘I will return to my office and look for some suitable work men for you. Also send a message to the carpet warehouse and a commercial cleaning firm to come this afternoon for a talk with you. let’s say one o’clock.’ 

 

One o’clock Mr goodman returned with three men.

‘This is Henry, Robert, and Michael. I picked these out as suitable candidates for caretakers.  Henry is what can be called fettlers, he can turn his hand to almost anything. Give them a trial, if you don’t think they are suitable, return them, and I will look further, sort of try before you buy. Ha here is the carpet man, bang on time.’

 

‘Mr Cartwright, meet Mrs Beatrix Stubley, Mrs Stubley is thinking of selling floor coverings from here, I have already put her in the picture.’ 

‘Yes, Mr Goodman has already told me, almost not to bother. I want to cover home essentials completely., including floor coverings, I wonder would you be interested in renting floor space in my shop to show a selection of your goods?’

‘Mrs Beatrix. I like your idea; let me and you get our heads together, I would provide a trained salesperson to man the space and give you a small percentage of the sales plus a floor rental, how does that sound?’

Beatrix turned to Josua.

‘What do you say? I think it sounds reasonable for a beginning.’

‘Yes. It is worth a try we have nothing to lose, have we?’

‘I ask my husband half of our money is his.’

‘Once you are in a position to take in goods let me know.’

‘I called that Jones, the cleaning chap, but he hasn’t put in an appearance.’

‘Don’t rely on him, he will be stuck in a pub somewhere.’

 

Henry spoke up

‘Get us some equipment and stuff. We are the caretakers; its our job to clean and decorate. You don’t need any contract cleaners, we do all the cleaning fetching and moving.’

Ok Mr caretaker you three come with me to my suppliers, you can put all of your needs onto my account. I will recommend Mrs Stubley for an account we can sort out the money later they will be asking for your accountant.’

‘I am the accountant. I am registered in Amsterdam.’

‘That should be alright.’

 

The three caretakers returned with the cleaning materials tied onto two sack barrows and two carrying two tubs of emulsion paints each.

 

Henry reported ‘We bought, two sack barrows to help cart things around later, we have four tubs of emulsion paint to cover the walls of the main sales halls, a rose colour for the ground floor and a light orange for the first floor, both are warm colours to give the customers a feeling of warmth, which is supposed to make them spend their money.’

‘I hope that works; can we get all this up to the next floor, out of the sight of the windows.’

When all the equipment was upstairs Beatrix said to leave.

‘Make this an early finish; I want you all back at seven o’clock in the morning ready to begin working, bring a lunch and a drink with you; OK go now.’

 

Beatrix arrived at the shop entrance at a quarter to seven, to find Henry and Robert waiting. They swapped greetings.

 

Henery said. ‘We will begin by painting the walls then as they dry, we can rub down the skirting boards and paint them.’

‘Robert, can you make a start on this floor, leave the upstairs office space until last. Where is the other lad? Michael, isn’t it? It is now seven thirty, ah, well, if he can’t get up; Henry, you can help me for a while.’

‘Sort this pile of stuff you bought yesterday and make a list. Hear is a note pad and a ledger.’

Producing a large ledger and notepad from her voluminous handbag.

’This is to be our purchase ledger, I have another for any goods taken from stores and the destination, I would like for you to be in charge of them for now.’

‘Me Mrs Stubley?’

‘Not Mrs Stubley, keep Mrs Stubley for when others are present; for you when you are working with me it is Mrs Beatrix, I will be in the roof office for a while if I am needed; oh, when you finish that job begin to rub down the skirting boards with Robert.’

 

Beatrix went to measure up the roof top office suite.

‘Hasn’t Michael turned up yet?’

‘No Mrs St, er Beatrix.’

‘How are you getting on?’

‘Robert is doing the lower part of the wall; I am doing the top part off this step ladder.’

 

Michael arrived at ten o’clock. The two lads looked at each other, then at Beatrix.

‘What time do you call this? We were here at seven o’clock. Michael was taking his coat off.  ‘No, don’t take your coat off you are not staying you are sacked.

If you can’t arrive on time on your first day, we don’t need you, so go back home.’

 

‘You are a hard hearted ‘so and so, Mrs B.’

 

‘We don’t want people who skive; there are plenty of people out there looking for jobs. It isn’t my money that we are spending it is mine and Mr Joshuas grandparents' money and we must make it work. It is their retirement money.’

 

‘You, are still hard-hearted Mrs Beatrix.’

George Goodman came and heard what Henry had said.

‘So, Mrs Beatrix is hard hearted is she, why.’

‘She has just sacked Michael, because he was a bit late.’

‘How late?’

Subdued now, Henry replied ‘Three hours.’

 

‘It is Mrs Beatrix’s shop, just watch it privileges can be removed, you can’t run a business with people who turn up when they work when they want, you are on trial by Mrs Beatrix, she is going to be a very influential person around here once this shop gets going, you could ride along under her influence if you work it right; come down to the Mechanics Institute and meet with others, find out what is happening before the general public, think on what I have said and keep on the right side of Mrs Beatrix.’

 

Frank Cartwright came in at that moment with two men carrying a book of colour samples and a tape measure.

‘How are things going?’

‘Come upstairs and have a look.’ From Henry.

 

‘Are you doing the top part off s step ladder?’

‘Yes, it’s all that we have, it’s OK, isn’t it?’

Frank called to his men.

‘Can you go back to the shop and bring some portable scaffolding, and planks for these lads.’

‘It‘s, going need another coat.’

‘I know that you can manage, with what you have, but we are here to help, just ask, I have equipment standing idle, that I am willing to lend you, for free.’

’Come down to the mechanics, Wednesday night we run courses for young lads like you, working their way up, keeping up with their Mrs Beatrix’s.’

 

A young lady came in.

‘Where is the boss lady. I want a word with her.’

‘Can I help you madam? Mrs Stubley is not available just now; she is with some trades men who she is looking to do some work for her.’

 

Frank and Fred, both put their thumbs up.

‘She sacked my husband this morning.’

Oh Michael; he came in three hours late, I, that is, we, are looking for a replacement.’

‘Can I have a job then?’

‘What skills have you?’

‘I can run a house when that waister brings in some money I can sew and make curtains for friends, I made this outfit,’

‘Give me a minute please and see if I can interrupt them.’

 

‘Michael's wife Mrs Stubley, looking for a job, she can sew and makes curtains for friends to make ends meet. Could we have a made to measure curtain stall. Do you want a word with her, or send her away?’

‘No don’t send her away, she wants work, she needs work for her family, I will go and have a word with her.’

 

When Beatrix had left them, Frank said you handled that well.

Yes, she kicked out her husband who wouldn’t work, but here is a woman who wants to work and needs the money,

Mrs Beatrix will be pleased. Join us at the mechanics.’

‘Ok Wednesday night.’

 

Beatrix returned.

‘Carol is taken on just keep her busy at whatever she can do for now, when you get my office suite ready, she will fit it out, and can take turns on the counters as we open, so I am not as hard-hearted as you said am I; oh, and I am going to offer made to measure curtains with matching cushions, I will have to invest in a good sewing machine for her to use?

 

 

Franks two men came with a cart carrying some portable scaffolding and planks.

‘We are short of work just now, so he has sent us to do the upper part of your walls. you can do the lower part yourselves; we will measure for your floor covering, then finish the walls, that should be two or three days; So, your boss can get some furniture and stock on order.’

‘I will tell her.’

Carol reported that she was finished in the roof top office suite.

 

 

Frank turned up with a sample of a hard-wearing carpeting.

‘We find that this wears well in busy places; If that is alright with you? can we sort some colours we can get them delivered direct. Three deliveries one for each colour; top floor first; your roof top office; I can take from stock, possibly using leftovers or off cuts, whatever is in stock; so, I just need the colours.’

 

‘Gound floor a dark maroon; first floor, clothing, say a darkish oatmeal; Second floor, office and workshops, Dark blue.’

 

I can get these delivered direct from the factory.’

 

‘Henry! could you go to the mechanics? And tell George that we will be looking for staff, A senior salesperson and an office supervisor, and senior display person. I will also need two for the accounts section, I will supervise those. Then later some counter assistants, salespeople.’

 

Henry returned. ‘George asks if you could get down tomorrow night, when he can organise an interview room for you.’

 

          

When they arrived at the mechanics Hall: George had given out a number, of application forms. ‘They will be mixed as to their abilities; it may be better to just interview them as they come and make notes on the forms then sort them back in the office. Oh Yes! I have seen a nice-looking desk in a second hand shop out Thornhill way, can I call round tomorrow morning to take you to see it.’

 

‘Yes, any time I think they are fitting the carpets, and I would possibly be in their way the caretakers can; ‘as they say’ ‘take care of things like that’; that’s what they are paid to do.’

‘That is the right attitude to have; why have a dog and bark yourself, it’s called delegation of duties.’

‘Now let us see the applicants; I will look for four immediately and some extras as counter staff and secretarial. How many applicants have we?’

‘In total sixteen.’

‘Right let me have the forms to go through.’

 

 

 

It was a small office desk made of mahogany, the top had a dark blue leather insert, it had two drawers down each side, the lower ones being sized to take foolscap files; and thee pullout boards, one above each drawer and one full width of the central opening; the central space had a matching enclosing modesty board; on closer inspection their were two small lidded cubby holes underneath at the back, up against the modesty board,  hidden from view looking close they were also fitted with a lock,

‘I am having this; thank you George’.

’I will send two men round with a cart. It can go straight upstairs; just let me take all the keys with me.’ She said, locking them and putting the keys safely in her bag.

 

‘I have sorted out six people. Off the list:

Leonard Wilson; to run the office.

Captain Brown, as senior sales, he can act as my spokesman for the men.

Carol can act as spokesman for the ladies, she will be selling made-to-measure curtains and soft furnishings, alongside the floor coverings.

Mary Dewhurst, for the window and shop displays; and

two girls to work on the accounts, with me.

Henry has brought one of his friends to bring our caretakers numbers up,

So, it is just getting the floor coverings and heavy shop fittings, and stocks; all in place. I will be needing salesmen and women shortly.