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Family Crisis Unfolding
7 years ago
General
I probably got two hours of sleep last night. Very upsetting situation is unfolding.
Family Bookstore Closing
My mom, whom I work for, has made the executive decision to close her bookstore that has been in business for about 40 years now.
The store is doing so poorly, we pretty much can't even pay basic utilities and now have to raise money fast just to keep the lights on. I am be tasked with making arrangements and promotions to make it look like we are having great discounts from now until Christmas, and then at that point making the store liquidation officially announced and being fully closed within about two months or so.
The bookstore is upside down and I don't think liquidation will pay for everything my mom owes. Not to mention having to figure out how to address people with trade in credit for having brought books into the store to help buy other books.
I am very upset right now. Very disturbed and sick to my stomach over how we are to make this all happen.
Angry At Mom
Personally I am very angry with my mom. She became very unfit to be a business owner and she ran the store into the ground. She made terrible decisions. Made expensive trips to see family she couldn't afford. Sometimes didn't show up to work because she had headaches. Or late to work with stupid, lame excuses. Lots of things a normal person would get fired over if they were an employee.
A few weeks ago, she asked me to put together a business plan, because I spent thousands of dollars to become learned-ed in business in college. It was to help decide what we needed to do to help turn the business around. So I did, spent hours of my own time at home putting it together. A friend of hers, my boss from my other job saw the plan, said it was very good, made sense and was a great way to go.
And my mom did absolutely none of it. NONE of it.
The bookstore isn't really failing because of e-books or Amazon (they are less of an impact than you would think). I know the business well, I worked it hard and understand it. We could have made it work, but my mom was stupid. Her financial irresponsibility is what did us in. She "spent money like she was in Congress" to use the financial coach Dave Ramsey expression.
To put this more in perspective, another bookstore opened in town recently and this hurt us pretty bad too. (personally I think they will go out of business too due to having an expensive despite more visible location and not having a good selection of things to sell)
What That Means For Me Beyond This
The biggest thing that has me upset is the whole process of closing the store and everything it will take to close it.
There is a high chance I won't get the 3-4 months wages my mom is behind on paying me. And to be honest, that doesn't really bother me like it probably ought to. I live at home and don't really pay rent outside of the Internet bill for home and the bookstore. (this is also why I am committed to this problem)
I may be losing a job but I can easily get another. At least A job. Unemployment is low and lots of employers are struggling to find good employees, which I am such. But I will try and pursue a field in some IT area, preferably with software development or management. Our town is infested with banks and one of the biggest employers in town is the largest hospital in this half of the state.
Getting a job isn't a problem, so don't worry about me over that. Worst comes to worst, I can take on more hours at the newspaper that is my other job and become more disciplined in taking commission art.
Possible Slowdown In Art
Obviously, this dilemma may cause a harsh slowdown in my art and I do have a lot of concern for Patreon over that. I do know there is an option for freeze my Patreon account and I may call upon that if it gets really bad.
Though I could easily see myself doing art to some degree as therapy over this.
I think that is about all I can think of for this. I figured I best share this for how upset and moody I might be for a while. Try not to take it to personal if I snap at you or seem a bit unresponsive.
Thank you for reading this, I appreciate it. ^^
~Eclipsis
Family Bookstore Closing
My mom, whom I work for, has made the executive decision to close her bookstore that has been in business for about 40 years now.
The store is doing so poorly, we pretty much can't even pay basic utilities and now have to raise money fast just to keep the lights on. I am be tasked with making arrangements and promotions to make it look like we are having great discounts from now until Christmas, and then at that point making the store liquidation officially announced and being fully closed within about two months or so.
The bookstore is upside down and I don't think liquidation will pay for everything my mom owes. Not to mention having to figure out how to address people with trade in credit for having brought books into the store to help buy other books.
I am very upset right now. Very disturbed and sick to my stomach over how we are to make this all happen.
Angry At Mom
Personally I am very angry with my mom. She became very unfit to be a business owner and she ran the store into the ground. She made terrible decisions. Made expensive trips to see family she couldn't afford. Sometimes didn't show up to work because she had headaches. Or late to work with stupid, lame excuses. Lots of things a normal person would get fired over if they were an employee.
A few weeks ago, she asked me to put together a business plan, because I spent thousands of dollars to become learned-ed in business in college. It was to help decide what we needed to do to help turn the business around. So I did, spent hours of my own time at home putting it together. A friend of hers, my boss from my other job saw the plan, said it was very good, made sense and was a great way to go.
And my mom did absolutely none of it. NONE of it.
The bookstore isn't really failing because of e-books or Amazon (they are less of an impact than you would think). I know the business well, I worked it hard and understand it. We could have made it work, but my mom was stupid. Her financial irresponsibility is what did us in. She "spent money like she was in Congress" to use the financial coach Dave Ramsey expression.
To put this more in perspective, another bookstore opened in town recently and this hurt us pretty bad too. (personally I think they will go out of business too due to having an expensive despite more visible location and not having a good selection of things to sell)
What That Means For Me Beyond This
The biggest thing that has me upset is the whole process of closing the store and everything it will take to close it.
There is a high chance I won't get the 3-4 months wages my mom is behind on paying me. And to be honest, that doesn't really bother me like it probably ought to. I live at home and don't really pay rent outside of the Internet bill for home and the bookstore. (this is also why I am committed to this problem)
I may be losing a job but I can easily get another. At least A job. Unemployment is low and lots of employers are struggling to find good employees, which I am such. But I will try and pursue a field in some IT area, preferably with software development or management. Our town is infested with banks and one of the biggest employers in town is the largest hospital in this half of the state.
Getting a job isn't a problem, so don't worry about me over that. Worst comes to worst, I can take on more hours at the newspaper that is my other job and become more disciplined in taking commission art.
Possible Slowdown In Art
Obviously, this dilemma may cause a harsh slowdown in my art and I do have a lot of concern for Patreon over that. I do know there is an option for freeze my Patreon account and I may call upon that if it gets really bad.
Though I could easily see myself doing art to some degree as therapy over this.
I think that is about all I can think of for this. I figured I best share this for how upset and moody I might be for a while. Try not to take it to personal if I snap at you or seem a bit unresponsive.
Thank you for reading this, I appreciate it. ^^
~Eclipsis
Best of luck navigating the storm.
Though at least I haven't lent any money to my mom. Debt to a family member or friend is one of the worse things you can get involved in. c.c'
Hang in there and remember to try to not to take on too much all at once.
Wishing you the best in getting through this rough spot.
Thanks. ^^