Can it core a apple?

And so the search for a workshop continues. I’ve come across some interesting characters as I search for a new home for CLC’s operations. Here’s an excerpt (as I remember it) of a recent phone conversation I had with the manager of a corporate park. Funny (or sad) thing is, it’s not too far off from all the other conversations I’ve had regarding my office space requirements.

Is my request for an office with a sink really that uncommon?

Ring, ring…

Manager: Yello!

Me: (tentatively) Hi is this So and So Industrial Park?

Manager: Yep. That’s us. How can I help?

(Okay, this guy has such a thick New Yawk accent I’m now picturing Rocky Balboa on the other end, half-expecting him to yell, “AAADDRIIIAAANN!!!” any minute now.)

Me: I saw that you have some space available. I’m looking for a space that’s around 600 square feet. Do you have any availability in this size?

Manager: Yeah, sure. We gotta few.

Me: Does it have a sink? (For all you Honeymooners fans…”Can it core a apple?”)

Manager: A what?

Me: A SINK! You know, to wash stuff in.

Manager: Like a bathroom? The bathrooms are down the hall.

Me: No I don’t need a private bathroom. Just a sink. Preferably a deep one.

Manager: Aw – lady you can’t use a sink as a bathroom you know what I mean?

Me: (What the !@#$!!! is this guy thinking?) Sir, I need a sink to wash our production tools in. We make customized bath and body products like lotions, soaps, perfumes…

Manager: Oh you make lotions like that Bath Works store I see in the malls?

Me: You mean Bath & Body Works? Not really, maybe a little kind of – only better (*ahem* if I must say so myselfJ)

Manager: So lemme get this straight. You need an office space with a sink in it?

Me: Yeah pretty much.

Manager: That’s it? No access to a loading dock or anything like that?

Me: Nuh-uh.

Manager: Well we don’t have any space like that, but lemme see what I can do.

Me: So will you be able to help me out?

Manager: Yeah, lemme see what I can do and I’ll call you back.

I’m waiting to hear back from Charlie to see if he can indeed retrofit a sink into an office. Pretty freakin’ funny!

I really hope this one works out. It’s close to home and right near my favourite Indian restaurant.

Once I find CLC’s new home, I’ll post some pictures.

Wish me luck!

Life Happens When You Least Expect It...

Hard to believe that about a year ago, my life looked nothing like it does today. There I was, dealing with an unexpected family crisis and trying to keep up with filling Crater Lake Company orders. It came to a point where I didn’t know which way was up anymore. I was on auto-pilot def-con one survival mode.

At that point, I made the decision to close CLC temporarily until the dust settled. Unfortunately, because I was running around putting fires out constantly, I overlooked refunding a few pending orders when I closed. I cannot apologize enough for this oversight. In my opinion, there is no excuse for this mistake and take full responsibility for it. I’ve since issued refunds with interest to those customers whose orders I overlooked. What amazed me was how many of you were so kind and understanding about what happened. You know who you are and I want to thank you again.

Fast forward to today where I sit in my quiet office, happily typing my first blog entry. Yey!

YES! CLC will be opening its doors once again in early 2008!!! I am so anxious and excited to get the show going, but I’ve taken a few hard knocks and learnt some valuable lessons I’m determined to apply this time around. Here are a few of them:

Lesson 1: Operate in a scaleable space. CLC started in a small home workshop and quickly outgrew its space. Between all our supplies, three people filling and packing orders and one belligerent cat doling out leg rubs there was simply not enough space.

So now, I’m on the hunt to find a studio that’s slightly larger than what we currently need so that we can grow into it as our operation expands. (More about my adventures on finding space in another entry).

Lesson 2: CLC is more than a business to me. Otherwise, I would have sold it the first chance I got. I was approached about selling the business and I gladly entertained the thought. For about a second. When I realized that CLC was going to be closed longer than I expected I thought about taking on a partner as well. For a perfectionistic control-freak like me, neither option seemed too appealing.

So I’ve decided to keep CLC. Because I love it too much and I’m selfish like that.

Lesson 3: You cannot teach passion. Now that I am looking to staff up CLC once again, I’ve learnt that it’s easy enough to teach someone how to process invoices, pack and fill the less complex orders. What I cannot teach is the passion and appreciation for lotions, crèmes, perfumes and whatever else we can think of to slather, spritz and smother on our skin. And the scents. Oh the scents!

So what I’m looking for is someone who has a healthy appreciation for what Crater Lake Company creates. Someone who can share in my excitement when after weeks of tinkering with a blend, it finally comes together beautifully. Must be passionate about anything bath and body and have contagious enthusiasm – that’s my number one requirement to work at CLC.

Anyway, I’ve blabbed on and on. Probably because I’m just so excited to be back in contact with my customers again.

Do drop me a line. In the next week or two, we’ll be disabling our storefront to start work on the re-design. We’ve added to and taken away from our product line and Fragrance Bar to make sure that we offer only the best. When we re-open, we’ll introduce products and scents we’ve been working on since our closing. I’m chewing at the bit raring to go, but we’ve still got some work to do and my annual pilgrimage home to the Philippines.

I’ll post here regularly and keep you updated through our newsletter. Oh! Don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter! The form is located on the top right hand corner of this page.