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onetree
6 лет назад

We're three quarters moved in, and open for business - take a tour of the new shop with me.

Firstly, I simply can't believe the deal we got on this shop, as it is about 5X bigger than our previous shop, including the storage space, and in my opinion (as well as many others) opinion, in a much better spot for overall visibility.

Last year was a little bleak for us, we were forced to move out of a shop we had rented for 5 years as we were struggling to pay the rent. With very little time to find other premises we settled on a much smaller shop, and had to store the overflow at our home. Sometimes you want to punch people who say...everything happens for a reason...so luckily I'm far away from you now! But really all the bad stuff seemed to be leading us somewhere better...it seems...I hope.

Lucky (my favourite staff member) busy cleaning and setting up early this week.

The shop we were forced to vacate was an old fashioned space with no renovations and an old concrete floor, as it used to be a workshop. The monthly rental there was R12100 ($970). We have been struggling a bit since we have had to keep on paying them the arrears over the last 7 months. Now we only have one payment of R6000 ($480) left and that debt is cleared. The shop we moved into was quite pleasant, in a tiny little centre. After the years  of being under the negative atmosphere of the old shop, I felt quite relieved, and it was a novelty to have neighbours! The rental at that shop was R5500 ($440). Unfortunately, it really did turn out to be too cramped. My husband had been on the lookout for new premises, but I hated all the places he showed me. They felt wrong. This new shop came looking for us! Literally! The building we are in is a newly renovated ex-doctor's premises and the new landlords were quite determined they wanted my husband to rent their premises, and called him repeatedly to view the place. The first time I saw the shop, I was in love. Here we are only paying R7000 ($560), but for 5X more space and street frontage! The landlords even waived the deposit. Come take a look...

My clothing section is ready for business. My husband's stock still needs to be moved in. But at least we are open.

Signage up.

This little room is directly behind my office area. It will be were the clothing is ironed and online sales parcels are packed.

The passageway to the storage area.

I'm going to use this room for my online sales storage, as well as taking photos. We had to wait until last to move this from the house, as the alarm system still had to be set up. I also want to hold my "Steemit classes" here eventually.

This building was previously a doctor's surgery, and the old dispensary has become the staff's lunch room.

The security gate demarcates the separation of another 4 rooms, which are still to be rented. Previously they housed lawyer's offices. The landlords want R3000 ($240) for that section. A couple of people have already come to look at it. 

Another 2 little storage rooms. Very soon the whole place will be filled up, even the passageways, which will become narrow corridors.

Behind these doors are 2 toilets - thank goodness. I only have one female staff member and I DO NOT like sharing a toilet with the male staff members.

You can only reach my desk through the ironing/packing room which provides an additional layer of security for me, though because this is South Africa, my laptop still has to be chained up. A big bonus is that nobody can come into my space without an invitation!!!

My desk, messy as always, but with sooooo much more space. I have a constant view of the comings and goings of the road outside.

I have a window for fresh air....for the first time in 25 years!!! And a view of the glass monstrosity that is our Municipal Building.

The driveway leads out to the back of the premises. The landlords want to rent the back section for R2000 ($160) but until it is rented, we have use of it.

A few photos of the back section. In this last photo you can see my doctor's offices. It is very bizarre to be neighbours with my doctors of so many years, though I hardly ever go. At least appointments will be a breeze now.

These rather down-at-heel flats are our other neighbours.

The view of the Municipal Buildings from the front of the shop.

The driveway to the other tenants section, when it is leased. The whole premises was very overgrown, but we have hired a gardener to clean up. Since we have been so kindly afforded this opportunity, we are voluntarily undertaking all maintenance of the premises. This is probably why (most!) landlords in this town seek my husband out. Maybe one day we will rent the whole premises, if we are in the position to do so.

We have many regular customers as we have been in business for 25 years, and they are all ecstatic about the new premises. So many business owners around town have popped in to congratulate us on the new space too. It has made me realise how much a part of the small business community we are in this town, and has given me a renewed sense of vigour. It is also impossible for me to overstate how much Steemit has helped me over this difficult period, financially, but also emotionally! We are not out of the woods yet, and still face an uncertain future, but at least it is a sunnier uncertain future!

@onetree

(A postcript, if you have reached this far...the shop we were forced to vacate has been empty ever since...)

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