by Goldie Alexander
In our part of the world, we rely on our small general store to supply us with newspapers, milk, bread, and any groceries we’ve forgotten to bring from the city. In our thirty years of coming to our bush hideaway we have gone through several general-store-owners. Many have been couples seeking a “sea change”. Most survive five to six years of hard work before falling into an exhausted heap and selling. Some claim they have enjoyed their spell though bemoan the twelve hour seven day week these stores demand.
Though I strongly suspect that many of those couples bought themselves a job, not all have been successful. Nor do they always enjoy their work. Many couples have problems that are exacerbated by tiredness and continual proximity. The first lot I came across had contrasting interests. Hers were spiritual: Yoga and Tai Chi. His concentrated on producing goods he could sell. Though he made the best pies and pasties I have ever tasted, his gruff often rude manner turned many customers off. Since then I have observed couples endure marriage break-ups, nervous break-downs, runaway children and loss of face. Running a general store is not a business for wimps.
From my modest observation, their success or failure seems to depend on position. If they are on a main highway, there’s enough capital to put into them, and they are run by like minded couples, they usually succeed. But you can’t have one or two of these ingredients without the third. A recently renovated store in the next village is flourishing because all three factors co-exist. When asked for the secret of their success, the owner said, “It’s hard to find reliable labour, so you have to be prepared to be here all the time. Also, you have to be careful as to what you stock.”
So my advice for anyone contemplating this as a future career move is to consider the idea very carefully. If you have found the right position, like your partner enough to be with him or her twenty-four-seven, and have loads of capital, go ahead. Otherwise, don’t even think about it.
© Goldie Alexander 2010
This entry was posted by Goldie Alexander on Monday, February 1st, 2010 at 12:00 am and is filed under Notes From a Bush Hideaway.
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