A train station in Kinokawa, Japan, is unstaffed. But there's now a cat on watch.
Tama, a 9-year-old tortoiseshell who liked to hang out in the station after it went unstaffed because of declining revenue, rose to national stardom when the train line appointed her "stationmaster" last year, Agence France-Presse reports.
"Tama is the only stationmaster as we have to reduce personnel costs. You say you could ask for the cat's help, but she is actually bringing luck to us," Wakayama Electric spokeswoman Keiko Yamaki said.
This talk of good luck brings to mind the "Maneki Neko," the Japanese tradition of the Beckoning Cat, which is considered good luck. You've probably seen the figurines of the cat, like the one here, with its left paw raised.
But getting back to Tama. It's hard to know how serious the company is when it credits her with boosting ridership, saying that it promoted the feline to "super-stationmaster" in January, making her "the only female in a managerial position" in the company's 36-strong workforce."
"She now holds the fifth-highest position in the company," an official joked to AFP.
Tamu sometimes wears an official-looking cap and sits on top of a ticket gate greeting riders. Kind of like a bookstore cat with more responsibility and, we think, a higher pay grade.
But not so, according to AFP, which says she is compensated in food, not salary.
2008/02/02
2007/12/07
If you decide to try a new food, especially one that is high in protein, fat or other factors, do it slowly. I recommend no more than 10% of the new diet added to the old for the first week, and then adding 10% a week until the new diet is integrated.
Many new customers feel like their pets cannot eat a diet like the ones we sell because they have sensitive stomachs or that they just don't get along with the new foods. Much of this can be alleviated by following the simple steps above. Unless there are other health risks, or serious allergies, I believe any dog or cat can achieve success on our diets.
If you feed a diet that is heavily laden in any of the following, it is going to be more of a project than you might think: wheat- and corn-based products, meat by-products, flavorings or colorings, artificial preservatives. Most of these items are vague and unspecified in the ingredients and it is unlikely the manufacturers will disclose their true recipes. Some may not even know what goes into their own foods. Many of these ingredients act as fillers in place of what could be greater quantities of high quality ingredients. If this is the case, then mixing foods should be a very slow, gradual process.
For the animal's digestive system has to undergo an evolutionary process in terms of how it processes the new food. That is, the levels and mixture of digestive juices must change in response to the new diet. This is the main source of dietary stress when changing diets, and the most common cause of rejection of new foods. I might even call it a devolution because cats and dogs diets traditionally have been much more closely linked to the kinds of foods we carry. Thus their bodies must perform a global change of how they function. This can also be a cleansing process as the body releases toxins and other by-products that are stored in the cells.
You will find that there is a great difference between many of the largest food producers and the ones who care the most about their ingredients. It is much more likely that your dog will experience fewer allergies, digestive upsets and general health issues on a clean, healthy diet.
It is up to the owner to choose what is best for the animal, but I do my best to make sure that if you are making choices at my store you will be selecting from only healthy products.
Many new customers feel like their pets cannot eat a diet like the ones we sell because they have sensitive stomachs or that they just don't get along with the new foods. Much of this can be alleviated by following the simple steps above. Unless there are other health risks, or serious allergies, I believe any dog or cat can achieve success on our diets.
If you feed a diet that is heavily laden in any of the following, it is going to be more of a project than you might think: wheat- and corn-based products, meat by-products, flavorings or colorings, artificial preservatives. Most of these items are vague and unspecified in the ingredients and it is unlikely the manufacturers will disclose their true recipes. Some may not even know what goes into their own foods. Many of these ingredients act as fillers in place of what could be greater quantities of high quality ingredients. If this is the case, then mixing foods should be a very slow, gradual process.
For the animal's digestive system has to undergo an evolutionary process in terms of how it processes the new food. That is, the levels and mixture of digestive juices must change in response to the new diet. This is the main source of dietary stress when changing diets, and the most common cause of rejection of new foods. I might even call it a devolution because cats and dogs diets traditionally have been much more closely linked to the kinds of foods we carry. Thus their bodies must perform a global change of how they function. This can also be a cleansing process as the body releases toxins and other by-products that are stored in the cells.
You will find that there is a great difference between many of the largest food producers and the ones who care the most about their ingredients. It is much more likely that your dog will experience fewer allergies, digestive upsets and general health issues on a clean, healthy diet.
It is up to the owner to choose what is best for the animal, but I do my best to make sure that if you are making choices at my store you will be selecting from only healthy products.
2007/10/30
If you must leave your dog outside this time of year, as the sunshine wanes and the winds pick up, and there is much less warmth than just a few weeks ago, then please make sure they have adequate shelter or protection.
A jacket or a doghouse with a blanket, or both, would be a great way to make sure they do not succumb to exposure.
The wind chill factor is the worst part of being an outdoor dog and it is cruel and unfair for these animals to have to live an outdoor life with nothing but their fur and bare skin to keep them warm.
If you see a dog that is living outside, perhaps curled up into a ball, or is shivering and barking to come in - help them!
A jacket or a doghouse with a blanket, or both, would be a great way to make sure they do not succumb to exposure.
The wind chill factor is the worst part of being an outdoor dog and it is cruel and unfair for these animals to have to live an outdoor life with nothing but their fur and bare skin to keep them warm.
If you see a dog that is living outside, perhaps curled up into a ball, or is shivering and barking to come in - help them!
2007/10/23
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hondo_Dog_Park
Well, so have you been to Hondo?
There are some stark differences between the two dog run spaces, that is for sure. For example, don't go to the park expecting to run on the grass after September - never mind that it is Winter 9 months out of the year in Hillsboro. My first time out it was dry and dusty, but sure enough the grassy area was closed off so Sadie had to eat dirt in the sandy winter run. I suppose the winter run will get the most use even though it consumes only about 20% of the total run space.
There's no water in the winter run unless you bring it yourself. The summer run has a nice fountain, but it is off limits to the winter run. For some reason the designers did not think of a way to share the water fountain. Like it's going to freeze up in Portland, right?
There is no small dog area in the winter run, and each time I have been out some poor little beast has ended up screaming as it got swarmed by much larger dogs. The owners ARE attentive though, and I haven't seen any actual injuries. Just a lot of loud screams from some little dogs who should be amongst their peers.
So we'll wait for summer again, I suppose in June or July, to run on the beautiful grass at Hondo Park. To drink the cool water and roll in the mud, and not get sand in our eyes.
It seems a shame that so much thought was poured into the summer run in a climate that doesn't favor the summer months. The winter run really is too small and cramped on a weekend. I would probably switch to weekday use and see how it goes. It's almost too small to even use a Chuckit!
On the upside everyone picks up after themselves and people are courteous and nice -- a rarity these days, as even at Gabriel Park I have had to fend off mean dogs who have tried to bite Sadie, sometimes successfully. Even if the winter run is way too small, they can expand it in the future I am sure. Until then, I may not go as often as I thought I might.
Well, so have you been to Hondo?
There are some stark differences between the two dog run spaces, that is for sure. For example, don't go to the park expecting to run on the grass after September - never mind that it is Winter 9 months out of the year in Hillsboro. My first time out it was dry and dusty, but sure enough the grassy area was closed off so Sadie had to eat dirt in the sandy winter run. I suppose the winter run will get the most use even though it consumes only about 20% of the total run space.
There's no water in the winter run unless you bring it yourself. The summer run has a nice fountain, but it is off limits to the winter run. For some reason the designers did not think of a way to share the water fountain. Like it's going to freeze up in Portland, right?
There is no small dog area in the winter run, and each time I have been out some poor little beast has ended up screaming as it got swarmed by much larger dogs. The owners ARE attentive though, and I haven't seen any actual injuries. Just a lot of loud screams from some little dogs who should be amongst their peers.
So we'll wait for summer again, I suppose in June or July, to run on the beautiful grass at Hondo Park. To drink the cool water and roll in the mud, and not get sand in our eyes.
It seems a shame that so much thought was poured into the summer run in a climate that doesn't favor the summer months. The winter run really is too small and cramped on a weekend. I would probably switch to weekday use and see how it goes. It's almost too small to even use a Chuckit!
On the upside everyone picks up after themselves and people are courteous and nice -- a rarity these days, as even at Gabriel Park I have had to fend off mean dogs who have tried to bite Sadie, sometimes successfully. Even if the winter run is way too small, they can expand it in the future I am sure. Until then, I may not go as often as I thought I might.
2007/08/26
In March of 2007, we did pull our entire stock of Natural Balance due to the pet food recall. Almost all of our customers have stuck with us who were using NB before.
The pet food industry is always going to have recalls, just like any other major industry. Here at the store we pay attention on a daily basis to several key news sources and vendors, who have in the past immediately alerted us to any problems that could arise. When it became apparent to me that companies did not know what kind of contamination was occurring, during the March recall we took quick action to eliminate any possible threat of contamination.
My goal has always been to let every choice at the store be a healthy one. I feel confident that we are much more immune to most problems that could occur now than prior to the recall; it has made the store safer, if anything.
The pet food industry is always going to have recalls, just like any other major industry. Here at the store we pay attention on a daily basis to several key news sources and vendors, who have in the past immediately alerted us to any problems that could arise. When it became apparent to me that companies did not know what kind of contamination was occurring, during the March recall we took quick action to eliminate any possible threat of contamination.
My goal has always been to let every choice at the store be a healthy one. I feel confident that we are much more immune to most problems that could occur now than prior to the recall; it has made the store safer, if anything.
2007/05/30
2007/03/21
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Homemade-Pet-Food.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/30/us/30cnd-pet.html?hp
http://www.menufoods.com/recall/index.html
Most Authoritative:
http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html
See also - http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2001/301_pet.html
I know I have been slow to post. This recall did not affect the Bark Market. This is the second significant recall in as many years on a nationwide scale. Neither one affected us. So far our track record has been pretty good.
The few things that slip into the store that may have expired or may be faulty product have been regularly and quickly weeded out. I rarely see an instance of something less than fresh anywhere in the store.
Significant consideration goes into our food selection. Though everyone has a different feeding plan, no matter what you feed from our shelves it will be a healthy choice.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/30/us/30cnd-pet.html?hp
http://www.menufoods.com/recall/index.html
Most Authoritative:
http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html
See also - http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2001/301_pet.html
I know I have been slow to post. This recall did not affect the Bark Market. This is the second significant recall in as many years on a nationwide scale. Neither one affected us. So far our track record has been pretty good.
The few things that slip into the store that may have expired or may be faulty product have been regularly and quickly weeded out. I rarely see an instance of something less than fresh anywhere in the store.
Significant consideration goes into our food selection. Though everyone has a different feeding plan, no matter what you feed from our shelves it will be a healthy choice.
2007/03/09
Perhaps in a few years we'll be doing a Democratic version. For now I am counting down to 2009 by watching the progression of our President from "leader" of the free world to humble private citizen. To date we have seen a few bits of evidence of a lame duck in the White House, i.e. Rummy, Libby, etc... It's not fun, but it is profound!
07.15.08
WASHINGTON -- In a swift rebuke to President Bush, Congress voted overwhelmingly today to override his veto of a Medicare bill that would forestall pay cuts to doctors who treated seniors, the disabled and military personnel.
The bill also affects the 9.2 million active and retired military personnel and their family members who use the military's Tricare system, because it uses payment rates set by Medicare.
If the president's veto stood, it would be "nothing less than a disaster for the military community," said Sgt. Mark Seavey of the National Guard.
07.08.08, Ridiculously Lame!
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Vice President Dick Cheney's office pushed for major deletions in congressional testimony on the public health consequences of climate change, fearing the presentation by a leading health official might make it harder to avoid regulating greenhouse gases, a former EPA officials maintains.
06.29.08
NYT - Representative Henry Waxman recently asked a question for which we would also like an answer: “How did a company run by a 21-year-old president and a 25-year-old former masseur get a sensitive $300 million contract to supply ammunition to Afghan forces?” Mr. Waxman raised the issue after executives of a Miami Beach arms dealer, AEY, were indicted on fraud charges this month, accused of pawning off tens of millions of banned and decrepit Chinese cartridges on the United States Army to supply Afghan security forces.
06.05.08
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A new Senate report gives a fresh shot of adrenaline to the election-year debate over the Iraq war. President Bush and his top officials deliberately misrepresented secret intelligence to make the case to invade Iraq, according to the Senate Intelligence Committee.
05.23.08
WASHINGTON (AP) -- In a stunning vote that illustrated President Bush's diminished standing, the Senate on Thursday ignored his veto threat and added tens of billions of dollars for veterans and the unemployed to his Iraq war spending bill.
05.16.08
SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt (AP) -- President Bush said Saturday that the Saudis' modest increase in oil production is ''something but it doesn't solve our problem'' of soaring gas prices.
07.15.08
WASHINGTON -- In a swift rebuke to President Bush, Congress voted overwhelmingly today to override his veto of a Medicare bill that would forestall pay cuts to doctors who treated seniors, the disabled and military personnel.
The bill also affects the 9.2 million active and retired military personnel and their family members who use the military's Tricare system, because it uses payment rates set by Medicare.
If the president's veto stood, it would be "nothing less than a disaster for the military community," said Sgt. Mark Seavey of the National Guard.
07.08.08, Ridiculously Lame!
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Vice President Dick Cheney's office pushed for major deletions in congressional testimony on the public health consequences of climate change, fearing the presentation by a leading health official might make it harder to avoid regulating greenhouse gases, a former EPA officials maintains.
06.29.08
NYT - Representative Henry Waxman recently asked a question for which we would also like an answer: “How did a company run by a 21-year-old president and a 25-year-old former masseur get a sensitive $300 million contract to supply ammunition to Afghan forces?” Mr. Waxman raised the issue after executives of a Miami Beach arms dealer, AEY, were indicted on fraud charges this month, accused of pawning off tens of millions of banned and decrepit Chinese cartridges on the United States Army to supply Afghan security forces.
06.05.08
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A new Senate report gives a fresh shot of adrenaline to the election-year debate over the Iraq war. President Bush and his top officials deliberately misrepresented secret intelligence to make the case to invade Iraq, according to the Senate Intelligence Committee.
05.23.08
WASHINGTON (AP) -- In a stunning vote that illustrated President Bush's diminished standing, the Senate on Thursday ignored his veto threat and added tens of billions of dollars for veterans and the unemployed to his Iraq war spending bill.
05.16.08
SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt (AP) -- President Bush said Saturday that the Saudis' modest increase in oil production is ''something but it doesn't solve our problem'' of soaring gas prices.
2007/02/13
Just for fun I am going to to publicly list all the email addresses that spam the Bark Market! If you recognize your email, let me know. Otherwise...welcome to my blog...
nekpneumenava@mymail-in.net, 7.05
Dan1oo@ya.ru, 6.22
dymnrerewrefe@uastar.net, 6.21
mans1@pochta.ru, 6.09
rxop@kczx.com, 5.26
cyrthebaileygrpdaj@thebaileygrp.com, 5.25
Dan1oo@narod.ru, 05.22.08
fmmjts@rhgmtr.com
998sherm27@jhcopyservice.com
a-773@adshp.com
karinm0007@libero.it
bamaceegrlqixec@alicedsl.de
ghbkxasbmkbd@bluehawaiiweddings.com
rollogsafujm@QWEST.NET
rbritsch@bms.com
namjery@carangola.br
csm@mailmessagecenter.info
ccaminhuoso@homerightliving.com
gregori@aol.com
new605@gmail.com
qwekdfs@uaclub.net
kmdignity@mailnation.net
kate@aol.com
qsdfekdfs@pozitifff.com
znbourneville@m33access.com
pusherybype@mymail-in.net
nekpneumenava@mymail-in.net, 7.05
Dan1oo@ya.ru, 6.22
dymnrerewrefe@uastar.net, 6.21
mans1@pochta.ru, 6.09
rxop@kczx.com, 5.26
cyrthebaileygrpdaj@thebaileygrp.com, 5.25
Dan1oo@narod.ru, 05.22.08
fmmjts@rhgmtr.com
998sherm27@jhcopyservice.com
a-773@adshp.com
karinm0007@libero.it
bamaceegrlqixec@alicedsl.de
ghbkxasbmkbd@bluehawaiiweddings.com
rollogsafujm@QWEST.NET
rbritsch@bms.com
namjery@carangola.br
csm@mailmessagecenter.info
ccaminhuoso@homerightliving.com
gregori@aol.com
new605@gmail.com
qwekdfs@uaclub.net
kmdignity@mailnation.net
kate@aol.com
qsdfekdfs@pozitifff.com
znbourneville@m33access.com
pusherybype@mymail-in.net
2006/10/18
OK, so we carry canadian foods and treats. But I can't seem to get any bully sticks. Gordon Smith's office is going to talk to the Dept of Ag and see if the hold up can be ameliorated. Whew!
Here is the State Department advisory on taking dogs to the Great White North:
"Currently, there is no quarantine for importing pet dogs. If you have several dogs, you may be asked to provide certification verifying that they are your personal pets and are not for resale. These conditions apply for temporary visits and in-transit visits.
When entering Canada with your dog or dogs, you must show a valid rabies vaccination certificate (in English or French) issued by a licensed veterinarian. This certificate should identify the dog, as in breed, color, weight, etc., and indicate the trade name of the licensed rabies vaccine, serial number, and duration of the vaccine (up to 3 years). Please note: if a validity date does not appear on the certificate, the vaccination is valid for one year.
There is no waiting period between the time the dog is vaccinated for rabies and the time it is imported into Canada.
If the above requirements are not met, the owner will need to vaccinate the dog for rabies within a specified period of time and present the vaccination certificate to an inspector, all at the owner's expense.
Please Note: Rabies vaccination or certification is not required for dogs less than three (3) months of age.
SPECIAL PURPOSE DOGS: Service dogs, certified as a guide, hearing or other services, are not subject to any restrictions for importation as long as the person importing the dog is the user and will be accompanying the dog to Canada."
Here is the State Department advisory on taking dogs to the Great White North:
"Currently, there is no quarantine for importing pet dogs. If you have several dogs, you may be asked to provide certification verifying that they are your personal pets and are not for resale. These conditions apply for temporary visits and in-transit visits.
When entering Canada with your dog or dogs, you must show a valid rabies vaccination certificate (in English or French) issued by a licensed veterinarian. This certificate should identify the dog, as in breed, color, weight, etc., and indicate the trade name of the licensed rabies vaccine, serial number, and duration of the vaccine (up to 3 years). Please note: if a validity date does not appear on the certificate, the vaccination is valid for one year.
There is no waiting period between the time the dog is vaccinated for rabies and the time it is imported into Canada.
If the above requirements are not met, the owner will need to vaccinate the dog for rabies within a specified period of time and present the vaccination certificate to an inspector, all at the owner's expense.
Please Note: Rabies vaccination or certification is not required for dogs less than three (3) months of age.
SPECIAL PURPOSE DOGS: Service dogs, certified as a guide, hearing or other services, are not subject to any restrictions for importation as long as the person importing the dog is the user and will be accompanying the dog to Canada."
2006/09/10
http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/index.cfm?c=39523
Off-Leash Areas (OLAs) in Portland are to my mind a mixed bag. Sometimes they don't use bags at all. Other times I have had great experiences and even met some really nice people. Yet other times Sadie wants to travel further afield and see some of the parks outside of Portland.
Labor Day we drove up to the Lewis River and saw one of the falls. Not an off-leash area. So we drove back down to Lewis and Clark on I-84. Then a quick swim in the Sandy River. Kind of a river trifecta.
Last time I was at Gabriel Park one of the pitbulls was getting snarly with canine passersby. I decided after one incident that if they didn't take their dog out I would leave. I had to leave. I just absolutely refuse to let Sadie continue to run around with dogs who might get overly aggressive.
It can't be overstated how important dog control is. That includes removing problem animals, including our own, from public dog parks before they can get too worked up. That's just common sense in my book.
I have often moved Sadie from the front of the store to our offices so that other dogs can come in the store and feel comfortable. I just have to know in advance that this is necessary. Ultimately the best solution for everybody is not to be afraid of dog aggression, but to control and minimize the risks. If I know a dog has special needs, temperamentally speaking, I am happy to remove Sadie from the situation.
2006/08/22
2006/08/07
http://www.nba.com/features/usachina_recap060807.html
http://www.nba.com/wbc06/win4_060823.html
I don't know if a single person out there cares about this at all...
USA Basketball is going to win this year. Not because of Dwayne Wade and Lebron James. They are by far THE MOST DOMINANT basketball players on the planet. OK, Dirk. OK, Yao. OK, Manu. Whatever...
USA Basketball is going to win this year simply because they have Coach K at their helm. It is hard to overstate the signifigance of this moment. Coach K's life speaks of service. Coach K knows about winning, but more importantly he knows what it means to be a gentleman, win or lose. Like Jimmy V and other initial role models, Coach K embodies the height of human potential in the basketball world.
There is no one with more class, or a finer sense of excellence in basketball.
It's hard to watch Team USA this year without weeping at the thought of the original Dream Team. I believe that this year's class could beat the Dream Team, NOT! But, it's the first class of players with as much depth and, again, CLASS as the original pro squad -- the archetype squad. Jordan - Drexler - Need I say More?
Even if you disagree with me, try and turn on a cable channel and see any USA entity treating the rest of the competing world with as much dignity as the USA Basketball team. OK, maybe USA softball! These are teams that know, despite their possible advantage being from the land of basketball or softball's inception, that anything can happen!
From the converse, I truly hope that every nation can embrace sports as diverse as basketball and softball. I see no reason why, at this stage of the game, every person shouldn't be able to compete on the playing field of his or her choice.
http://www.nba.com/wbc06/win4_060823.html
I don't know if a single person out there cares about this at all...
USA Basketball is going to win this year. Not because of Dwayne Wade and Lebron James. They are by far THE MOST DOMINANT basketball players on the planet. OK, Dirk. OK, Yao. OK, Manu. Whatever...
USA Basketball is going to win this year simply because they have Coach K at their helm. It is hard to overstate the signifigance of this moment. Coach K's life speaks of service. Coach K knows about winning, but more importantly he knows what it means to be a gentleman, win or lose. Like Jimmy V and other initial role models, Coach K embodies the height of human potential in the basketball world.
There is no one with more class, or a finer sense of excellence in basketball.
It's hard to watch Team USA this year without weeping at the thought of the original Dream Team. I believe that this year's class could beat the Dream Team, NOT! But, it's the first class of players with as much depth and, again, CLASS as the original pro squad -- the archetype squad. Jordan - Drexler - Need I say More?
Even if you disagree with me, try and turn on a cable channel and see any USA entity treating the rest of the competing world with as much dignity as the USA Basketball team. OK, maybe USA softball! These are teams that know, despite their possible advantage being from the land of basketball or softball's inception, that anything can happen!
From the converse, I truly hope that every nation can embrace sports as diverse as basketball and softball. I see no reason why, at this stage of the game, every person shouldn't be able to compete on the playing field of his or her choice.
2006/08/05
OK! So it's August and it's vacation time! Is everyone going to go out and do something fun?
I will be out of the office Aug 19 and 20 as I will be with Sadie on the banks of the Bumping River in Naches, WA. What a perfect setting for her and her pup friends to run around amidst the trees. I believe we will be seeing a few of her friends.
Carole wants to take a little time away because she is working on a brute of a piano piece for chamber performance - you might not know that she is a classically trained pianist. I will be working a little harder, but so also will Dave Fry who, as many already know, is a very capable guy. Not much changes really.
I want to make sure I get out and do something before the autumn season kicks in in full swing. I expect to work pretty much solid through the end of the year to make sure that every detail is getting taken care of.
We're having a phenomenal year in my opinion and I am proud to have gained the trust of our community.
I will be out of the office Aug 19 and 20 as I will be with Sadie on the banks of the Bumping River in Naches, WA. What a perfect setting for her and her pup friends to run around amidst the trees. I believe we will be seeing a few of her friends.
Carole wants to take a little time away because she is working on a brute of a piano piece for chamber performance - you might not know that she is a classically trained pianist. I will be working a little harder, but so also will Dave Fry who, as many already know, is a very capable guy. Not much changes really.
I want to make sure I get out and do something before the autumn season kicks in in full swing. I expect to work pretty much solid through the end of the year to make sure that every detail is getting taken care of.
We're having a phenomenal year in my opinion and I am proud to have gained the trust of our community.
2006/07/31
I tried to post before the Forest Heights "Dog Day Afternoon, with Zelda the Bulldog" but my PC crashed. Ahem...
I had a super time in the Pearl, hawking my wares and meeting some of pdx's hipper pooches. Best of all, I got to hang out next to Linus and Schroeder from his eponymous Den. Forest Heights Vet Clinic had a nice booth, as well as Behave! Canine Solutions.
This past Saturday I was hanging out at the Forest Heights Village Center, watching the parade of fashionistas. I saw TWO dogs dressed as QB Tom Brady. Go Pats! The Dog Day was a smash success if you ask me. It seemed like there was a great turnout and everyone had a fun time. I hope the Humane Society auction was a success.
I was thrilled to share a booth with Behave! in Forest Heights. They always add an extra dimension of expertise wherever they appear.
This Sunday we are planning on being at Hazeldale Park's 4th Annual Dog Day Afternoon. Dave and I talked about driving out there. I really need to get on that plan!
I had a super time in the Pearl, hawking my wares and meeting some of pdx's hipper pooches. Best of all, I got to hang out next to Linus and Schroeder from his eponymous Den. Forest Heights Vet Clinic had a nice booth, as well as Behave! Canine Solutions.
This past Saturday I was hanging out at the Forest Heights Village Center, watching the parade of fashionistas. I saw TWO dogs dressed as QB Tom Brady. Go Pats! The Dog Day was a smash success if you ask me. It seemed like there was a great turnout and everyone had a fun time. I hope the Humane Society auction was a success.
I was thrilled to share a booth with Behave! in Forest Heights. They always add an extra dimension of expertise wherever they appear.
This Sunday we are planning on being at Hazeldale Park's 4th Annual Dog Day Afternoon. Dave and I talked about driving out there. I really need to get on that plan!
2006/05/16
No offense, I love you guys!
But man, what a low turnout.....again!!!
It was cool to watch Erik Sten celebrate another term as Council member. He's just like you and me. Unless of course you're one of them. Or another. Whatever, right?
I believe Erik when he says that Portland is going to be the best place to live on the planet. Probably the best place for a long, long, long time.
Unless you have been LIVING IN A HOLE FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS, I would be quick to point out that if Erik Sten ran for Baghdad city council, or heaven forbid, Fallujah city council, or say Kabul city council that he might be in danger even now. But this is Portland. We are willing to stand shoulder to shoulder.
How striking at this time in history to be standing face to face with a new kind of politics. Isn't that what they call it? Pericles, take note.
2006/05/16
Try our sweet potato chewies - the Sam's Yams
Try our Darford veggie or veggie/blueberry hearts.
Try our wonderful Tilapia jerky, or Snack 21's salmon skin rolls.
We have all of the Solid Gold treats including their Barley/Garlic Bagels, beef and lamb jerkies and lamb lung treats. Mmmm, lung! We also have a slew of Solid Gold's spelt based treats.
We also have Baa Baa Bits and Moo Qs!
Simon and Huey's Doggoned Tasty Treats makes a broad selection of soft-bite chewies, crunchy bites, biscuits and their own line of gourmet cookies. We carry many of their flavors on our shelf and have a cookie case full of their gourmet stuff. All of their products are made with oat flour and generally only contain things like applesauce, honey and fresh meats or veggies.
How about a frozen Farmore or Primal buffalo bone? Frozen beef bones? We recently discussed whether the store should have a stronger focus on bone treats. We carry a lot of bones, but should we have more and more different kinds? Now we have some lamb bones that will knock your socks off, as well as some new sizes from Jones. We have also started carrying the Smokehouse knee 2-pk.
Try the Wellness Yogurt biscuits, or the Whitefish potato.
First Mate makes a great herring/potato treat that is grain-free.
Our bully sticks are the best! We have flossies and beef shank tendons as well. We have natural, sun-dried beef rawhide. We also have oven-dried natural pork rawhide rings.
There are lots of things I am overlooking and you can also find some amazingly fun and tasty canned foods.
We have a very integrated inventory in stock. We own every inch of our storespace. Consequently the items get stocked not by brand but by category. You will find many of our products vying for your attention within a single area. Please feel free to explore some of the little surprises we have created!
Try our Darford veggie or veggie/blueberry hearts.
Try our wonderful Tilapia jerky, or Snack 21's salmon skin rolls.
We have all of the Solid Gold treats including their Barley/Garlic Bagels, beef and lamb jerkies and lamb lung treats. Mmmm, lung! We also have a slew of Solid Gold's spelt based treats.
We also have Baa Baa Bits and Moo Qs!
Simon and Huey's Doggoned Tasty Treats makes a broad selection of soft-bite chewies, crunchy bites, biscuits and their own line of gourmet cookies. We carry many of their flavors on our shelf and have a cookie case full of their gourmet stuff. All of their products are made with oat flour and generally only contain things like applesauce, honey and fresh meats or veggies.
How about a frozen Farmore or Primal buffalo bone? Frozen beef bones? We recently discussed whether the store should have a stronger focus on bone treats. We carry a lot of bones, but should we have more and more different kinds? Now we have some lamb bones that will knock your socks off, as well as some new sizes from Jones. We have also started carrying the Smokehouse knee 2-pk.
Try the Wellness Yogurt biscuits, or the Whitefish potato.
First Mate makes a great herring/potato treat that is grain-free.
Our bully sticks are the best! We have flossies and beef shank tendons as well. We have natural, sun-dried beef rawhide. We also have oven-dried natural pork rawhide rings.
There are lots of things I am overlooking and you can also find some amazingly fun and tasty canned foods.
We have a very integrated inventory in stock. We own every inch of our storespace. Consequently the items get stocked not by brand but by category. You will find many of our products vying for your attention within a single area. Please feel free to explore some of the little surprises we have created!
2006/04/03
2006/02/21
OK, we have a couple of treats with wheat in them...I do worry about the Everlasting treats having the same problem as the current wheat-gluten treat controversy. The Old West meat cuts have whole wheat flour in them as well, but I make my customers aware of that. The meat cuts are awesome treats! The Natural Balance Roll-A-Rounds also have whole wheat flour and I tell people the same thing - if your dog doesn't have a known wheat intolerance then go for it!
I fed Sadie some greenies when she was young and they used to come out the same way they went in. They never really seemed to digest, nor did she ever seem to chew them fully before swallowing chunks of them.
I have noticed that there really aren't any anecdotes about Bully Sticks, or pizzles, causing blockage or death. They digest fully and are excellent at cleaning teeth. In my opinion they are the best treat for the teeth cleaning function. We sell quite a few because they are healthy!
Raw bones are the next best thing, but the mess or the gross-out factor makes some want other bones, or other tendon treats in general.
There are other ways to clean teeth in a healthy way without sedating a dog (or cat.) Wysong's excellent Dentatreat dentifrice is great at keeping mouths healthy, as are other enzyme formulas. The enzymes help balance the mouth's bacteria levels effectively while dissolving plaque. Dental kits, with a little training, can form a consistent dental program for dogs or cats.
Really, there is no need to use a wheat-gluten product for dental care, or for treats in general. Other treats can be as effective or better without the digestive risks.
2006/02/11
Thanks, and special thanks to Denise and Jessica of Behave Canine Solutions. Everyone should be so lucky as to have these two training their pups. I picked up a few new tricks myself...
I was very sorry that one of our training subjects scared a little boy and his dad today as they came in to shop around. I am more sorry that I didn't immediately apologize and try to make them feel better.
Sadie used to be leery of children herself. I remember when we were just getting going, she got swarmed by school children from the preschool across the way. This happened a couple of times; Sadie is a beautiful Viszla and kids are drawn to her. But she became wary of little people after that and it wasn't until months later that she was more confident again. Sadie would sometimes bark at children who entered the shop and it gave them pause. She even scared off a couple of families. For this I am sorry.
But Sadie has really matured. And she realizes that kids aren't the scary beasts she thought them to be at the time. Nowadays Sadie is so loving and open to everyone and everything, she will just snuggle up next to everyone!
The dog that was so scary at the store today was really there to receive some training. And it was such a sweet dog too! I really think that all of the socialization will lead to better things.
I hate to see any of my customers feeling scared at the store though. The Bark Market is meant to be a safe place where everybody can have a good experience. If ever there is a discrepency, I want to correct it. And all of our events are planned around this idea.
I should have been more proactive in acclimating all our customers to our special training day; many of the dogs were off leash. I will continue to let the store be an off-leash area as long as I can continue, and my staff, to communicate that we are letting animals run around.
I want to be vocal so that, if there is an objection, we can put our dogs on-leash while we respect others' space.
I was very sorry that one of our training subjects scared a little boy and his dad today as they came in to shop around. I am more sorry that I didn't immediately apologize and try to make them feel better.
Sadie used to be leery of children herself. I remember when we were just getting going, she got swarmed by school children from the preschool across the way. This happened a couple of times; Sadie is a beautiful Viszla and kids are drawn to her. But she became wary of little people after that and it wasn't until months later that she was more confident again. Sadie would sometimes bark at children who entered the shop and it gave them pause. She even scared off a couple of families. For this I am sorry.
But Sadie has really matured. And she realizes that kids aren't the scary beasts she thought them to be at the time. Nowadays Sadie is so loving and open to everyone and everything, she will just snuggle up next to everyone!
The dog that was so scary at the store today was really there to receive some training. And it was such a sweet dog too! I really think that all of the socialization will lead to better things.
I hate to see any of my customers feeling scared at the store though. The Bark Market is meant to be a safe place where everybody can have a good experience. If ever there is a discrepency, I want to correct it. And all of our events are planned around this idea.
I should have been more proactive in acclimating all our customers to our special training day; many of the dogs were off leash. I will continue to let the store be an off-leash area as long as I can continue, and my staff, to communicate that we are letting animals run around.
I want to be vocal so that, if there is an objection, we can put our dogs on-leash while we respect others' space.
2006/01/21
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2006/01/19/raw/index.html
This article merits reading and some discussion.
I do believe there is great benefit in raw feeding. I believe the complete proteins, enzymes and other nutrients are of a higher quality. Even slow-cooking can break down some of these nutrients.
I am unworried about food-borne illnesses because I wash my hands, my dishes and my kitchen regularly. I understand the dangers of raw meats, and I freeze and refrigerate them properly.
Raw diets must be undertaken with the utmost care for balance and completeness. It is not enough to feed raw meats, bones and veggies. A vitamin supplement is a MUST HAVE in my opinion. No room should be given for vitamin deficiency in this practice.
A high quality, naturally preserved kibble makes an excellent complement to a raw diet. Even some high quality canned food can make an exceptional snack, or break in a diet, for a raw feeding animal.
Instead of feeding whole bones, grind the bones. Then give whole bones for a treat! This will minimize the chances of your animal ingesting bone chunks - especially if you monitor their treat times.
Choose the highest quality raw meats. There are a lot of raw pet food companies out there. I have had mixed experiences buying frozen raw pet food for the store, and I only carry foods that meet my standards for production and handling.
Everything we stock at the Bark Market has been mixed, packaged and shipped frozen from USDA-qualified facilities in the Pacific Northwest, with the exception of Dr. Billinghurst's BARF. The quality of Dr. Billinghurst's products should be well known.
We will be carrying Primal brand foods and bones in the near future. I plan on keeping the Farmore buffalo bones around too. I am going to replace the Nature's Variety beef bones with Primal's beef bones and see how they do. Primal also has screaming deals on turkey backs and chicken necks.
Mostly, I am concerned that dogs and cats eat well. Raw feeding is something I really want my customers to discover for themselves. It requires education, awareness and constant discipline. Your pet will love it and will love you for it!
This article merits reading and some discussion.
I do believe there is great benefit in raw feeding. I believe the complete proteins, enzymes and other nutrients are of a higher quality. Even slow-cooking can break down some of these nutrients.
I am unworried about food-borne illnesses because I wash my hands, my dishes and my kitchen regularly. I understand the dangers of raw meats, and I freeze and refrigerate them properly.
Raw diets must be undertaken with the utmost care for balance and completeness. It is not enough to feed raw meats, bones and veggies. A vitamin supplement is a MUST HAVE in my opinion. No room should be given for vitamin deficiency in this practice.
A high quality, naturally preserved kibble makes an excellent complement to a raw diet. Even some high quality canned food can make an exceptional snack, or break in a diet, for a raw feeding animal.
Instead of feeding whole bones, grind the bones. Then give whole bones for a treat! This will minimize the chances of your animal ingesting bone chunks - especially if you monitor their treat times.
Choose the highest quality raw meats. There are a lot of raw pet food companies out there. I have had mixed experiences buying frozen raw pet food for the store, and I only carry foods that meet my standards for production and handling.
Everything we stock at the Bark Market has been mixed, packaged and shipped frozen from USDA-qualified facilities in the Pacific Northwest, with the exception of Dr. Billinghurst's BARF. The quality of Dr. Billinghurst's products should be well known.
We will be carrying Primal brand foods and bones in the near future. I plan on keeping the Farmore buffalo bones around too. I am going to replace the Nature's Variety beef bones with Primal's beef bones and see how they do. Primal also has screaming deals on turkey backs and chicken necks.
Mostly, I am concerned that dogs and cats eat well. Raw feeding is something I really want my customers to discover for themselves. It requires education, awareness and constant discipline. Your pet will love it and will love you for it!
2005/12/19
I feel badly closing the store today. The weather wasn't as bad as I thought. However, I think everyone would agree that despite having no staff today, and despite being closed, it's better if I am healthy! I will feel better tomorrow, but I am hoping that I won't burn any bridges by staying home today.
I appreciate your patience and will see you on Tuesday!
I appreciate your patience and will see you on Tuesday!
2005/11/22
I hear this question a lot, which isn't to say that the Bark Market doesn't carry desirable foods, and I thought an explanation about how the decision-making process has been working was in order.
First, I am a fan of the brands at the store. They all represent successful attempts at creating balanced, healthy diets. There are lots of others, and some we can special order. Each line has its burdens and only so many can make the cut.
Cost is an issue because I know for a fact that my customers generally don't want to pay an arm and a leg for a bag of food. Some specialty diets are very good but run into the upper end of most people's budgets. At competitive prices a store can carry a lot of different brands though - and we do.
At this time our upper end consists mainly of our raw food selection. We carry what we can keep fresh for a few weeks, no more. I have been looking at some other brands of kibbles, such as Eagle Pack, Timberwolf, Natural Life. These would make nice additions to our shelves as well. Red Barn makes an excellent line of meat rolls, too.
Suppliers can be an issue. On the one hand I have found a couple of new vendors in the last few months and they are working out really well. On the other hand one of my vendors just dropped one of my favorite brands. I try and work out as many deals as I can with individual vendors, and to find out what they have in common.
The varieties within each brand can complicate the process. If a brand has ten formulas it's more like carrying three or four brands in sheer size. I have tried to maximize my leverage with this issue by strategically selecting certain varieties within a line to build some brand awareness. Then I bring in part or all of the line shortly after.
Customers come first. FAQ: Am I aware of the brand? Yes, probably. Can I get it on special order? We can special order just about anything. Will you stock it in the future? The Bark Market has been on a steady growth curve since its inception in March. I believe that we will continue to grow and evolve as the needs and wants of our customers are being met. I would like to see these foods and others on our shelves.
We HAVE added new lines! Simple Wellness in July. Natural Balance in August. First Mate in September. Evanger's (canned food) in November. Some decisions were based on customer requests and others on quality and consistency.
2005/11/13
I got my first weekend off since I left for MN last month. It's weird to do nothing for 24 hours. Up until Friday I have worked pretty hard every day to keep up with the constant change and flow of things around here. It is funny to let go of the reins for a couple days.
I am impressed with the follow-through we have had with our most valued clientele, and in our robust growth in general. I am happy that our customers like to shop here. I am really enjoying coming up with new ways to surprise people every day. It is fun to defy people's expectations of what a store can be.
The growth we have seen has substantially increased the ability of the store to expand into new product lines. This has been fun and a long time coming. I have spent much time shopping around for new items. Still more changes will be coming in the future as we shift into the new year.
I am mixing a blues show Friday evening for Bill Rhoades, with Terry Robb and Tony Coleman. It is an honor to work with these gentlemen, and for that I am grateful. The show will be at Beale St. NW, out in the northeast on 107th and Sandy. I wish Bill Barton were here to see this! Jimmy too. Tony Coleman is the man. Anyways, it's the perfect venue to test the new Sennheisers I got recently at Guitar Center. Thanks, Eric!
2005/10/18
I meant to preface the preceding message with the story about Eric and Sarah Johnson. Their wedding was awesome. Ruttger's was 16 miles Southeast of Brainerd, Minnesota. We were there on what might perhaps be the last beautiful weekend in MN for a little while. Golf was treacherous, and so was the dancefloor. Or so I hear.
I managed to play pretty decently at the church. The priest got some pretty deep looks from the bridal party. And we ALL got to ride in the limo!
It was also quite awesome to stay with Nate, as a guest and to share some time with his family who are so awesome and make me feel so at home.
I love going to Minnesota because the stakes are always so high. Where I could not get a date if I tried. And returning to Portland was impressive because I was so busy on Monday it was ridiculous.
And tonight I got to record a nice panel discussion on electoral politics here in Oregon. So far it's been quite a week!
And Sadie is bright and beautiful and very worn out from her weekend at the beach. It's so nice to see her mellow out for a second. She still barks a bit though. And that's kind of cool in a way because her bark is like a vocalisse.
I managed to play pretty decently at the church. The priest got some pretty deep looks from the bridal party. And we ALL got to ride in the limo!
It was also quite awesome to stay with Nate, as a guest and to share some time with his family who are so awesome and make me feel so at home.
I love going to Minnesota because the stakes are always so high. Where I could not get a date if I tried. And returning to Portland was impressive because I was so busy on Monday it was ridiculous.
And tonight I got to record a nice panel discussion on electoral politics here in Oregon. So far it's been quite a week!
And Sadie is bright and beautiful and very worn out from her weekend at the beach. It's so nice to see her mellow out for a second. She still barks a bit though. And that's kind of cool in a way because her bark is like a vocalisse.
2005/10/18
Anna D!
I miss you. I was happy to hear about your trip, spaying and neutering. It sounds like you had your hands full. Let me know someday how you are doing.
2005/10/06
I have been brushing off all kinds of advertising salespeople since we opened. Today was the first day I really felt like they were costing me money by trying to pitch their products. I can't believe people don't call first, but feel like they can waltz in and spend 15 minutes trying to convince me to spend my hard earned money on their plastic. Advertising is such garbage anyways -- if I'm not supporting an animal related activity, or something I really believe in, I give up.
The only thing I dislike more is advertisers I am paying and they screw up. That's the double whammy. Not only do they have my money, but they don't even take the time to do their job right. I won't name names, but I have since heard other business owners complain about the same people.
We have had a tremendous rush on the store the last several weeks. It is as though we have found our audience to a larger degree. Mainly, people keep stumbling on us and like what they see. I also have this fantastic crowd of loyal customers who talk to so many people about us. For this I can't thank them enough.
One thing I am working on feverishly is inventory management. It is enough just to keep up with ever-growing demand for our products - sometimes I cannot keep enough on the shelves to sell in a given week! I work historically, but when our new business comes in and wipes us out I am just awed. Even when I buy way more than I think we'll need, someone comes along and buys us out.
But my system is tightening up and we are steadily purchasing at greater and greater levels. The main thing is waking up to the notion of "to-buy." This is when I decide what our optimum inventory level is across a given range of products and assign them a to-buy number. This is the most efficient way to maintain an in-time inventory while successfully staying cash-flow positive. I thank Mr. Chizum at SCORE for that! (Can you tell this is my first store???)
Since August our to-buy rates have fluctuated upward at a breakneck pace in many categories. I cannot possibly buy enough no-chew spray, Innova, Solid Gold, Natural Balance, rawhide, Merrick Cans, etc, etc to keep up all the time. That's one of the downsides to being a small store at this point, I guess. But, on the other hand, our sales are such that we can always get what we need when we have the opportunity. So as long as I can maintain a disciplined approach towards our inventory we will presumably have what we need. (We are sold out of no-chew spray until Thursday, however!)
The cool thing is, where I used to have to guess what we would sell, now I have no choice but to order immediately as soon as possible every week!
This weekend I will be in Chicago for the HH Backer Holiday trade show. That should be fun as I believe it is the largest trade show of its kind all year. Then, monday morning we are going to get down and dirty by rearranging a whole bunch of shelving in the store. It should open up the floor plan a bit and offer a little better visual on things.
Hopefully I will have some time to get up to Solid Gold again on Monday to pick up some more food. We need it!
The only thing I dislike more is advertisers I am paying and they screw up. That's the double whammy. Not only do they have my money, but they don't even take the time to do their job right. I won't name names, but I have since heard other business owners complain about the same people.
We have had a tremendous rush on the store the last several weeks. It is as though we have found our audience to a larger degree. Mainly, people keep stumbling on us and like what they see. I also have this fantastic crowd of loyal customers who talk to so many people about us. For this I can't thank them enough.
One thing I am working on feverishly is inventory management. It is enough just to keep up with ever-growing demand for our products - sometimes I cannot keep enough on the shelves to sell in a given week! I work historically, but when our new business comes in and wipes us out I am just awed. Even when I buy way more than I think we'll need, someone comes along and buys us out.
But my system is tightening up and we are steadily purchasing at greater and greater levels. The main thing is waking up to the notion of "to-buy." This is when I decide what our optimum inventory level is across a given range of products and assign them a to-buy number. This is the most efficient way to maintain an in-time inventory while successfully staying cash-flow positive. I thank Mr. Chizum at SCORE for that! (Can you tell this is my first store???)
Since August our to-buy rates have fluctuated upward at a breakneck pace in many categories. I cannot possibly buy enough no-chew spray, Innova, Solid Gold, Natural Balance, rawhide, Merrick Cans, etc, etc to keep up all the time. That's one of the downsides to being a small store at this point, I guess. But, on the other hand, our sales are such that we can always get what we need when we have the opportunity. So as long as I can maintain a disciplined approach towards our inventory we will presumably have what we need. (We are sold out of no-chew spray until Thursday, however!)
The cool thing is, where I used to have to guess what we would sell, now I have no choice but to order immediately as soon as possible every week!
This weekend I will be in Chicago for the HH Backer Holiday trade show. That should be fun as I believe it is the largest trade show of its kind all year. Then, monday morning we are going to get down and dirty by rearranging a whole bunch of shelving in the store. It should open up the floor plan a bit and offer a little better visual on things.
Hopefully I will have some time to get up to Solid Gold again on Monday to pick up some more food. We need it!
2005/09/21
http://www.scottberkun.com/essays/essay46.htm
I hope this essay is useful to those who read it. I think you could pretty much substitute anything for the word "software." I intend to study this further in the hopes of improving how we operate at the store.
These last few days have been quite gratifying in that we have seen a surge in sales driven mainly by word of mouth. Due to unforeseen difficulties in my relationships with advertisers I am becoming increasingly of the opinion that advertising by and large is more trouble than it's worth. Plus, between the NW Examiner and our lovely signage we seem to do enough.
Everyone told me that word of mouth would be the biggest factor bringing in new customers. This past week has been absolutely explosive.
2005/09/15
For awhile now I have been wondering. Just how is it that payroll taxes come about? Why should I pay my payroll taxes? Should I enjoy paying my taxes?
And each month I have been confused about what the tax money goes for? Does it support what I support?
Ultimately, I have concluded that these tax monies are essential to maintaining the social connections between the people that I know and the people whom I live amongst. I am proud to support the Medicaid system, despite any flaws that may exist within it. I am quite pleased that my earned dollars support elder's social security checks. All the taxes on my business seem fair to me. A bargain, even.
So why should I complain?
And each month I have been confused about what the tax money goes for? Does it support what I support?
Ultimately, I have concluded that these tax monies are essential to maintaining the social connections between the people that I know and the people whom I live amongst. I am proud to support the Medicaid system, despite any flaws that may exist within it. I am quite pleased that my earned dollars support elder's social security checks. All the taxes on my business seem fair to me. A bargain, even.
So why should I complain?
2005/09/13
www.ofosa.org
-------------------
Update on Operation Waggin' Tail
September 12, 2005
Cathy and Brie have hit the ground in Slidell, LA hard and are off and literally running. Rescued animals are coming in to the makeshift camps in
large numbers and are being treated for various injuries, dehydration, etc.
All efforts to reunite pets and owners are being made and many successes
have been reported, but the numbers of the incoming are still overwhelming.
In one single day Cathy assisted a veterinarian in treating 300 animals just
at their station and last night an emergency call came in for the rescue and
treatment of 60 animals. This happens daily and the instances are too
numerous to cite.
The animals we will be bringing back through Noah’s Wish are those that have been surrendered or have no hope of being re-united with their owners.
On Thursday, September 15, Cathy will be meeting with officials from the
Central Louisiana Humane Society to determine the number of animals
requiring our assistance, so we can begin planning additional trips.
A 15-day quarantine period has also been enacted and we are adjusting our
timing as needed.
We will hear from Cathy after her meeting and will update again.
A press conference was scheduled for this Wednesday, but it has been decided to move it to next week in order to allow the release of the updated
information resulting from Cathy’s meeting.
We would like to thank all of those who have encouraged us with your
messages of support, offers of help and your generous donations. Without all of you none of this would be possible.
We would also like to extend out gratitude to Coastal Farms whose employees have been reaching out to vendors for donations of desperately needed supplies. The first shipment is arriving at Coastal’s HQ in Albany this Thursday and as soon as we sort everything out, supplies needed for the transport will be on their way to Slidell and the rest will go to the Animal Receiving Stations, waiting for our friends to arrive.
They are in desperate need of the following items:
Rimadyl - pain reliever and anti-inflammatory
Metacam - pain reliever
Droncit for cats and dogs - dewormer
Revolution and/or Frontline - flea treatment
Thank you for your continued support!
-------------------
Update on Operation Waggin' Tail
September 12, 2005
Cathy and Brie have hit the ground in Slidell, LA hard and are off and literally running. Rescued animals are coming in to the makeshift camps in
large numbers and are being treated for various injuries, dehydration, etc.
All efforts to reunite pets and owners are being made and many successes
have been reported, but the numbers of the incoming are still overwhelming.
In one single day Cathy assisted a veterinarian in treating 300 animals just
at their station and last night an emergency call came in for the rescue and
treatment of 60 animals. This happens daily and the instances are too
numerous to cite.
The animals we will be bringing back through Noah’s Wish are those that have been surrendered or have no hope of being re-united with their owners.
On Thursday, September 15, Cathy will be meeting with officials from the
Central Louisiana Humane Society to determine the number of animals
requiring our assistance, so we can begin planning additional trips.
A 15-day quarantine period has also been enacted and we are adjusting our
timing as needed.
We will hear from Cathy after her meeting and will update again.
A press conference was scheduled for this Wednesday, but it has been decided to move it to next week in order to allow the release of the updated
information resulting from Cathy’s meeting.
We would like to thank all of those who have encouraged us with your
messages of support, offers of help and your generous donations. Without all of you none of this would be possible.
We would also like to extend out gratitude to Coastal Farms whose employees have been reaching out to vendors for donations of desperately needed supplies. The first shipment is arriving at Coastal’s HQ in Albany this Thursday and as soon as we sort everything out, supplies needed for the transport will be on their way to Slidell and the rest will go to the Animal Receiving Stations, waiting for our friends to arrive.
They are in desperate need of the following items:
Rimadyl - pain reliever and anti-inflammatory
Metacam - pain reliever
Droncit for cats and dogs - dewormer
Revolution and/or Frontline - flea treatment
Thank you for your continued support!
2005/08/27
2005/08/14
Our best advertising sources are local and are usually a good deal. We have had a few snafus, and one really poor customer service experience. Overall, local Portland advertisers have been fair and economical while allowing us some pretty substantial visibility.
The best advertisement for the Bark Market has been our signage. I realized early on that signage was critical to our success. We had time to test that early on; when our banner went down, it was at a bad time for Fast Signs so we were on the wait list for five days. During that time we watched our nascent revenue plummet to almost nothing. We haven't had a bad day like that since, unless you count the 4th of July weekend when we were closed.
When I had our permanent signage constructed, I made sure to max-out our square footage limitations from the County. To date I believe it has given us at least half if not 3/4 of our main business.
Internet advertising has been pretty good too, though not nearly as strong. Not everyone is wired yet; many more people drive past the store. Our best source is Citysearch. We get between 30 and 60 hits a month from their web listing service. Compare that with the handfuls of hits we get from our suppliers, interested parties and search engines.
Our worst listing service is Dex Media by Qwest. We sure don't need no stinkin' Qwest. Since April Dex/Qwest has charged the company over $150 and we have gotten maybe 20 hits from them, compared with the hundred plus we have gotten from Citysearch alone.
My theory about Qwest is that they are dragging old technology into the digital arena and no one is paying attention. At first I thought maybe no one was searching for pet stores in Portland - but then, why all the hits from Citysearch. Surely Qwest's average activity must be far less than Citysearch. Perhaps we are wasting our money. I think I will cancel when my year is up. I never use the Yellow Pages anymore anyways. Waste of paper.
Newspapers and journals are still better than the web. We can focus locally, unlike the net, and our target audience can be reached in multiple ways at similar times. We use multiple print sources to cover our footprint, plus this month we are running a coupon ad for direct mail. We'll maybe do that once a quarter, so don't worry about junk mail. Most of our print ads come out at the ends and the beginnings of the month, so much of it is kind of synchrocontiguous. Finally, we produce a newsletter now for our guest list customers.
So put your name on our guest list and get one more way to find out what's new at the Bark Market!
The best advertisement for the Bark Market has been our signage. I realized early on that signage was critical to our success. We had time to test that early on; when our banner went down, it was at a bad time for Fast Signs so we were on the wait list for five days. During that time we watched our nascent revenue plummet to almost nothing. We haven't had a bad day like that since, unless you count the 4th of July weekend when we were closed.
When I had our permanent signage constructed, I made sure to max-out our square footage limitations from the County. To date I believe it has given us at least half if not 3/4 of our main business.
Internet advertising has been pretty good too, though not nearly as strong. Not everyone is wired yet; many more people drive past the store. Our best source is Citysearch. We get between 30 and 60 hits a month from their web listing service. Compare that with the handfuls of hits we get from our suppliers, interested parties and search engines.
Our worst listing service is Dex Media by Qwest. We sure don't need no stinkin' Qwest. Since April Dex/Qwest has charged the company over $150 and we have gotten maybe 20 hits from them, compared with the hundred plus we have gotten from Citysearch alone.
My theory about Qwest is that they are dragging old technology into the digital arena and no one is paying attention. At first I thought maybe no one was searching for pet stores in Portland - but then, why all the hits from Citysearch. Surely Qwest's average activity must be far less than Citysearch. Perhaps we are wasting our money. I think I will cancel when my year is up. I never use the Yellow Pages anymore anyways. Waste of paper.
Newspapers and journals are still better than the web. We can focus locally, unlike the net, and our target audience can be reached in multiple ways at similar times. We use multiple print sources to cover our footprint, plus this month we are running a coupon ad for direct mail. We'll maybe do that once a quarter, so don't worry about junk mail. Most of our print ads come out at the ends and the beginnings of the month, so much of it is kind of synchrocontiguous. Finally, we produce a newsletter now for our guest list customers.
So put your name on our guest list and get one more way to find out what's new at the Bark Market!
2005/07/21
Following my last post, I still think that most young dogs need a little Vitamin S (SHOES). It fulfills some vital inner need the way a sofa cover or kennel pad just can't reconcile.
So we're having this big sale on Sunday and I hope a few people straggle out to see what's going on. It's so hard to pierce the media spectrum nowadays - "how will I ever reach my target audience when they are bombarded with more information than ever?" - and yet I find that somehow people pay attention. I am thrilled whenever someone mentions an ad. We pour precious labor into our ads and their "artwork."
So it is with the humblest gratitude that we present a sale in celebration of Sadie's trek over the Cascade Range and to her home in Portland. We hope it will satisfy.
Sadie sends an extra special hello to all of her friends and looks forward to a playful afternoon.
So the Dog Nose News is in purgatory or something. I still have copies of the excellent May issue. In substitution I have created a store newsletter and hope to add some real news, as well as information about the store, for our guestbook customers. The most recent edition highlighted the upcoming Bark In the Park downtown, August Sixth. For more info check out www.OFOSA.org
Friday morning I have off, so I am going to pick up some used tennis balls, get a hair trim and have lunch with the eminent David Also of Music Liberation Project fame. What a privelege!
So we're having this big sale on Sunday and I hope a few people straggle out to see what's going on. It's so hard to pierce the media spectrum nowadays - "how will I ever reach my target audience when they are bombarded with more information than ever?" - and yet I find that somehow people pay attention. I am thrilled whenever someone mentions an ad. We pour precious labor into our ads and their "artwork."
So it is with the humblest gratitude that we present a sale in celebration of Sadie's trek over the Cascade Range and to her home in Portland. We hope it will satisfy.
Sadie sends an extra special hello to all of her friends and looks forward to a playful afternoon.
So the Dog Nose News is in purgatory or something. I still have copies of the excellent May issue. In substitution I have created a store newsletter and hope to add some real news, as well as information about the store, for our guestbook customers. The most recent edition highlighted the upcoming Bark In the Park downtown, August Sixth. For more info check out www.OFOSA.org
Friday morning I have off, so I am going to pick up some used tennis balls, get a hair trim and have lunch with the eminent David Also of Music Liberation Project fame. What a privelege!
2005/07/07
Someone has queried whether raw food and biscuits is a balanced diet for a dog.
I regard this idea with some skepticism. It is most important when feeding raw to consider whether you want your dog to have the health of a street stray, or that of a shiny, vibrant, social animal. It is of the utmost importance to build a balanced raw diet starting with the basic building block of raw food, supplemented by one of several other sources of vitamins and minerals -- you can pack all that food in but it is the essential nutrients found in the most basic vitamin pack, or the most complex dehydrated or kibble formula that is most appropriate for balancing the raw diet.
In addition, one can add treats such as bones, meats, cookies, your shoes.
It is worth mentioning here that not all raw foods are the same. Some provide a measured and adequate basic formula such that outside feeding considerations can be minimal. Still others use simply meat and need added balance to fulfill basic metabolic needs, in dogs this is most important. Cats bodies do not produce taurine. Rather they must ingest this amino acid, though basic meat formulas can go a long way with cats. I think extra vitamins are a must in either case. Plus it can be fun to try out different combinations to see which your pet goes most crazy for!
How you feed raw is up to you. A lot of fun can be had in the freezer! In order to feed a balanced raw diet, special consideration must be given to diversity of ingredients and overall nutritive value!!! Oh yeah, and the food has to be made by a professional manufacturer...
By the way, I was stunned to awaken to the attacks in London this morning and I find the whole situation so ghastly. I studied ten years ago in London and took the Metropolitan Line to King's Cross Station every morning for three months. The school I studied in was an old church that had been hit by a V-2 rocket during WWII. I am saddened that an act of such terrible moral terpitude should befall the Londoners. They are such decent people. The point I haven't yet heard raised in the mainstream media, even by moslem experts themselves, is how do we know the bombers were from Britain? Why could they not have come from elsewhere and just blended in?
This raises a critical national security issue for every nation who chooses to stand with us: How can the civilized world avoid maniacs when maniacs have always existed? It seems our freedom has finally imported a brand of warmonger that is timeless. A mongol remnant perhaps, or a religious artifact. Violence toward all, power for the few. Why should we give our attention toward those who would enslave us all and kill indiscriminately. We saw what they did in Afghanistan. Blow it all up, we don't care.
Yet we can't just seal off our borders and say the heck with the rest of the world. Perhaps every event such as today's will inevitably lead to a global loss of support for violence in general.
I regard this idea with some skepticism. It is most important when feeding raw to consider whether you want your dog to have the health of a street stray, or that of a shiny, vibrant, social animal. It is of the utmost importance to build a balanced raw diet starting with the basic building block of raw food, supplemented by one of several other sources of vitamins and minerals -- you can pack all that food in but it is the essential nutrients found in the most basic vitamin pack, or the most complex dehydrated or kibble formula that is most appropriate for balancing the raw diet.
In addition, one can add treats such as bones, meats, cookies, your shoes.
It is worth mentioning here that not all raw foods are the same. Some provide a measured and adequate basic formula such that outside feeding considerations can be minimal. Still others use simply meat and need added balance to fulfill basic metabolic needs, in dogs this is most important. Cats bodies do not produce taurine. Rather they must ingest this amino acid, though basic meat formulas can go a long way with cats. I think extra vitamins are a must in either case. Plus it can be fun to try out different combinations to see which your pet goes most crazy for!
How you feed raw is up to you. A lot of fun can be had in the freezer! In order to feed a balanced raw diet, special consideration must be given to diversity of ingredients and overall nutritive value!!! Oh yeah, and the food has to be made by a professional manufacturer...
By the way, I was stunned to awaken to the attacks in London this morning and I find the whole situation so ghastly. I studied ten years ago in London and took the Metropolitan Line to King's Cross Station every morning for three months. The school I studied in was an old church that had been hit by a V-2 rocket during WWII. I am saddened that an act of such terrible moral terpitude should befall the Londoners. They are such decent people. The point I haven't yet heard raised in the mainstream media, even by moslem experts themselves, is how do we know the bombers were from Britain? Why could they not have come from elsewhere and just blended in?
This raises a critical national security issue for every nation who chooses to stand with us: How can the civilized world avoid maniacs when maniacs have always existed? It seems our freedom has finally imported a brand of warmonger that is timeless. A mongol remnant perhaps, or a religious artifact. Violence toward all, power for the few. Why should we give our attention toward those who would enslave us all and kill indiscriminately. We saw what they did in Afghanistan. Blow it all up, we don't care.
Yet we can't just seal off our borders and say the heck with the rest of the world. Perhaps every event such as today's will inevitably lead to a global loss of support for violence in general.
2005/06/27
OK, so I don't know if anyone was able to catch the simulcast of the Microblues Fest in Vancouver on KMHD a couple of weekends ago but I sure had a fun time mixing that show. I was told it sounded pretty good over the air. I had meant to bring a portable radio and headphones with me just for fun but it didn't work out.
That was my first really big festival. And the mix position was really distant for me. Lots of slap echo in the cans. But the metering was good and the bands were great. The BBQ was even better.
It was a real treat to mix that show. I hardly had to do a thing. \
It's been a good year. I was part of a team to win Honorable Mention at the Telly's this past cycle. I have been steadily mixing in town. But now I am going to take a breather and focus on the store for a few weeks!
I am proud to say that we are carrying fresh updates of some local product favorites: RadCat frozen raw foods; RC Pet collars and accessories; Doodlebug Duds beds; and Bebop USA collars! We expect a fresh shipment of Kitty Hooch catnip anytime. We also have new varieties in the cat can and dog can areas.
This weekend we will be closed on the holiday. Sadie gets to go to the beach and she is going to stay with her grandma for a few days. That will be great for her to run around and get some salty air.
That was my first really big festival. And the mix position was really distant for me. Lots of slap echo in the cans. But the metering was good and the bands were great. The BBQ was even better.
It was a real treat to mix that show. I hardly had to do a thing. \
It's been a good year. I was part of a team to win Honorable Mention at the Telly's this past cycle. I have been steadily mixing in town. But now I am going to take a breather and focus on the store for a few weeks!
I am proud to say that we are carrying fresh updates of some local product favorites: RadCat frozen raw foods; RC Pet collars and accessories; Doodlebug Duds beds; and Bebop USA collars! We expect a fresh shipment of Kitty Hooch catnip anytime. We also have new varieties in the cat can and dog can areas.
This weekend we will be closed on the holiday. Sadie gets to go to the beach and she is going to stay with her grandma for a few days. That will be great for her to run around and get some salty air.
2005/06/08
Sadie turned 1 yesterday, and in honor of her birthday she has left me a present on the floor each morning for the last four days in a row! It is getting disgusting to the point where I can barely stand the smell anymore. I haven't used this much spray since she was 6 months old.
Vizslas are long term developers, physically. And I wouldn't be surprised if she was growing pretty quickly right now. Her energy level is very normal and she has been eating well, so that's a plus.
We are going to look into some serious duck treats for all the duck fanatics out there. So hopefully we'll have some on our shelves within a couple of weeks. Chef Daryl over at the Great Dog Bakery is whipping up some doggie truffles and other treats. We're getting a load of Wellness Simple Venison Thursday - 4.5, 10 and 15 lb bags.
-------------------------------------------
Last Sunday I had the pleasure of mixing the show at Beale Street NW for Mr. Ken Johnson. "Honey Bucket" Johnson was the heart and soul of the band Hudson Rocket and many others, and is currently rehabilitating from a stroke he suffered this Spring. The benefit was for him as he heals. There was a lot of great music including Terry Robb, Hudson Rocket, Snakeboy, and others.
If you haven't been to Beale Street, then you haven't had the Blues!
Vizslas are long term developers, physically. And I wouldn't be surprised if she was growing pretty quickly right now. Her energy level is very normal and she has been eating well, so that's a plus.
We are going to look into some serious duck treats for all the duck fanatics out there. So hopefully we'll have some on our shelves within a couple of weeks. Chef Daryl over at the Great Dog Bakery is whipping up some doggie truffles and other treats. We're getting a load of Wellness Simple Venison Thursday - 4.5, 10 and 15 lb bags.
-------------------------------------------
Last Sunday I had the pleasure of mixing the show at Beale Street NW for Mr. Ken Johnson. "Honey Bucket" Johnson was the heart and soul of the band Hudson Rocket and many others, and is currently rehabilitating from a stroke he suffered this Spring. The benefit was for him as he heals. There was a lot of great music including Terry Robb, Hudson Rocket, Snakeboy, and others.
If you haven't been to Beale Street, then you haven't had the Blues!
2005/05/26
We just passed our two month mark last week and we could not have done it without the support of our awesome clientele and the faith of our community in the store. This month that began last week has seen some different twists as we grow steadily into a more diverse store. Our strength is in our ability to evolve as customer needs become clearer. And we're bottom heavy, so we get a solid selection of high quality products and just purchase enough for our customers that our products stay fresh and last.
And if you don't like something, bring it back. We are happy to exchange any item or offer a full refund. We want our animal friends to be as happy as possible.
Today we got in some more Canidae, as well as Grandad's Frozen Raw foods for dogs and cats, Innova for dogs and cats, more Wilderness meat treats and a few new cat products and toys. I love thursdays because that is when we get most of our deliveries and it is so fun to watch the shelves get filled back up.
And if you don't like something, bring it back. We are happy to exchange any item or offer a full refund. We want our animal friends to be as happy as possible.
Today we got in some more Canidae, as well as Grandad's Frozen Raw foods for dogs and cats, Innova for dogs and cats, more Wilderness meat treats and a few new cat products and toys. I love thursdays because that is when we get most of our deliveries and it is so fun to watch the shelves get filled back up.
2005/05/16
I'm not sure one can make a logical argument stick for why natural foods may be a better choice than conventional factory foods. Natural foods may be free of wheat and corn, they may be made with free range or even wild game meats, organic vegetables, fruits and grains. They may even have a more nutritious blend of minerals, vitamins, digestive enzymes and amino acids. Yet it is hard to discern why a difference exists. Are natural foods really better?
Price is usually the biggest factor involved in a natural food purchase. Is it too expensive? I work consistently to carry a range of price levels in my foods so that a modestly priced bag will closely compete with the price of a factory food. It has been argued by many that animals fed a natural diet tend to get ill less and consequently need less health care. I cannot argue for or against this position. But the overwhelming evidence of pet owners who have fed natural diets would indicate that there may be a corollation between diet and health in pets.
Many pet owners do not consider themselves to be "pet parents." However there is a core group who would easily identify themselves as such. A pet parent cares for the pet as a member of the family; takes the pet on a ride just to be together; talks to the animal and lets it know that it is wanted. The pet is more than just an animal -- it's family!
Price is usually the biggest factor involved in a natural food purchase. Is it too expensive? I work consistently to carry a range of price levels in my foods so that a modestly priced bag will closely compete with the price of a factory food. It has been argued by many that animals fed a natural diet tend to get ill less and consequently need less health care. I cannot argue for or against this position. But the overwhelming evidence of pet owners who have fed natural diets would indicate that there may be a corollation between diet and health in pets.
Many pet owners do not consider themselves to be "pet parents." However there is a core group who would easily identify themselves as such. A pet parent cares for the pet as a member of the family; takes the pet on a ride just to be together; talks to the animal and lets it know that it is wanted. The pet is more than just an animal -- it's family!
2005/05/11
The store is becoming sytematically easier to manage every day. Our accounting and inventory systems are coming together and it's a good thing because when we get busy we're really going to need to stay on top of this stuff!
Today I compiled the list of horse feed and supplies that I have access to. I want to do the same for the other animals (birds, reptiles, etc.) that people have. It will make it so much easier for someone to ask me for an item if they can see what there is for each species. It seems like there could be a lot of horse people in the city who might want to get their supplies here.
Today I compiled the list of horse feed and supplies that I have access to. I want to do the same for the other animals (birds, reptiles, etc.) that people have. It will make it so much easier for someone to ask me for an item if they can see what there is for each species. It seems like there could be a lot of horse people in the city who might want to get their supplies here.
2005/05/03
Today I have been working on the site a little bit. I FINALLY updated the dog and cat food categoried in the product lists to reflect our inventory. Took me long enough!! I will be updating the other categories soon, but I am so glad I made those changes at long last. Now you won't have to wonder what all of those names mean.
I got the new Redirect Guides in today from Robin Wang, their publisher. And they look awesome! I was really glad we were able to get an ad in under the wire with their awesome phonebook. The Redirect Guide is dedicated strictly to natural and renewable based businesses. So we are glad to be amongst friends!
The Dog Nose News came out recently as well and the new issue looks pretty spiffy. Tomorrow the new Examiner issue will be out too. So we are getting some good ads out for May.
I got the new Redirect Guides in today from Robin Wang, their publisher. And they look awesome! I was really glad we were able to get an ad in under the wire with their awesome phonebook. The Redirect Guide is dedicated strictly to natural and renewable based businesses. So we are glad to be amongst friends!
The Dog Nose News came out recently as well and the new issue looks pretty spiffy. Tomorrow the new Examiner issue will be out too. So we are getting some good ads out for May.
2005/04/28
We're working on inventory controls and accounting procedures right now. It's taking up a lot of time, but I still make it my number one priority to get out of the back office and say hello to everyone and see how their day has been. Lots of customers have been streaming in this week in a steady flow and I couldn't be more delighted about the positive response!
Apparently there was some negative feedback about my "political" postings here in the past days. Sorry about that. I feel strongly that our political system exists by the consent of the governed, and as a governed I want to add to the political discourse as it affects every aspect of our lives. In this day I just think it is so important that we express ourselves, even at the risk of being unpopular - something that can cause distress to others. For this I apologize. I like to be civic minded and I'm sorry if anyone took it any other way.
I have had lots of great requests for new products and I hope to fulfill every single item on everybody's wish lists. I hope we all can be patient as I can't get everything a person needs for every pet all at once. But ultimately I think the feedback will create an inventory that truly reflects the needs of our particular neighborhoods and for the input I am so grateful. I really don't want to offer a product mix that is useless and inefficient. Rather we are striving to create the leanest, meanest holistic pet supply the world has ever seen! Sounds pretty funny in a way!
As I said, the feedback has been so positive and especially so from our canine customers. Each pup has systematically explored our treat section, as well as the toys and kibble. Sadie has raced many of them around the aisles and through the store entirely. I am so thrilled when she can meet a new friend and tear it up a little bit! So bring it on! We love to see your dogs in the store - just make sure to curb them first.
Yours, P
Apparently there was some negative feedback about my "political" postings here in the past days. Sorry about that. I feel strongly that our political system exists by the consent of the governed, and as a governed I want to add to the political discourse as it affects every aspect of our lives. In this day I just think it is so important that we express ourselves, even at the risk of being unpopular - something that can cause distress to others. For this I apologize. I like to be civic minded and I'm sorry if anyone took it any other way.
I have had lots of great requests for new products and I hope to fulfill every single item on everybody's wish lists. I hope we all can be patient as I can't get everything a person needs for every pet all at once. But ultimately I think the feedback will create an inventory that truly reflects the needs of our particular neighborhoods and for the input I am so grateful. I really don't want to offer a product mix that is useless and inefficient. Rather we are striving to create the leanest, meanest holistic pet supply the world has ever seen! Sounds pretty funny in a way!
As I said, the feedback has been so positive and especially so from our canine customers. Each pup has systematically explored our treat section, as well as the toys and kibble. Sadie has raced many of them around the aisles and through the store entirely. I am so thrilled when she can meet a new friend and tear it up a little bit! So bring it on! We love to see your dogs in the store - just make sure to curb them first.
Yours, P
2005/04/24
Thank you so much to everyone who turned out for the opening. I was so impressed with the turnout and support from all of our customers, friends and families. We really did have a blast and were so appreciative for Sandoval's wonderful catering. Thanks, Danny! We're still enjoying the sopapillas!
So we have completed the first phase of our business. The permanent signage is up and looks beautiful. Now we are ready to forge ahead with growing our customer base, adding new inventory, and generally having lots of fun!
So we have completed the first phase of our business. The permanent signage is up and looks beautiful. Now we are ready to forge ahead with growing our customer base, adding new inventory, and generally having lots of fun!
2005/04/21
Today I will get three deliveries and it is a little crazy because now I don't have any other delivery days except UPS. So Thursdays are going to become singular in terms of wading through boxes and trying to get items checked into the store. Your patience will be greatly appreciated if I have to stock something you need and I can't figure out which box it came in!
Delivery days are always funny because inevitably boxes end up in the retail space of the store and I worry that customers are not going to be able to reach something, or that a box will suddenly jump out and grab them! On the other hand, today I will get a substantial resupply of a lot of things I need for my grand opening and I am so excited to be able to say that I have to restock.
Thank you to all of you who have had the faith and confidence in my store and its products to shop at the Bark Market and allow me the opportunity to move into the second phase of my business. The startup phase will be complete upon the grand opening. The last step of the startup in my view is getting the permanent signage which will announce the store as an established venue.
The signage will arrive from Springfield, OR today at Fast Signs on 14th and Glisan. Kiefer Enterprises has apparently outdone themselves producing quality box signs in record time so that I will have a truly grand opening. McKibbon Enterprises will do the installation tomorrow and have been excellent in the prewiring phase, working efficiently and with excellence.
Yesterday was my best day so far and marked exactly four weeks in business. We broke all sales records merely because my beautiful customers have started to find the store. I thank you again from the bottom of my heart!
Great to see Patti from Evergreen as well yesterday! Another hoot and a half to be sure!!!
Delivery days are always funny because inevitably boxes end up in the retail space of the store and I worry that customers are not going to be able to reach something, or that a box will suddenly jump out and grab them! On the other hand, today I will get a substantial resupply of a lot of things I need for my grand opening and I am so excited to be able to say that I have to restock.
Thank you to all of you who have had the faith and confidence in my store and its products to shop at the Bark Market and allow me the opportunity to move into the second phase of my business. The startup phase will be complete upon the grand opening. The last step of the startup in my view is getting the permanent signage which will announce the store as an established venue.
The signage will arrive from Springfield, OR today at Fast Signs on 14th and Glisan. Kiefer Enterprises has apparently outdone themselves producing quality box signs in record time so that I will have a truly grand opening. McKibbon Enterprises will do the installation tomorrow and have been excellent in the prewiring phase, working efficiently and with excellence.
Yesterday was my best day so far and marked exactly four weeks in business. We broke all sales records merely because my beautiful customers have started to find the store. I thank you again from the bottom of my heart!
Great to see Patti from Evergreen as well yesterday! Another hoot and a half to be sure!!!
2005/04/14
Sorry for that last rant. I don't know what came over me!
Things are picking up steadily here at the Market. Tonya and Gary from Fast Signs stopped in and let me know that everything is still on track for getting the permanent signs up before the Grand Opening. That sure makes me feel good. I've had such an amazing team of people offering supportive efforts of all kinds!
Sales have been picking up lately, although I still feel like we are flying under the radar. I think we will get a lot busier as people pick up on the location and the store's natural emphasis.
I have gotten some new treats and toys in the last week which I am excited about as well. I just had a visit from the Great Dog Bakery chef, Daryl Ostrovsky, who will be delivering a dozen bags of his wheat-free peanut-butter-discs tomorrow. He said he's working on a doggy cake that doesn't need refrigeration, so we might have a couple of those someday too.
Things are picking up steadily here at the Market. Tonya and Gary from Fast Signs stopped in and let me know that everything is still on track for getting the permanent signs up before the Grand Opening. That sure makes me feel good. I've had such an amazing team of people offering supportive efforts of all kinds!
Sales have been picking up lately, although I still feel like we are flying under the radar. I think we will get a lot busier as people pick up on the location and the store's natural emphasis.
I have gotten some new treats and toys in the last week which I am excited about as well. I just had a visit from the Great Dog Bakery chef, Daryl Ostrovsky, who will be delivering a dozen bags of his wheat-free peanut-butter-discs tomorrow. He said he's working on a doggy cake that doesn't need refrigeration, so we might have a couple of those someday too.
2005/04/09
The Filibuster is an interesting tool with a varied past and now perhaps an uncertain future. Those who seek to eradicate the filibuster send a not too subtle signal that they are part of a minority view in this country who hold that democracy is controlled by those who push the hardest. While the Republican "majority" in congress has been fervently trying to place truly activist judges on the Federal judiciary (while at the same time railing against "acitivist" judges in cases such as the Schiavo act), judges who could truly do damage to our constitution and by extension our democracy, Democrats who have been resisting have been demonized as anti-democratic.
However, it has been pointed out by numerous scholars and pundits alike that although the Republican party holds a numerical majority in both houses of congress, and despite their commander-in-chief, the Democrats truly represent the majority of Americans - the numerical majority. Even the Dem's dwindling herd, culled by the wicked wind of Tom DeLay's fraud and other extremist election campaigns and lies, cannot help but represent more populated districts than the Republican's combined district total populations. This is truly the height of irony in a democracy led by those who purport to have the people's interest at heart.
And although the Republican party (some of them) rails against the filibuster, it was this same tool which allowed them as a small minority party to have a voice in times of great peril. It could someday help them too in the distant future.
For now, the only thing that matters is killing the filibuster so that some strange breed of justice may live. So that dangerously activist judges who are utterly racist, misogynistic or just downright unAmerican can pass judgments over our lives and perhaps over the constitution itself - the very heart and soul of this republic, and that which allows me to write these words without fear of punishment.
The Republicans in favor of this option, hopefully Gordon Smith not among them, forget one thing about the nature of politics, indeed about the physical world itself:
THE HARDER ONE PUSHES AN OBJECT, THE HARDER THE OBJECT ONE IS PUSHING AGAINST PUSHES BACK.
However, it has been pointed out by numerous scholars and pundits alike that although the Republican party holds a numerical majority in both houses of congress, and despite their commander-in-chief, the Democrats truly represent the majority of Americans - the numerical majority. Even the Dem's dwindling herd, culled by the wicked wind of Tom DeLay's fraud and other extremist election campaigns and lies, cannot help but represent more populated districts than the Republican's combined district total populations. This is truly the height of irony in a democracy led by those who purport to have the people's interest at heart.
And although the Republican party (some of them) rails against the filibuster, it was this same tool which allowed them as a small minority party to have a voice in times of great peril. It could someday help them too in the distant future.
For now, the only thing that matters is killing the filibuster so that some strange breed of justice may live. So that dangerously activist judges who are utterly racist, misogynistic or just downright unAmerican can pass judgments over our lives and perhaps over the constitution itself - the very heart and soul of this republic, and that which allows me to write these words without fear of punishment.
The Republicans in favor of this option, hopefully Gordon Smith not among them, forget one thing about the nature of politics, indeed about the physical world itself:
THE HARDER ONE PUSHES AN OBJECT, THE HARDER THE OBJECT ONE IS PUSHING AGAINST PUSHES BACK.
2005/04/06
The ad for the store came out today in the April issue of the NW Examiner. And I couldn't be more excited! I am glad that I decided to take a pay cut in order to promote the store because I know a lot of people are going to read the ad and want to find out just what the heck is going on over here.
Sadie has been adjusting well to store life and has really been getting more comfortable around the kids, who can be a little intimidating to her when they crowd around her and reach out with both hands. But she is definitely getting better aquainted with the small folk among us.
We are finalizing the mailer that will go out in a week or so. I can't believe how much I almost wasted on this thing though. I thought I had culled all the addresses from the list that I didn't want to use, until I sat down tonight that is and looked carefully at all of the locations. I flipped through all the addresses and determined that a bunch were too far out for the initial run. Every address that I eliminate saves about 34 cents between the vet clinic and my store.
We had already discussed having a very targeted mailer for our area, but for some reason (inexperience maybe?) I hadn't thoroughly investigated the locations of all the addresses I had chosen. I eliminated a great deal of them tonight as we don't feel it is necessary at this point to reach much past Cedar Mill school. That way we can also concentrate on NW Portland closer in to the city.
I originally wanted to do a 10,000 piece mailer, but I am settling for 5,000 and that will stay within my budget. Plus, the smaller number forces me to really be picky about the range of my target audience so I won't waste any postcards.
It's just like when I was turned down by both Banner Bank and Albina Community Bank for an SBA sponsored loan. I thought they were going to jump at the chance to get on board, but I feel fortunate that they didn't. I really think about costs carefully because of the smaller budget, AND I don't have to report to them about every spending decision. It's kind of a win-win.
Sadie has been adjusting well to store life and has really been getting more comfortable around the kids, who can be a little intimidating to her when they crowd around her and reach out with both hands. But she is definitely getting better aquainted with the small folk among us.
We are finalizing the mailer that will go out in a week or so. I can't believe how much I almost wasted on this thing though. I thought I had culled all the addresses from the list that I didn't want to use, until I sat down tonight that is and looked carefully at all of the locations. I flipped through all the addresses and determined that a bunch were too far out for the initial run. Every address that I eliminate saves about 34 cents between the vet clinic and my store.
We had already discussed having a very targeted mailer for our area, but for some reason (inexperience maybe?) I hadn't thoroughly investigated the locations of all the addresses I had chosen. I eliminated a great deal of them tonight as we don't feel it is necessary at this point to reach much past Cedar Mill school. That way we can also concentrate on NW Portland closer in to the city.
I originally wanted to do a 10,000 piece mailer, but I am settling for 5,000 and that will stay within my budget. Plus, the smaller number forces me to really be picky about the range of my target audience so I won't waste any postcards.
It's just like when I was turned down by both Banner Bank and Albina Community Bank for an SBA sponsored loan. I thought they were going to jump at the chance to get on board, but I feel fortunate that they didn't. I really think about costs carefully because of the smaller budget, AND I don't have to report to them about every spending decision. It's kind of a win-win.
2005/04/04
My aunt Carole was in the store today so lucky Sadie got to go hang out at Gabriel park with all the cool dogs. We saw little Gus the Min-Pin, as well as Calypso - Sadie's favorite Great Dane puppyfriend. There were several other dogs that were familiar as well but I am still learning names!
I got some great snapshots from Jess and Joni up in Seattle who are having a ball with their new boy David, a six year old whom they have lovingly made their own. I also had some pics developed from those little kodak disposable cameras. Many came out alright, but most of the ones of the store I didn't use the flash so I'm still waiting to get some good pictures of the store posted here.
I will have a couple up soon though!
My only real remark about the business today would be how amazingly different people's perspective on a new business can be if they aren't in the driver's seat.
I would also add that a nice lady came in today to promote the grand opening of her company's new apartments in Forest Heights where lots of dogs are/will be living. This gave me a chance to give her a bunch of postcards to give to new tenants, which is very exciting! I don't have to do that legwork. Plus, the apartments were built by the same property company that is building the Forest Heights Village Center, and I couldn't be more pleased that I can use their own resources to promote my store when they wouldn't even show me a lease for their shopping center. Karma?
I got some great snapshots from Jess and Joni up in Seattle who are having a ball with their new boy David, a six year old whom they have lovingly made their own. I also had some pics developed from those little kodak disposable cameras. Many came out alright, but most of the ones of the store I didn't use the flash so I'm still waiting to get some good pictures of the store posted here.
I will have a couple up soon though!
My only real remark about the business today would be how amazingly different people's perspective on a new business can be if they aren't in the driver's seat.
I would also add that a nice lady came in today to promote the grand opening of her company's new apartments in Forest Heights where lots of dogs are/will be living. This gave me a chance to give her a bunch of postcards to give to new tenants, which is very exciting! I don't have to do that legwork. Plus, the apartments were built by the same property company that is building the Forest Heights Village Center, and I couldn't be more pleased that I can use their own resources to promote my store when they wouldn't even show me a lease for their shopping center. Karma?
