Shedding some light
The situation in New Orleans has long since dropped off the national radar screen (except for Dollar Bill Jefferson) and it’s to be expected, this being nine months after The Late Unpleasantness. I remember talking about this here way back in September. It’s just the nature of things — and we’ve often not been our own best friends either. But a friend asked me the other day about how things are in this city and today was pretty much a microcosm of what it’s like to run a business here these days.
On the surface, my business has had the best ten-day sales period of any ten days in its history. Yay for me, right? Delivery, however, is quite another matter. It has taken pretty much all my personal worth and company worth to survive this long (no power and roof until a few weeks ago, remember?), so we’re majorly in the hole to begin with. Forget about credit — that was sucked down the crapper trying to pay the normal bills so I could get this far. So now that orders are finally rolling in, what happens?
To begin with, my main supplier’s staff has been cut from over 80 to less than 40. This means the accounts payable lady is now doubling as a salesperson and has no clue what I need. Even when things ARE delivered to me on time, they can tend to be the wrong items. Driving from Point A to Point B can be iffy because of road obstructions and, even if you get there, the hours of the place you’re going to might have been cut so they’re closed when you finally arrive. Sigh. All the rules have changed and they keep changing day to day. And it’s no one’s fault. It’s just How Things Are. And will be for quite some time.
I could go on and on. I’m not griping as much as I’m explaining. What used to be normal is now the exceptional — and it means running a business is now less a challenge and more a marathon endurance contest. Business owners like myself have long since given up hoping or asking for help — since we know it’s going to be up to us. But I gotta tell you it’s frustraing to end the day, come home and think, “Damn. I’d have killed for this much business a year ago. Now that I’ve got it, how do I deliver?” It’s like someone stays up overnight coming up with new roadblocks.
It’ll work itself out okay. It’s just the short-term that’s very frustrating in this city these days. And too many folks simply can’t wait anymore. These days, it’s a miracle to just get enough together to open the door and turn on the lights for another day.
This is, of course, assuming the lights work.
Related posts:
O, get over yourselve, you got a roof
‘fore hurricane season to rip it off again!!!!!!!!
:P
Woo hooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
tres’ bon chance
Laurie
Ready?
http://www.goes.noaa.gov/
Laurie
Craig, you’ve been through a lot. It looks like you’re going to make it, but what a helluva price to pay. No one outside NO seems to understand that all they’ve seen is negative PR. They understand nothing at all that small businesses have survived on savings for 9 months now.
We didn’t get one dime of help either, even though our customer base is gone. I won’t go into specifics, but we’re finished. No, I don’t own the company, but I’ve worked for the man for 21 years. He did everything he was supposed to do for all of these years, had all of the insurance needed. More insurance wouldn’t have helped. The delay in helping rebuild New Orleans surely didn’t help at all.
Anyway, we’ll start again. That’s what we do. And if people want to say to the people of NO, “Be self-sufficient. Be on your own….” somehow I KNOW they couldn’t have stood all of this time on nothing BUT self-sufficiency (and a wing, prayer & hope).
Good luck to you, and don’t let the bastards wear you down. Congratulations on the sales increase, also. That’s a great accomplishment.
Glad to hear you’ve gotten your feet on the ground again even if you’re barely on your toes and holding your breath…one more day is all any of us hope for anymore.
I’m rooting for ya.
Hey, Craig, and Kimmie, naturally, I must concur with Jack’s sentiments…well done Rev!If ya don’t stand UP for yourselves, NO ONE else will…I don’t care WHERE ya live. That’s life.(With SPECIAL heartfelt considerations to our NOLA amigos.)I won’t bust on TOO hard about the business license thing, (referring to the ‘Order in the Court’ blog,to which I briefly resonded). Congradulations on your LEGAL ‘bidness’!(Shoulda just got it in the first place, and SAVED the enjoyable court appearance, but HEY! It’s NOT my bidness.(KNOWWHAT’MSAYIN’?) YOU, and KIMMIE, have a UNIQUE opportunity to help form a new city based upon your personal intestinal fortitude. The world’s YER oyster, YOUR world being New ORLEANS.Twenty years from now, GIESEKE may be a household name in ‘town’! Ya nevah KNOW…My ADVISE to YOU–Get your business located to a MORE ’sea-level’ friendly area of the locale.(I was fortunate enuf to see the ‘PALACE’, and, sadly, the flood damage was LESS than exceptable.) A more favorable position would greatly improve your possibilities of continued success. Yeah, I know, EASIER’said’, than DONE…But, I’m sure you saw NOAA’s hurricane predictions, before I did,
Prepare NOW.Have FUN, be PRODUCTIVE, and PROTECT yourselves(with TBK in mind, of course…)Ya’ll can DO IT! Make it happen!!! Best wishes on your CONTINUED success! Pat