An update for anyone still around

Okay so it's been a while for me, but man have I been busy. I've had days here lately where no matter what preparations I make I still feel like I'm standing behind this counter getting my ass whipped repeatedly. I'll take it though. Business is not so bad this year. I think I've finally figured most of this out and hopefully I can start making this place successful. Keep your fingers crossed for me. So, as usual I hire seasonal help. I usually look for students that seem like they need help with their books, or seem like they have a good head on their shoulders. Occassionally if I get a student that just checks our prices and has to buy from the evil campus store because of financial aid, I'll throw a job opportunity at them. This semester, since I don't have the help of Mikes girlfriend Tiffany, I had to hire pretty much an all new staff. My first recruit was probably my best hire. Not because she works exceptionally hard, or is especially good with people...she works in Freshman Orientation. In a way I feel bad for her because they're likely going to fire her when they find out she's working here. She really enjoys what she does on campus and seems to have a genuine excitement for incoming Freshman. I couldn't deal with it the way she does, but she seems to be good at it. Anyway, she's moved to the top of the employee list, but I'll get to that in a minute.

Second hire. A high school cheerleader. Nope, not what you're thinking. I didn't hire her because she was the hot in crowd girl. She works at a place that does business with my uncle and knew how to work a cash register. She's cute, but I have a problem looking at 19 year old girls and saying they're hot. Guys hit on her in the store a lot so I guess she's good eye candy for freshman guys.

Third hire. She checked prices and was going to have to buy all her books on financial aid at the college. Seeing that this girl is likely struggling, I threw out a job opportunity to her. She jumped on it like you wouldn't believe. Post hiring I asked her where she worked...it's an underwear store. Seriously, that's not why I hired her. I basically denied the campus a sale that brought in several more sales, which in turn brings in more and more.

While it would be nice to hire based on looks like a restaurant manager does, I think things out a little more. Freshman Orientation girl is obvious. I'm not allowed at orientation and when I'm on campus the teachers I know pretty well look at me like "Are you supposed to be here? Do they know you're here?" Cheerleader is a freshman, she brings freshman friends. Lots of them. Underwear girl did about the same. I can see all three of them working for me next semester. They all seem trustworthy, they all get along, and they work hard when they're here. I find that's a trait uncommon in Freshman these days.

My other two employees are semi-permanent. I've got one who has been with me since last spring. How we know her is a drawn out story, but we'll just say she's a damn good employee as well. She's good at what she does, is an organization freak, and is competant enough to run the store if I'm not there. That's great to have in my position because I don't easily hand over the keys to this place, but with her I can. Last, but certainly not least is a stand in. I had originally asked my neighbor (you'll remember him from the Rum Runners posts...still searching for another place that needs rum by the way) if he'd work for me and he agreed. Currently his job as a Fireman at an Air Force Base has prohibited that because he works more overtime than he does anything else. I'm sure the money is good, but the lack of rum in my diet is not. Anyway, he recommended his friend because he doesn't have a job, but is a good worker. They're in the guard together so I think that's a recommendation I can take. Turns out he's a damn good worker. He doesn't sit still, the Freshman girls seem to love him, and last night we had a great idea to pay campus a visit. We'd half thought of getting stupid drunk and then hitting campus, but I decided against. Man that would have been fun though. Anyway, I've got these flyers that I printed up last semester that I didn't use all of. We absolutely plastered campus with flyers last night, wrote on chalk boards, dry erase boards, talked to people standing in line at the bookstore (can you imagine they didn't like that?), and then we ran in to my employee that works orientation. She showed us around and said "Ohh, they're doing another orientation tonight. You guys should go." Me and C (just needing our rumrunner companion to be complete) said "Fuckin' A right...let's go!" So we spent some time in academic advising glad handing and passing out flyers. I even spoke to a group of Freshman that didn't seem to care, but the parents sure did. Now I wish I'd shaved and not looked so much like a scruffy rum running pirate. I have a feeling that this morning campus is finding out to the fullest what we did last night and they will not be happy.

So that's what's new with me. The employees have made for some pretty good stories that I will just have to share at a later date. For now I'm a little busy. Have a good Thursday and we'll update again this weekend.