Hey, Folks!
Huh…it’s a little snowy out there this morning…lol. Every year after the first quasi-big snow I have the same experience. I get up, get outside, curse and whine when I see I have to, you know, actually scrape or clear the windows on the van, and then I always have one moment of abject terror when I am just driving along as usual and start sliding when I should be braking. THAT always wakes me up, way more than coffee ever has! Is it considered lazy that I don’t go outside and clear the store’s sidewalks of snowy gunk because I think that in an hour or two it will all melt on its own?
I love you folks…I really do. Everyone keeps coming in and giving me the thumbs up over the upcoming Store Takeover and letting me know that I’ll do just fine. I suspect that is true, but it’s nice to hear it as I struggle daily with waves of anxiety lapping at the shore of my usual calm demeanor. Every time I assure myself that everything is more or less ready my subconscious bubbles up and spits out another issue that I have to deal with before that is true. Today I got into the store extra early because even though I sent Diamond Distributors all of their requested paperwork (and more!) I have yet to hear back if the store’s account has been transferred over to my name yet. I also haven’t been expressly informed as to whether our payment terms are changing to C.O.D. or not. I tried calling our credit analyst at Diamond only to get a phone message that she went on vacation 11/27 with no indication on said message when she would be “back in the office”. Considering that I e-mailed the information packet after the 27th I have no idea whether she has actually even seen it or not. I left a voice message for her and tried to keep the frightened tremble out of my voice. Hopefully I will hear back soon.
I am also waiting for Steve to get in the store today so that we can call up Guardian Alarm and get the alarm account transferred to my name. That should be no biggie, especially since the bill for the alarm service covering January though March is already here at the store. I’d call myself, but I suspect that Steve will be the one they need to talk to at this point. Hopefully that will be a no brainer.
Additionally I still haven’t familiarized myself with the QuickBooks program I downloaded and installed a month ago. I opened it eagerly, but when I saw what looked to be an entirely overcomplicated screen I screamed once and shut it down while dissolving into tears. I need to put my Big Boy Pants on and figure out how to work it. I have received my new Square register and I need to set it up and turn it on and get it ready for use on the 2nd. Another quasi-scary thing although I have been assured that it will be pretty easy to use. I think I may need to have Hillman around to hold my hand when I start THAT procedure.
So, that’s pretty much everything still on my plate at this point. I am already making plans on what to do on January 1st. We are always closed on New Year’s Day, so I’m currently planning on coming in early in the day and working towards rearranging things a bit for my first day of ownership. One of the first big jobs I have to complete is cleaning out the backroom of the store and it will involve a certain amount of archeology…lol. If anyone is interested in purchasing the (very) old Monarch Comics sign from our old location then please, by all means, let me know. It’s been sitting in the backroom FOR YEARS and I need to get it out.
Well, suppose I should get started on getting this Shipping List/Subscription Form up and running. I hope that everyone has a great weekend and I look forward to seeing you before the holiday next week. Just for a refresher…here’s our holiday hours for this year:
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24TH, CHRISTMAS EVE: 11AM-5PM
FRIDAY, DECEMEBR 25TH, CHRISTMAS: CLOSED
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31ST, NEW YEAR’S EVE (AND STEVE’S LAST DAY): 11AM-5PM
FRIDAY, JANUARY 1ST, NEW YEAR’S DAY (AND ED’S FIRST DAY): CLOSED
Just a quick reminder…Monarch Comics Annual Post-Holiday Sale begins on the 2nd! All hard covers/trade paperbacks 25% off cover (or price marked), all back issue boxes 50% off price marked, all wall books/showcase books 25% off price marked, and the dollar boxes will be 3 for a $1. This will run throughout the months of January and February and will include any special orders made for trades.
Take care and watch those slippery roads!
Eddie