Chad Torp, Survivor!

I'm not one to dwell on things that didn't pan out the way I wanted them to, so let's just say that the sandwich board idea didn't work. It started off okay, even though the board I had made was too large to fit me but too small for me to get easily in and out of. After struggling with it for 20 minutes, I was finally able to slip the board over my head and get my arms inside the straps, which it turned out were too tight.

I walked around the downtown Alta Coma area wearing my "Alta Coma Typewriters" board, and for the first hour or so, nobody bothered me.  In fact, for that one hour, nobody paid any attention to me at all. After that, though, things got strange, then rowdy, then dangerous.  I don't want to get into details because I still don't fully understand what went wrong, even after reading the riot police lieutenant's official report.

Some lessons were learned, though, and that's the important thing. Here are a few, mainly for my own benefit:

• It's near impossible to run for your life while wearing a sandwich board.
• A sandwich board provides only minimal protection against rocks, bottles and shrapnel. 
• Innocent, seemingly insignificant (but well-meaning) actions on my part can have disastrous consequences in a very short period of time.
• I am claustrophobic. 

I think it's good that I know the Alta Coma area well, because once I regained consciousness I began to recognize certain landmarks that eventually led me back to my store.  It was well after 11pm by the time I got back. The sandwich board, my wallet, my tray of free samples of ribbon, my shoes and my handbills are all gone, but my sense of determination remains intact.

Alta Coma Typewriters is open for business!

Disregard That Last Post

I have to apologize for the post I made late last night (technically early this morning!). I had woken up in terror as I do from time to time, worried about the business, and wanted to get quick word out to any of my faithful readers that I was still open and ready to sell typewriters, even in the middle of the night.

With the light of day, I am back to my usual optimistic self.. along with some fresh, new ideas on how to drum up new business.

I figured out a cheap way to advertise: a Sandwich Board! You know, where you hire a person to walk around outside wearing a two-sided sign that advertises your store. All they have to do is walk around and make sure the foot traffic on the street sees the sign. I believe that if people know I'm here, a bell will ring for them (get it? a typewrite joke!) and they'll think of me when they need a new machine.

I will begin the hiring process tomorrow. This will be exciting!!

I'm Open For Business - PLEASE COME IN!!!

It's well after 3:00 in the morning, and while the front door of the store is locked for security purposes (gotta keep the drunks out), I'm still open for business.

I hate to use the word "desperate" here, but please, folks, I'm nearing that point of desperation. I'm stacked from floor to ceiling with unsold inventory, half of which is the typewriters from the now-closed Chesterton location. I haven't made a sale in months, and my complete lack of even "casual browsers" to the store makes me wonder if the street out front hasn't been closed off for some reason.

So again, if you need a new typewriter, please please please come in and buy one from me. Just knock loudly on the door, as I might be sleeping in the back room.

The Big Idea

Okay, I've taken the plunge yet again.

It's been quite a while since I last updated everyone (sorry!), but the idea that I mentioned last time has now become a reality.

So what was this huge, problem-solving, life-changing, earth-shattering plan? Simply this: I decided that I'm going to move out of my apartment and take up residence in my store.

This will do two things for me. First, it will save me the $600 per month I've been paying in rent. Second, it will give me the chance to be at my customers' beck and call 24 hours a day. No longer will someone look into my store window and find the lights turned off and the door locked, with a sign that says, "Sorry, We're Closed!" I will be there at all hours, every day, ready and willing to serve Alta Coma's typewriter needs at a moment's notice. Need a typewriter at 11pm on Sunday night? No problem, I'm here! (And yes, folks need typewriters at that hour... a college student may have an important paper due the next morning, and find their typewriter no longer works.. what do they do then? Right! See me!!)

My landlord and I have agreed to part ways honorably and amicably, so that much is already worked out. I will forfeit my last month's rent and the cleaning deposit, but he has agreed not to pursue me legally for the 3 months of unpaid rent. In return, I will allow him to keep all of my furniture in the apartment. I know I'm getting the raw end of the deal there, but really, where would I put all of that stuff once I move into my store? This seemed like the best solution.

So, it's onward and upward to a better future for yours truly. I will move in tomorrow, and the only difference you'll notice is the new sign that will read, "Open 24 Hours For Your Convenience!"

Chesterton Store is Closing

I'll call it The Experiment That Wasn't.

After only four months, my Chesterton Typewriter store has been shuttered. It was sudden, but really it wasn't so sudden, because I had seen this coming almost since the first month I'd been open for business.

You'll recall that my employee, Jacob Gray, quit after 10 minutes on the job, and that I'd been robbed on the same day (opening day). I should have seen that as an omen, because absolutely nothing went right from then on out. You might say that the events of opening day were the high points of the entire venture.

I won't bother you with all of the gory details, but between trying to pay my own personal bills, and having lost my car to the guy who wrote me a bad check, I was unable to come up with the rent on the Chesterton lease. After 90 days of non-payment, I found myself locked out of my own store yesterday morning, as the marshals had put a big lock on the front door along with an eviction notice.

I made a kind of half-hearted attempt to pay the rent with tpewriters, but they said no deal. I wasn't all that serious about the trade offer, but it was worth at least exporling the idea. No dice.

But in a way, this could be a good thing. My credit is now completely ruined, but at least I can consolidate and concentrate my efforts once again into my Alta coma location, which you regular readers know has not been setting the world on fire from a sales standpoint. By "going back to my roots," I am now able to redouble my efforts to get the customers rolling into the store once again.

I still owe Digger and the Pig $500, or so KZMO keeps telling me, and they've threatened to bring me to court in order to collect. I also owe about $11,500 for the radio commercials that to date have not brought in one single customer to my store.

But I am nothing if not resourceful, so I have an idea that I think may work for both myself and for my heavy-handed debt collectors. I will not reveal that idea just yet, because it may not come to the point that I will need to use it, but it's there.

Stay tuned, as they say!

Some Good From the Bad

I like to make up certain sayings, little phrases that sum up a situation nicely and neatly. One such phrase is "Inside every dark cloud, there's a silver lining." What I mean by that is this: no matter how bad or bleak things may seem, there is always something good within.

My Chesterton store was robbed again yesterday. It's the second time this has happened in the last two months. I was behind the counter at the time, when a young fellow ran in and brandished a knife, demanding that I give him all the money in the cash register. Well, sales have not exactly been "through the roof" lately, and as a result, there was no money in the drawer!

I told him I didn't have anything to give him, and opened the register to show him I wasn't lying. Not knowing what to do next, he threatened me once more with the knife, then started for the exit. I guess he didn't want the attempt to be a total loss, so he tried to grab some merchandise on the way out. But typewriters are heavy, and he could barely lift the one he grabbed. Realizing he couldn't carry it all the way out to wherever his hideout was, he instead tried to hurl it at me. It landed harmlessly on the ground. It was damaged, but I can repair it and will be able to re-stock it soon.

So while my cash flow is REALLY hurting right now, my lack of silver in the cash register turned out to be my own silver lining!

New Models Are In!

The new 2009 IBM Selectrics are now in stock. They're available in both the Alta Coma and the Chesterton locations, and while I had to move a few things around to make room on the shelves for them, I've placed them in a prominent location in both stores.

Of course, I still have models from 2004 through 2008 for sale as well, lots of them. But these new machines are real beauties, and I think the upgrades they made to this year's models will make a huge difference in my business. I won't reveal all of the features here (you have to come in to the store for that... hint, hint!!), but I'll give away a couple of teasers: auto-correct and long-life ribbons.

The stores are both crowded with merchandise, and I know there's some typewriter in stock that meets everyone's needs. Come on in, folks, and see what we've got.

I don't mean to turn this into an advertisement, but I'm really excited about the 2009 models. Plus, I REALLY need to move this merchandise out of both stores. So if you're in need, I have the goods!

You Can't Trust Anyone Over $30

Bad news.. the guy who bought my car last week for $8,500 wrote me a bad check. Yep, it bounced like a rubber ball.

So now, not only do I not get the money, but my car is gone. Well, it's not really gone, as it turns out. The police found it about 25 miles from here, damaged, with several engine parts missing. I had it towed to a local car repair place, and they said they can fix it for about $1,500. Great.

I guess I should have been more diligent, or at least maybe questioned why the guy wanted to buy my car for $8,500 when I was only asking $6,000 for it. But he was the only buyer who even asked about the car, and I needed the money, so I blindly took the deal.

Lesson learned: don't trust anyone who wants to write you a check for more than $30.. unless, of course, they're buying a typewriter from me!!

Sacrificing for the Greater Good

Part of my new resolve to be 100% successful this year involves sacrificing things in other areas of my life. If I want the business to thrive, other things must suffer, at least temporarily, until I can pump the life back into the patient.

The first thing I did was to sell my car. Yes, I took the plunge last night. I'd grown attached to the ol' roadster, having driven it nearly 180,000 miles over the past 12 years. But I needed the cash, and decided that having money in hand was vital enough that taking the bus or walking to and from work each day would be worth it. I sold the '91 Oldsmobile Cutlass to a guy who really wanted it, and was willing to pay more than I was asking. He wrote me a check on the spot for $8,500, which was almost what I'd paid for it back in 1997. It was tough to see him drive my car away without me in it, but it had to be done.

Next, I decided to cut my own household consumption as much as possible. No more lunches for me, just breakfast and dinner. Also, it's lights out at my house... no electricity will burn after 6pm - just candles. Hey, if it was good enough for my great grandparents, it's good enough for me!

Other small sacrifices will soon follow: no new clothes, even from the Salvation Army store; limited water consumption; and all magazine subscriptions will be cancelled. I will keep my home phone for now, but that could be next to go if things don't pick up.

It's all about doing what you can to succeed. And I will succeed. I have the road map, I have the plans. Once the marketing campaign kicks in, which it will in the coming weeks, I will have more customers in my store than I know what to do with.

It WILL happen!

Learning some lessons

"Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

I made up that phrase about ten years ago when I realized that the stock investments I'd made five years earlier had taken a nosedive, and I made the decision not to reinvest in the same stocks.

It came to mind again these past several weeks as I tried to take note of the lessons of last year. Do not, I told myself, repeat the mistakes you made over the past 12 months. Learn from them, but do not repeat them.

Loyal readers will recall everything I've done wrong over the past year, but just a few highlights for the new members: Ordering vast quantities of new typewriter models while the older ones still remain on the shelves, unsold; Buying commercial time on KZMO radio and being locked into a year-long contract; Inviting the KZMO morning show to do a remote broadcast from my Alta Coma store; "selling" some typewriters to an elderly lady who wrote me two bad checks; opening a new store in the next town without doing the proper due diligence as to whether or not it would be a successful venture.

Yes, there are more, but those are the major ones. The funny thing is, I had no idea they were bad ideas at all until at least a month afterward (except for the KZMO broadcast.. I knew that was bad right away).

So how do I start fresh in the new year? By strengthening my resolve, and by refocusing my marketing campaign to draw in more customers than I ever have before. My goal is to have the best year since I took over the family business all those years ago.

How does that happen? The ideas are churning in my mind. I won't reveal them just yet, dear readers, but be assured, I WILL be successful this year.

The customers are out there. I just have to find them.

Disaster

Oh, my Lord. What a horrible couple of weeks. I can't describe it all right now, as I'm still shaken. But in short, my store was robbed on opening day, my Alta Coma employee quit after 10 minutes, and KZMO, which was supposed to end my advertising contract last week, notified me that I still owe Digger and the Pig their "talent fee" of $500 each.

And I have still not sold a single typewriter since September.

More later, if I can figure a way out of this one.

Tomorrow is the big day...

...and I'm not nearly ready for it. I've spent huge amounts of money on the new store, getting it presentable for customers, and it's still not in top shape. It will get there eventually, but the people who walk in tomorrow will not see the store in its best form.

No matter. I will still smile warmly, introduce myself to everyone, show off my expertise, and do my best to turn tomorrow's visitors into lifelong satisfied clients.

I will open the doors promptly at 8:00 am, just as I normally do in Alta Coma. Speaking of which, the Alta Coma store will be staffed tomorrow by my new employee, Jacob Gray, who will be there ready to answer all of your typewriter questions, and take care of you.

The new era begins! And boy, am I nervous.

Business is still slow

Sales have really been bad this month.

I am in desperate need of customers, because my new location in Chesterton opens on November 1, and my first rent payment is due on October 30th. I signed the lease agreement last week.

The new store will be just off the main street in downtown Chesterton, on Keel Haul Road. It's the middle store of three total that are grouped together in a kind of "mini mall," so we can all help each other. I will be in between a check-cashing outlet and a Salvation Army store.

So please, if anyone needs a typewriter, come on by and BUY.. from ME!

Please.

"Pipe Dream" becoming a reality

Finally, some good news on the Chad Torp front.

First, it looks like my germ of an idea has grown into a full-fledged virus.. or, better analogy, my acorn of an idea has turned into a mighty oak.

The owners of the Chesterton property, the one I've had my eye on for a few months now, have agreed to lease their space to me so I can open a second Alta Coma Typewriters location!! We still have to hammer out the details, like final price and move-in date, but they were more than eager to take me on as a renter.

Second, KZMO radio has agreed to let me out of my advertising contract at the 6-month mark, meaning I don't have to advertise for a full year. Hooray!

Okay, faithful readers, I know what you're thinking. Why is he leasing the property instead of buying it, like his grandfather did at the Alta Coma location? And why is he calling the Chesterton location "Alta Coma Typewriters?"

To the first question, the owners simply wanted too much money on a purchase. I won't say how much, but it was in the 7-figure range, and none of those figures were cents! So I'll pay them a set amount each month on a year-to-year lease contract, and then we can renew and renegotiate each year. Sounds fair. I just need to come up with the extra money for the rent, AND I'll have to pay for a new employee. If there's anyone within the sound of my words who knows everything and more about typewiters, let me know and you've got the job!

To the second question, it's really not final that I'll call it Alta Coma Typewriters. The family name is so well-known in town, but maybe not elsewhere. I assume, though, that the name Chesterton Typewriters was already taken many years ago, so I obviously can't use a competitor's name. I am open to debate on that one, but for now, it's Alta Coma Typewriters (Chesterton branch).

It's an exciting time for yours truly. I just hope I can find the cash to make it work. A nice inflow of customers would REALLY help right about now! (hint, hint!!).

A New Store in the Works???

Okay, maybe it's just a pipe dream, but I am seriously considering leasing that new property in Chesterton that I mentioned a few posts back.

Business is slow here in Alta Coma, but a second store could make all the difference. I can't just close my current store, as some have suggested, and simply open up another one in another city. Why not? Because then I'd really have to start over. Plus, where would all of my Alta Coma customers go for typewriters? This business has been right here at this location since the Hoover administration, and I'm not about to let those faithful customers down. (Although I will admit that they've not been coming back to the store like they used to.. I blame the high-quality products that last for years!).

So I think a second store is in order here. I spoke with the current lease holder who directed me to the property owner, and they're willing to consider my bid. I told them that I need to either figure out a way to get out of my KZMO contract for advertising, or, more realistically, I'll have to borrow the money from somewhere. They weren't too keen on that, but you never know.

Next step: surveying the foot traffic. This is what a good business man does. Weigh the options, listen to the inner voice, be realistic about the good and be honest about the bad, and then make a prudent decision.

Right now, that inner voice is telling me quite loudly: GO FOR IT!!

We'll see.