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
Monday, 30 June 2008
Friday, 30 May 2008
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.
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.
Thursday, 15 May 2008
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.
Monday, 5 May 2008
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
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
Saturday, 1 March 2008
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.
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.
Saturday, 16 February 2008
Doom, gloom and model trucks
Stress Levels Today: Pass me the hair dye!
Been a little busy of late as just completed two weeks at work verging on 60 hours per week then jumped head first into a full e bay listing revamp. We've managed to give all our listings on e bay a fresh new look. I'll give anyone a mars bar who finds one that slipped throught the net. You cant miss which ones are the old ones they are all over the place with colours, fonts and some of the geriatric ones even have tacky borders. The reason behind this is to have a last ditch attempt to improve sales before we run out of money. So far this week its not looking good with people still having large credit card bills and the nice weather over half term attracting people away from next to the radiator. It looks like Karl may be in the market for a job next week! Either that or I could get a job that actually pays a wage you could live off.
Its not all been doom and gloom this week as we recieved the truck pictured above made by my daddys own fair hand. The detail is amazing and colours match the livery on the website. If anyone wants to see more of his work take a look at the birdboxes on http://www.ardentpets.co.uk/
If anyone wants to comment on our new and improved e bay listings please feel free. If anyone else other than one couple, a cat and well travelled teddy bear want to vote in the blogging awards for us then that would also be nice.
Tuesday, 29 January 2008
On the Twelfth Month of Trading.....
Stress Level Today: 4 Grey hairs
It has happened! I sucumbed to the lurgy and have lost a whole weekend feeling sick, being stabbed behind the eyes with needles and feeling generally sorry for myself. It could have been the children I was exposed to last week when the local school visited the vets where I work. I even had my own little group of chronologically disadvantaged people to talk to. People who know me will probably be slightly confused at this point at the mention of me and children in the same sentence, but you have to face your fears when educating the pet owners of the future. Especially when your fears happen to be about 3ft tall with 2 legs. I do have to say Mr J. was the consummate professional and put up with the small sticky fingers touching him with a fair amount of dignity. He even stood at the correct moment to have his 3 legs counted and blinked knowingly as the 'look both ways before crossing the road or you'll loose a leg' message was imparted.
On the Ardent Pets front theres been some serious discussions on how we are to progress as cashflow (now renamed cash trickle) is getting quite challenging in the gap between Christmas and people getting paid again. Our little baby is getting very good at paying its own running costs but it would be nice to know the mortgage will be covered this month. We're going to have to go food shopping tomorrow as we are not yet that desperate to excavate the frozen remains of what could be food at the back of the freezer. Anyway as far as big business decisions go we have considered expanding out of the spare room into an office, partly for Karls sanity and partly because we're out of space. We also want to expand the range of products we have but this takes finances so may have to smile nicely at our lovely local bank manager (unless anyone has any spare cash from down the back of the sofa? All donations gratefully received). Stress levels likely to rise in the next few weeks!
WE'VE BEEN NOMINATED for some blogging awards! Technically I nominated both blogs for the awards you can see down the side and so far only Gill and Rob (sister and bro in law) have voted. So we're feeling pretty unpopular at the moment. It could be that technophobia has swept through all our friends and family but its unlikely. If anyone would like to click on the awards, register and vote it would make us very happy.
It is also going to be Ardent Pets first birthday on Saturday 2nd February and I've been given the task of writing a press release. I now wish I hadn't pulled Karls leg saying my blog was better than his as hes given me one night to do it in. There will be some fantastic birthday offers appearing soon to those who subscribe to the Ardent Pets blog at http://www.ardentpets.blogspot.com/
Thats all for now, over and out
It has happened! I sucumbed to the lurgy and have lost a whole weekend feeling sick, being stabbed behind the eyes with needles and feeling generally sorry for myself. It could have been the children I was exposed to last week when the local school visited the vets where I work. I even had my own little group of chronologically disadvantaged people to talk to. People who know me will probably be slightly confused at this point at the mention of me and children in the same sentence, but you have to face your fears when educating the pet owners of the future. Especially when your fears happen to be about 3ft tall with 2 legs. I do have to say Mr J. was the consummate professional and put up with the small sticky fingers touching him with a fair amount of dignity. He even stood at the correct moment to have his 3 legs counted and blinked knowingly as the 'look both ways before crossing the road or you'll loose a leg' message was imparted.
On the Ardent Pets front theres been some serious discussions on how we are to progress as cashflow (now renamed cash trickle) is getting quite challenging in the gap between Christmas and people getting paid again. Our little baby is getting very good at paying its own running costs but it would be nice to know the mortgage will be covered this month. We're going to have to go food shopping tomorrow as we are not yet that desperate to excavate the frozen remains of what could be food at the back of the freezer. Anyway as far as big business decisions go we have considered expanding out of the spare room into an office, partly for Karls sanity and partly because we're out of space. We also want to expand the range of products we have but this takes finances so may have to smile nicely at our lovely local bank manager (unless anyone has any spare cash from down the back of the sofa? All donations gratefully received). Stress levels likely to rise in the next few weeks!
WE'VE BEEN NOMINATED for some blogging awards! Technically I nominated both blogs for the awards you can see down the side and so far only Gill and Rob (sister and bro in law) have voted. So we're feeling pretty unpopular at the moment. It could be that technophobia has swept through all our friends and family but its unlikely. If anyone would like to click on the awards, register and vote it would make us very happy.
It is also going to be Ardent Pets first birthday on Saturday 2nd February and I've been given the task of writing a press release. I now wish I hadn't pulled Karls leg saying my blog was better than his as hes given me one night to do it in. There will be some fantastic birthday offers appearing soon to those who subscribe to the Ardent Pets blog at http://www.ardentpets.blogspot.com/
Thats all for now, over and out
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