Painting and Numbers
It's Saturday morning and I was awoken by the sound of hammering and sawing at the worksite next door. It seems that they're building a mini-mall with all the attendant racket, just 2 months after I extended my lease another two years. It's not all bad, as I can get a large portion of my news/web surfing/occasional posting done in relative peace.
Today we go in to finish painting the store and maybe meet with a construction guy to get started on the lounge/mezzanine. I have to finish the ceiling before he starts because I'm pretty sure the lift machine won't be able to maneuver around the construction after it's started, which means a decision today or tomorrow about what material to use to cover the drop ceiling grid.
I had to drop my Brazilian shoe supplier over pricing and a shit attitude. It's a small company with a husband-wife team, one not knowing what the other was doing. After conflicting emails (one a humdinger telling me I was trying to steal from them) and a refusal to discuss prices rationally, I called it quits. Then an apology, wherein I was tempted again to do business, then a good tongue-lashing from my partners telling me I was insane for even considering it. I'm going with good ol' American product. Designed in England and made in China.
It may turn out this change is a lifesaver as I may have been way off base with my import duty calculations. I was figuring on 30% duties overall, which would have put my retail price at 40% above retail for the same items in Brazil (after shipping, insurance, etc.); which is a premium the locals are used to paying for imported goods. But I may be looking at closer to 43% when all is said and done. If this turns out to be true (information shifts in these parts depending on who you talk to, and you never find out the real cost until the end), I would have taken a bath with the old plan. Hurry CAFTA.
I've had my coffee, read the news, finished the post and now off to the shower and work.
