[Stuey]

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What kind of shop are you running?

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It is a convenience store no gas.

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What is it about day-to-day operations that gives you satisfaction?

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I like the idea that I am building something more than just a moneymaking business. I take pride in doing a good job and it is a good feeling to run an independent successful business when everything is becoming franchised. Several of my suppliers are very surprised at my sales volume when they see I am taking on much bigger chain type stores.

My business is part of the community and I like the feeling of tradition that comes with that. I like knowing my customers as most of them I know on a first name basis and several I have served for over 15 years. It is a small town and it is hard to explain why I live here and what I like about it but there are lots of reasons.

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Have you actually had the problems with staff that you describe, or are these just the things you anticipate happening?

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Yes and I am understating the problems. I have always worked a lot from what other people tell me. I work about 60-80 hours a week and only take maybe 2 days off per month and never take holidays. But it is only the last 3 years that I have not enjoyed doing it.

I have very high staff turn over, people last about 2 months tops. They often tell me the job is just too hard as the pace is too much. I find this hard to understand as I am used to it. And I take it as they want to find a job that pays the same but requires less effort.

The fact that they steal from me does not seem to matter anymore, as they never steal enough to affect my bottom line profits enough to cause me concern financially. I could ramble on about the problems forever but lets just say I am at the point that I realize I can not wait for things to change or return to the way they were I need to change.

In the past I have not had these problems and was able to find enough skilled staff for my needs. Things have changed as my business has increased so has that of the entire area and other business owners have expressed the same conserns to me. It is a boom time I guess but supply is not keeping up to demand imo.