A Timeless Celebration

I was depressed for a few days after being treated rudely by the landlord, but now I am back up and running making new business plans. I am re-doing my website, all my business stationery and giving my business a new and more professional image.

After deciding to have a storefront at the beginning of the month, the first thing I did was to really get cracking on my business name. Even before I decided to lease the store, I have spent literally months trying to come up with a more professional business name. After months and months of headaches, I finally decided on a name. A TIMELESS CELEBRATION. I hope you like it. If not, too bad, I don't want to start from scratch again hehe. I chose "celebration" because I was hoping to not only target engaged couples, but also feature other special occasion products in the store and of course my dad's oil portraits that's been such a hit with anniversaries, grandchildren's birthdays, weddings, engagement, family portraits, etc...

Brushing up on my business skills, I've been reading some articles on marketing and advertising. Blogging is actually becoming very popular in driving new customers to your website. So I followed the trend and have started a blog as well. It will feature unique gift ideas, what the industry has to offer, trends and basically anything to do with events and weddings. Of course, I will still blog here as this is where I blog about more personal things. Hopefully I will get some loyal readers and this is where I can generate a steady clientèle instead of on and off like right now. So for the next little while, I will work on finishing up my new website and spend more energy on marketing and advertising.

Soon I will also have a Facebook group! Haha, yup, they actually mentioned Facebook in the articles as being one of the best way to market your business without spending a penny. You can also purchase some advertising features on Facebook for very little money. Hope you can help me spread the word once the Facebook group is up!

These are little things I'm trying to work on to have a solid foundation before rushing into anything. Although, a storefront would probably give my customers a more professional image than a home-based business. But I guess right now it's not the time and when the time comes, I will know for sure. I will work on my web-based business for now, that'd be the smart way to do things since I will be moving every year for the next three years. Deep down inside, I still hope to find another store near my place. On Thursday, I actually drove up and down St. Charles, St. Jean's and Des Sources looking for vacant stores. I jot down some phone numbers but didn't get a chance to call them yet. I know one of them is for a space that's smaller than the one I was about to lease and it costs 5 times the rent. That is in sane!

That's about it for now, little steps at a time. I know I will soon be busy with the children's Christmas musical, so God knew this is not the time for a store. I am suppose to do the props for the musical, but not sure how "exaggerated" they want the props to be. Perhaps a 20 feet tall background? Or nothing at all?

I also joined the Chinese Christmas Choir. I wasn't going to join because of my busy schedule (or at least I'd like to think I've a busy schedule), but realizing that this will be my last Christmas Choir ever (ok, maybe not EVER, but less chances to join) in Montreal :( I decided to make it fit into my schedule. That'd take up most of my Sundays until Christmas. No that I always get work done on Sundays anyway.

Time to Move On

So, I've been trying for a week now. The landlord's cell phone has been off and there's no one at the office (his secretary is on a one month vacation). At first I thought he blocked my number from his phone, but I tried blocking my number and using another phone to call him, still no luck. It's very weird, hope everything is alright with him. But it's time for me to move on! I am now making new plans and coming up with new ideas. This will be a long and challenging process, but it teaches me to be patient and not to rush things. In His time!

My Wedding Boutique

Hehehe, now I do have my own Wedding Boutique! My dream come true. Thanks Goh!

Better Days Are Ahead

Some how I had a feeling I wouldn't be able to sign the store lease on Monday. I guess I had doubts the whole time, that's why I said I shouldn't get too excited and get my hopes up!

So, Monday I had the appointment with the landlord and I was all ready to sign, I even brought my cheque book to write him a few postdated cheques and give the deposit for November's rent. I went in and told him that I'm ready to sign except that there're some typos in the lease that his secretary prepared. Basically she took another tenant's lease and changed the company name and other information that applied to me. I realized she didn't change everything that needed to be changed. So I wanted to tell the landlord that. I showed him the lease and pointed out the typos, he didn't even look at the lease for a second and said "look, I don't want to negotiate anymore, I'm telling you, lawyers are there to screw things up!" I looked at him and I was completely confused! WHAT? What did that have to do with lawyers? I was in there for 30 seconds and didn't even mention anything about the lawyer.

I also wanted to point out that we agreed to put down the first and last months' deposit upon signing the lease. But in the lease, it says the first month and last 2 months' deposit. I didn't even finish what I wanted to say, he said "just put down what you want and I will take a look at it." Horrible attitude, rude and completed made no sense! I was so frustrated I just left since he showed no interests in signing the lease that day.

I waited for his call all yesterday hoping that he would give in. No call. I waited all morning today. No call. I finally gave in and called him. I said "Hello, how are you." He said "I'm fine Caryn, but I am not happy." ...WHAT? "I will not take your offer." What in the world is going on? I told him "I don't understand." "Look, you saw what happened and I will not accept your offer for now." O.H M.I G.O.S.H! WHAT did he mean by "you saw what happened?" I'd love to know what happened 'cause I obviously didn't "see" what happened! "Look, I'm in a meeting right now and I just can't accept your offer." Speechless, I said "okay... can I call you back." He said call me back later.

Can someone please tell me what happened??

I was so frustrated, sad and worried when I got off the phone. I wasn't feeling well for the past few days, have a million things on my to-do-list and everything seem to be going wrong. I was so disappointed and was about to break down in tears. I was so depressed! The acceleration of my business and my dad's business depended on this store. It was literally 3x or more cheaper than any other stores we looked at and the other stores in that tiny mall brought good traffic. What was I going to do if we didn't have this store?? Luckily I wasn't depressed for long because LP reminded me that even though I don't know what I was going to do if we can't lease the store, God knows what I will happen and that He's our Heavenly Father. I prayed and God immediately comforted me.

Then my dear Goh Goh Alfred said to cheer up and that he will let me shop with his money and he actually took like 30 minutes to draw $1000 for me on msn with his mouse. It's so silly but it made me laugh so hard for the first time in three days. Then, with the business side of her, Gloria gave me legal advice! Later, my dear Isaac, with his busy schedule as a new Microsoftie, took time to write me a long email. It meant so much that you wrote to me and reminded me some things that I knew but had forgotten because I was too busy worrying. It's not over yet, I know that by the time I go to bed, Jasper will email me too (update: indeed, Jasper did message me. He said he wants to come back and kick the landlord's butt. Haha! It's okay, Jasper, just come back for my wedding!). I'm so blessed with all of you, literally around the world. LP in Edmonton (and in my heart and mind, hehehe don't puke!), Mui Mui and Goh Goh in Montreal, Isaac, even though you're in Seattle and Jasper in Australia, I know you'll always be there to listen and comfort me when I'm feeling down. I love you guys!

I will in fact call the landlord back. Not today though, I've had enough for the day. I will call him tomorrow if I feel like it. Just to see what he has to say. But whatever happens, like my future hubby and Isaac reminded me that God is definitely our Heavenly Father and that better days are ahead!

CCM Walkathon

We were really blessed by God on Saturday to have such beautiful weather. At the beginning of the week, we were struggling whether or not to postpone the Walk. Of course there's always pros and cons when postponing an event. Even though it was said to have 90% chances of rain all day Saturday and only 1 degree, we prayed and by faith we decided not to postpone the Walk. Rain or shine, we were going to complete the Walk. Later on in the week, the weather forecast indicated only 10% chances of shower in the morning and 60% in the afternoon. We knew right away God would bless us with beautiful weather and allow us to enjoy our Walk.

Indeed God did bless us with good weather. It wasn't too cold, around 10 degrees and it only rained the minute when the last participant arrived at our destination, Beaver Lake. Our group photo was taken out in the rain, but the Walk was really great.

I also came down with a cold Friday evening. Saturday morning was worse, I was freezing cold all morning, but I wasn't tired at all. I only felt all my energy drained after I left Beaver Lake, which I am very thankful for. Believe me, you wouldn't want to see me cranky all morning.

We had 70 people sign up, but in the end only 50 participants showed up. Our goal was $10,000 and we collected $2,500 in corporate sponsors. So we figured if 70 participants show up, each person would have to raise around $110 to reach our goal. With 50 people in the end, our total on Saturday came to $7,500. There are still some people who has yet to return their Donation Sheets. After we collect all the money during the next week or two, our grand total will look more like $8,000+. That's pretty awesome for only 50 participants! Praise the Lord!

Most money raised: Winnie Woo ($500) & Mr. Yu ($400) - Prize: $100 gift certificate to Orchid.
Fastest walker/runner: Robert Wong & Keith Foster - Prize: $50 gift certificate to a massage.
Youngest participant: Jonathan Yung - 15 years old
Oldest participant: Mr. Yu - 63 years old.
Most participants from fellowship: Elisha and Bethany from MCAC, yay MCAC!

Do continue to pray with us that the funds will be used wisely to reach out to the Chinese community in Montreal so that they may become part of our big family one day.









Thanks Gloria for your hard work throughout the whole planning process with promotion and all the other stuff and the day of the Walk! What would I have done without you, sista?? !

Thanks Alexei and Pastor Chan for the photos. Full photo album coming soon...

An Exciting Update!

Time really does fly by fast, the last mini blog I wrote was 2 weeks ago. Perhaps you were wondering why I randomly wrote GOD IS GOOD? There needs to be no reason for me to say that. Although, on that day, something very exciting did happen.

My goal and dream was always to have a gift shop/wedding boutique of my own. I was planning this probably for the year 2010 or 2011, which would be after LP graduate and we would have settled down by then. That's such a far way off! But I guess going retail is not easy, especially when we'd be moving once every year for the next 3 years and the most important issue is that I need to save enough money in order to lease a location, have an inventory and all those other business expenses such as business insurance, advertising, phone line, internet, and so on.

As you might or might not know, since I will be married off and moving away from Montreal in 8 months, dad and I have decided to move our oil portrait business online after our office lease ends at the end of the month. Then we'd be conducting our business online and cater to a whole different market. But knowing myself, I know that after we get rid of our office and have everything online, I wouldn't dedicate as much time to this business... not that I do now since I've a whole bunch of other responsibilities to fulfill.

On the day of my last post, I was shopping with mom and dad. We saw this little vacant retail store up for lease. I blurted out "maybe Dad should just rent a store instead of having the office so we don't have to spend as much energy advertising the oil portrait. At the same time, I can sell my wedding invitations and all that jazz." Dad right away says, "OKAY!" .... wait a minute... what? Okay? Wow, that was easy... and he was actually serious!

I wasted no time, within an hour, I booked an appointment with the landlord of the vacant store and the next day I was already negotiating with him. The week after, I made an official Offer to Lease, received a copy of the lease within half an hour, faxed it to my lawyer, he gave me the green lights, and now I'm ready to sign!

I can't believe this is actually happening! When I thought I'd have to wait for at least another 4 years, this is happening in less than 4 days!

You probably think there's something wrong with this picture... yes, what about our original concern of me not being here after I marry off in 8 months? What's going to happen to the store, who is going to look after it? Good questions, I don't know! I know, you must be laughing at me for jumping into this so soon without really giving it any thoughts. Somehow, I just have faith and trust that God will provide. If business goes well, then there'd be no problems hiring someone to look after the store for me. If business sucks, it would be obvious by the time I get married, then it'd be time to say bye bye.

You must be thinking I'm so spoiled I get the funds to take this risk. No... I'm not spoiled, I'm just very blessed =D HAHA!

Okay... maybe I shouldn't get my hopes up. I will only be signing the contract on Monday. So anything can happen between now and Monday! Fingers crossed...