THE STORE ON THE HILL

Teach the Word and sometimes use words

The Store On The Hill

The place was just a few blocks away from everything. It's an offer that I couldn't turn down given its prime commercial location. Since its reopening of seven weeks shy. It hasn't garnered that much expected attention albeit its convenient location near the highway. It's eclipsed by huge well established retails surrounding the still booming vicinity. Perhaps the neighborhood didn't know we are there after the previous owner filed chapter 13, closed and resold the small establishment.

After so much thought and work given, using all the stash I've saved from years of procrastination. I have the place up and running. Including a contingency plan for future expansion should it have a good turn out. Not to mention the rigors that entails in such dubious venture. I tumbled the thought like delicate fabric under a dryer's heat in lieu of the possibility of a lost investment.

I've manage to sell some few items that caters to young customer's spiritual taste allowing me to break even. Yet its the few regulars that I have befriended that kept my spirit high and my shaky business open. Still hoping to get some more customers or regain the previous owner's patrons.

I have had more than many slow days and share of disappointments. Sometimes you felt like a meat slowly stewing inside a crackpot trying to make both end meet till someone fired up the oven and turned it into a pressure cooker. Then I have had some few complaints from unsatisfied shoppers followed by a flying object with enough velocity to travel upward, which knocked a hole on my neon sign, busting a few light bulbs.

The trajectory of the rock and where the pieces of glass had landed suggest that it's not some random acts of nature or accident. Perhaps some irate locals who was so caught up with politics and immigration reforms could have been the culprit or perhaps triggered by someone who didn't like my intonation. I have softened it though after many years of practice. Nevertheless, it's not worth filing a complaint or reporting to authorities.

To boost the store revenue I did some phone sales. Posted items on social sites similar to Ebay. But such small business is an endangered species trying to compete against movers and shakers. Inasmuch as selling hay to a dying breed. The young generation nowadays prefer the larger and more luxurious establishments or subscribe and shop online with a click of a mouse than go to some local store. Indeed, gone are the days when people walked into a store to ask and buy, let alone have a conversation with the enterprenuer ...

by NeiL ArandA 11/11/15

Reviews

[Daisie Vergara (Dhaye)]

*Third paragraph: to sell (instead of to sold)

Literally, in this modern times, people are really smart. When it comes to entrepreneurship, you should understand that the mode of buying now is also modernized. Customers prefer effortless and time-saving buying activities than the traditional pick-test/fit-buy mode. We have many online stores now and of course, effortless and tpme-savers.

Figuratively, when we compare it to other aspects of life, people are used to "instant" matters. But there are reallt things that will be better if chosen correctly. I think one point here is the disadvantages of not seeing the actual product when buying. Of course, one will NOT see the negative aspects of the product online, unlike in actual that you can touch and even find defects or the possible weakness of it.

Actually, your story is so smart, Neil. Analogy is a clever device and always interesting for me. You can compare this to the subject of choosing a certain a person, a group, a product, or service offered.

You are getting better and better, Neil. Glad you continue writing while you are pursuing your studies/career and religious mission.

[NeiL ArandA]

Thanks Dhaye for the read. Imagine someone who is just starting to open up a small business and compare that with someone who doesn't have any experience in teaching. I like your pondering.

[gabrielle]

People have different priorities these days and spirituality is not one of them (but I do hope I am mistaken). Here in my place, there are lots of people in the shopping stores during summer time yet there's no significant increase in sales. It turned out people go to shopping malls for free aircon. :)

[NeiL ArandA]

That is so correct... with new age technology. People are tempted to just shop around and subscribed to devotional study online than personally and physically going to get fed and fellowship in any spiritual discussion and discourse. I think Gab window shopping without actually buying comes with free air conditioning to stay cool and escape the blazing heat. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. :)