Yesterday as I was going to toss my clothes in the washer, I called Donald to check what I got from the last bale of ukay-ukay that we opened. He was looking at it one by one and saying, “Oh, you hid all the nice stuffs!” and “You kept telling our customers that there are tubes in the bale but I only hung two, you hid the rest!” I was giggling like a kid. I honestly don’t have anything nice and decent clothes in my wardrobe so when we opened the “fashion tops” bale, I grabbed all the nice stuffs in my size. LOL But since most of them are sleeves and I got one backless top, Donald asked me a couple of times if I sure could wear them. Well during regular days no but for special occasions, I could brush the last batch of dusts of shyness just to make myself look more human. 
Donald has asked me one time why I wanted to wear stuffs like that when I don’t actually wear them when I was still single. I explained that I am already married and have kids so there is no reason to be conservative. And it is not only about that thing, it is actually more about trying to look younger. Read more… »
Archives for May, 2011
When I joined Buy Pinoy Exporters Fair 2008, I was really amazed at how my co-exhibitor penetrated the export market and how it sounded so easy for them. I was listening to their conversation and I admit, I didn’t get to understand some business terms until I arrived home and googled them one by one at the nearest internet cafe (we don’t have computer yet at that time). One of the famous exhibitor who is also my mentor, Ms. Fe Leonor Calo, the woman behind Calocandles taught me many things. She is exporting her candles and I am so amazed at how she handles everything. Maybe she is using a software in document management solutions to keep everything in order or she has her personal secretary. I hope to meet her again someday to ask some questions that I have in mind for so long. She is so generous when it comes to sharing her knowledge in business.
Since we are not allowed to peddle at the park any longer, we decided that it is high time to rent a space. That was a plan because we know peddling at the park is not forever and rainy season is coming, it would be a great challenge for us. We need a space to rent so we still can sell even when it is raining. We cannot do that at the park with only a small tent and some tarps. It can only partially protect the stuffs from getting wet. The big problem too is the muddy sidewalk where we used to set up the tent. Most of the time, the clothes ended up getting dirty when the customers accidentally drop them. 
So it is actually a blessing in disguise that we are shooed from there because the plan of renting a space was finally pushed through.
The rent is quite expensive so we are trying to think of some other merchandise to put in there aside from ukay-ukay to augment cash inflow. Since the space is nice for a boutique, I was thinking of dressing it up like one. Read more… »
Our friends Richie and Irene will have their newly renovated house blessed on Sunday. We wish we can attend but that would also be our only time to go home to visit my Mom’s gravesite. I have so many pictures of their house taken during visit last May 8. Everything looks new and grand. One this I would suggest is for them to get a new Address Plaque. They got one made with their photo at the mall last year but it was ruined by the heat and rain.
As I was writing this post, I was really complaining about my back. I can get by with the pain of swollen sinuses and tonsils but not when my back is acting up. I always tell Donald that if only I can put my back infront of me, I will never ask him to give me a massage. If only that is feasible, then I would certainly get a degree at one of the chiropractic technician school so I can give myself back massage every time I needed it.
Santa can you hear me? I want this badly!!! Now na!!!! 
I wanted to get spoiled of the food that I am craving now or else I will cry a river. I am not a brat…I am just sick. Read more… »
We opened a new bale yesterday. It was not a good timing though since we got a bad news that peddlers are not allowed at the park anymore. We got the news in the morning, Donald went to the Mayor’s office to confirm and if we can resolve some issues, then we will be willing to do so but he was not lucky to be able to talk to the mayor. We were surprised because we have been selling for almost three months now and we are paying tickets everyday. While he was waiting for the Mayor around that time, I went and started setting up the stuffs. Someone approached me and informed me about the order. I told him my husband is already at the office. He advised not to continue what I was doing, I said OK but did otherwise when he left. Read more… »
Why do I cannot keep my weight at a desired level???? Last time I weighed, which was one week ago, I was 50 kilograms. After three days, I came down with fever and flu, swollen sinuses and tonsils and what makes it worst is my very annoying post nasal drip that never allows me to sleep at night. And since I am feeling under the weather lately, I developed cold sores due to my sickness and stress. I was boasting last time that I gain weight and that maybe someday I will be needing fenphedrine to trim down but I guess that is not happening. Poor me! Praying that tonight I can sleep and eat well.
So another opportunity is knocking our door. One of the commercial spaces infront of our apartment (which is owned by our landlord) will be up for rent. Donald and I was waiting for that since we moved here third week of April…but now that it is finally vacant, I am trying to convince myself that we can manage two outlets. One is the tent at the park and one here just near the apartment. Downpayment is not a problem as well as what we should sell (which is of course ukay-ukay). What bothers me is who will be the one to man the store. I am afraid of hiring someone who might be stealing from us in the end. I need to be at the tent because Donald doesn’t know the pricing well especially during Mondays and Wednesdays which is the days we have new stocks. How about getting a receipt printer so we can know for sure that the store attendant is not stealing from the sales? That would be awesome but very very expensive. Now I need to find one that is reliable and honest so we will try to do business together. My goal is not just to earn more but to give a job to other people too. So help me God.
If I am going to ask what do I want to do in life….that is to sell ukay-ukay. I am not kidding. I really love doing it. It brings unexplainable feeling of happiness everytime I open a bale. I don’t feel tired for a whole day talking and calculating in my head how much one has to pay and how much change must I give. I agree with part of the American dream: Making a great living doing what you love. If some enjoys tech jobs, I think I will never ever be as happy as selling ukay-ukay. Right now, sales are picking up and I hope it will be like this for years so we can save for some stuffs that we wanted to acquire. This I also owe to my supplier who allows us to get class A bales. We are just so lucky. People are amazed at how nice our stuffs. Of course they are from US. Clean, smells nice, looks great and carried signature brands. One thing that makes me love it is because my Mom loves ukay-ukay. When I was in elementary and I needed to ask her for something but she has left for the market, I went straight to the ukay-ukay tents and there she was! If she is only alive, she would really be as happy as me to look at the stuffs we are selling.
