Optimising Our Great New Stuff

Stress level today: 1 grey hair

We've branched out into food with some fantastic Arden Grange pet food. Karl has been busy putting these onto the website http://www.ardentpets.co.uk/. So far no takers but watch this space!

He still hasn't had a moment to list any of the great new products I've picked which are currently clogging up the landing and entrance to The Pitt (the office a.k.a the spare room). I'm going to be well prepared for the Olympics with all of the athletic training I've done just getting to the loo in the morning. Especially when our wholesaler order arrives and that adds to the challenge of landing navigation. To give Karl his due he is completely up to date with all of the Aston Villa Football Club news and whats happening in the cricket so he is very busy. Lets see if he reads my blog!

My other great find this week is the Olimpia Hamster cage (right). Its really diferent to any other cages available. Even the spelling is different! Check it out at http://www.ardentpets.co.uk/small-animals/cages/ferplast-olimpia-pet-hamster-cage/prod_872.html

Other news we've commisioned a SEO campaign (search engine optimisation) so that lots of people can find us not just a select and special few. They should also create some links and help spred the Ardent Pets word. Come back soon to see if it is money well spent.

The VAT Man Cometh

Stress Level Today: 2 grey hairs

Things are going OK this month. I daresn't say things are going well as every time I am a tinsy bit positive we always get a selling drought. The month didn't get off to a great start with my nan dying and then I managed to drive my car into a 5ft ditch the day before the funeral. It did mean being car-less I took a week off to help Karl with all things Ardent and as a result we have fantastic new cheaper postage prices on E bay and more postage options which is very exciting. It has given sales a little boost and warded off some recessional spending reticence in our customers.

We are busy earning karma points fostering Peggy a little terrier cross whose owner was extremely mean. Hopefully she can be rehomed soon so she can start a fantastic new life.

Our biggest news is that we are approaching the VAT threshold this year and will be registering within the month. Its very exciting and scary but it means we're getting bigger. As a consequence I might become a partner in Ardent Pets rather than general lackey and assistant to his nibbs. Expect stress levels to rise as we get used to accounting for VAT.

Our first newsletter has gone out. Admittedly 9 times to some people before we got the hang of the software. Its all about travelling and has a fantastic discount attatched. August is probably going to be preparing for fireworks season but I might delay it until September as I suppose it is a bit early for people to take it seriously. If you would like to sign up for our incredibly informative newsletter register at https://www.ardentpets.co.uk/cart.php?act=reg&redir=L2luZGV4LnBocA.

Thats all for now come back soon for more exciting Ardent Pets News

Four Sales and a Funeral

Stress level today: 4 grey hairs

Its been a crazy month and I've no idea where the time has flown. The relaxation from our long weekend in Bath has definately worn off with a deathly quiet week on the website around Fathers day. As a result cashflow has been a dirty word in our house for the last few weeks. We have let ourselves get a little distracted and have had some fun (yet another illegal word) as the American contingent of the family have been over for their annual visit. It's time to knuckle down now which wont be easy after my course in Southampton last week which coincided with the death of my nan. Karls going to be left on his own looking after the baby (website) whilst I try to rattle off a few assignments.

Brighter news we have a new Ardent-mobile (car). The Rav has had to go which was quite sad but we need more than 23 miles to the gallon with Karl driving more miles now we have found a good wholesalers nearby. We now have a VW Sharan people carrier which is huge! I still haven't plucked up the courage to try and drive it. I'm not sure I will reach the pedals. There are a few teething problems though as it blew clouds of blue smoke all the way home from when we reached the motorway. It was quite embarrassing as lots of kind hearted people kept telling us we were being followed by the equivalent of a small stormy weather system (as if we hadn't noticed the view behind us had disappeared). It also seems to be incontinant and is peeing oil out of its exhaust. It goes back to the garage this week for a full medical and possibly surgery. On the plus side it does do 50 miles to the gallon of petrol (not oil).

Our mission for this month is to get a newsletter up and running for all those Ardent pets fans. There are a few software teething problems at the moment but hopefully details of special offers and top tips will be winging their way to all our subscribed customers. If anyone would like to subscribe just fill in your details on www.ardentpets.co.uk the box is under the shop categories on the left of the screen.

Thats all for now, call in again soon

Postage Pickle

Stress Level Today: 2 grey hairs

Had another wonderful weekend away at my sisters in Bath and destressed by floating about in salty warm water at the spa. Its a good job as stress levels are starting to rise slightly. Its been a quiet fortnight on ebay (stores.ebay.co.uk/ARDENT-PETS) despite the lovely wet weather that we've been rain dancing for. It usually keeps people indoors and on their computers but the media hype about the credit crunch could be inducing widespread shopaphobia. I can hear the twang or tightened purse strings in my sleep.

Discussions are underway at Ardent HQ (Spare bedroom a.k.a the office a.k.a. the pit) about offering free delivery on all items on the website to start with. We would hope it would make buying more transparent as you know what things cost before getting to the check out but it would have to be carefully structured so we dont lose money on postage and the customer doesn't pay over the odds for combined shipping. The jury is still out on this one so if anyone is actually out there and would like to make a comment feel free. Alternatively send me an e mail through the contact us section on the website www.ardentpets.co.uk.

Our new small rodent product advisor seems to have aquired the name K.D. as Kate, Davina nor Gabby seem to have stuck. She is thoroughly sampling Burgess Supa Hamster Complete mix food at the moment and initial findings are showing high scores in palatability, storability and pouchability. We are still waiting for her report on health and vitality but it looks like its going to be a 10 out of 10 for this great value quality food. Check it out at http://www.ardentpets.co.uk/small-animals/food/burgess-supa-hamster-complete-mix-food-for-pet-hamsters-gerbils-and-mice/prod_741.html

Thats all for now, log in again soon for more behind the scenes gossip at Ardent Pets.

Googlebrations on the South Coast

Stress level today: What Stress!

We've just had a glorious sunny 3 days holiday in Dorset and have returned feeling refreshed and rejuvenated and slightly pickled from alcoholic excess. Karl managed to keep fiddling with his blackberry to a minimum and entrusted Gill my big sis to keep our e bay listings running smoothly, which she did a fantastic job with. As you can see from the picture the weather was perfect even if the water was a bit chilly for Karls little tootsies. So thats our holiday for the year now back to the mountain of questions that have accumulated in our absence.

We also celebrated increasing our Google ranking of http://www.ardentpets.co.uk/ from 2 to 3 (or should that be Googlebrated?). It is measured out of 10 which doesn't sound so impressive until you search for a high ranking pet website then the highest we found was 5. I know what you're thinking - 'What a fantastic blossoming website, I shall tell all my friends and family to buy wonderful pet supplies from them whether they have a pet or not.' Yes you are absolutely right.

There is also a new addition to the Ardent Pets family. We have adopted a small syrian hamster abandoned at the vets where I work. She is yet to be named but has taken on the role of Small Rodent Product Advisor with a great deal of enthusiasm. Any suggestions for names are welcomed. We may have a little poll when we have whittled name ideas down to three or so.

One, Flu, Three, Four

Stress Level Today: One Monochrome Follicle

Its been 2 months since my last entry and what a two months it has been! Not so much on the website front as I've had to let Karl hog the driving seat. After the 238 hours in 29 days at work in Febrary and a similar pattern emerging in March I decided enough was enough and I stopped working extra hours. We even had our first night out for a long time at the Royal in Sutton Coldfield. My body decided to show its grattitude by cultivating a pet flu virus which completely knocked me off my feet and took a good couple of weeks to completely get rid of. I am now back to fighting fit and feeling really good which might just be me feeling normal but because I've been feeling bad for so long its making a big difference. I can now ignore all the problems at work and get stuck into all things Ardent!

Its been a year since Karl left his full time job and things look to be going OK. This is now our standard response to well wishers as if we say things are going well then there is a sudden slump in sales. So things are OK, we dont want to be too positive or ambitious as we are British afterall!

We've been up to our necks in stocktake for the past month. The counting was the easy part even if we did have a hangover (courtesy of the Royal) and it was snowing. I've just finished getting all the figures and supplier codes into an all singing all dancing spreadsheet and I am feeling smug after totting up we have almost 9K in stock secreted in various locations.

Karl is busy getting all the accounts all neat and orderly. Its taking larger and larger whips to keep him at it although the end is in sight and our first year losses might be less than Paris Hilton would spend on a big night out.

I'm off to list some new items possibly starting with trap and release mousetraps ideal for those unwanted presents from the cat and ending with a football activity mat for cats.

Come back next week for all the behind the scenes gossip at www.ardentpets.co.uk

Going for Broke

Stress level Today: Run out of hair dye

We've survived another week which is very exciting and put ourselves into yet more debt to expand our product lines. This means hours of new listings to be written as there are so far 200 new items sitting on the landing and we have shins of steel from bumping into them so often.

Its getting quite a challenge finding new items that I approve of to add to our list. My Favourite item this week is the Litter Kwitter which is a litter tray that teaches your cat to use the toilet. There are some graphic videos of it on www.litterkwitter.com.

I'm finding it difficult to fit in sleep after working three of the last four Saturdays (and I'm working next Saturday too). Not to mention the number of extra evenings I've signed myself up for. At least it ment I could cover the basic bills without the mortgage this month. I know its not supposed to be easy but I'm exhausted and I am starting to come over all unneccessary and emotional every so often. I am also getting quite used to the tension headache that accompanies my day job but that is a different story and the least of my worries at the moment. Enough of my moaning (but it that does feel better).

Its a lovely day today so I'm going to go visit the bunnies for a while have a nice breakfast then get stuck into some essays. We've pencilled in some time off this evening so that should be good.
Damn theres a black cloud on the horizon so I'd better be off. Toodle pip.