| Patricia |
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| #1 |
I am looking for advice on a situation that has me really frustrated. I have been in business for a year and a half and I am still struggling. I am in a 3 business plaza and I have a corner location with 2 windows on the side overlooking the parking lot and I planned to use the one closest to the street for advertising and displays as I am also a boutique. Less than a year ago, an ice cream and candy business, that had been located down the street moved in to the middle spot. The owner of this business is a friend of the landlord, who also has a business across the street. The landlord has allowed her to put up tables and chairs in the parking lot outside of MY window, not hers, blocking my window advertising and me as we are on Main St. which I pay more for. He has also allowed her to put up a major sign out front with only her business on it. Besides the fact that I am hidden in the now "candy" plaza, this also encourages small children with ice cream to walk past a dog business to their tables which I do not feel is the brightest idea. On top of all of this, the set up is really trashy looking and people think I put it out there and I have gone to great lengths to make my place appealing. Oh, yes, and her trash can is outside of MY door, not hers, and all that comes with it. I have fought the village over the safety factor but they turn a blind eye. I cannot move and these people are impossible to reason or get a long with.
Any unusual suggestions?
http://www.ohyoudirtydog.com
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| Fred |
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| #2 |
That's a drag-the only thing worse than landlord troubles is neighbor troubles and you've got both!
I would fill up that trash can with piles of wet dog hair! I'm sure you have lots of that.
But seriously-
I would have a sit down with an attorney.
Oftentimes just having a lawyer draft up a letter full of 'lawyerspeak" is what it takes to resolve things. |
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| Patricia |
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| #3 |
Thanks Fred... I had already gone that route... no luck |
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| MudPup |
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| #4 |
 Try focusing on why your struggling after a 1 1/2 years. Maybe a puppy play hour on Saturday mornings to encourage socialization. What about a Yappy Hour BYOD (bring your own dog)? I looked at your web site, your place is beautiful. Work with a local shelter and have an adoption day at your place, have Channel 2 cover it for you. Take your business cards or a coupon to a local feed store and ask them if you can tape the to the dog food bags. Forget about whats going on next door if there nothing you can do. How about a flag out front? |
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| Patricia |
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| #5 |
I have held several adoption days featuring an assortment of rescue groups... made a lot of great friends. I have had booths at all of the SPCA fundraisers also, where I sold lots of really cool T shirts with my logo and website on them. I had already approached the only other food store that is not a big box chain with no luck. I have had photo events and other promotional events. I also put a sandwhich board outside but cannot do that all the time as it is against Village policy. As you can see, there is no room for puppy play hours and my groomer works on Sat. mornings. Thank you very much for your ideas though, I always appreciate input. I have heard that my area is one of the toughest sells in the country for new ideas and products. My business advisor stated that if you can sell it here you can sell it anywhere and that we are often used as a test market. The good news is that I am growing and gaining new customers all the time, it is just at a very slow rate. My problem with the next door neighbor, is that I have had customers complain about it and find it as a deterrent to my business. Having said that, I do not spend as a much time dwelling on it as you might think but I was just looking to see what others might think about it and perhaps as a warning when someone is looking to sign their lease that the possibility exists for what you might least expect.
I am also living in an area where there is every big box pet store around, some with self serve. |
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| Bob C |
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| #6 |
Patricia really sound like a tough situation to be in, I would think your lease would have something in it concerning the sidewalk. It only looks 3-4 foot wide now and if your neighbor is placing a trash can to the right of his door and under your window seems like egress or is it ingress would be blocked somewhat and if I understand the landlord is allowing his friend to place tables and chairs in the parking lot looks like and accident waiting to happen as the ground does not look level.
I think first of all try and work with the landlord and if that doesn't work I would differently look for another lawyer.
The lease is so important maybe you could of or should of had your lawyer look at it first, I know I had and attorney look at my lease and I ask him if my landlord could raise my triple net (maintenance, taxes and Insurance)and of coarse he said no, as well as my real estate agent who also worked for the owner, well you guessed it he has raised it 3 times.
Looks like you have a great place, I guess all one can say is hang in there and good luck, it's a tough business without someone else making it tougher.
Bob C |
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| Hot Dawg |
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| #7 |
Hey Patricia,
I remember talking to you a few months ago. I am sorry you're not doing well.
As revenge get a huge sign made that says ,
"free ice cream on saturday!"
Get a cooler full of ice cream sandwiches and give out to your customers and i bet the ice cream shop will go crazy with all the people asking for free ice cream!!
Try this and let us know how good revenge feels!!! hahaha
-Hot Dawg S.S.D.W |
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