Yep, still here. The last 2 weeks have been absolutely flat out. Sorry for not posting, so time to rectify that now!

We think we’ve got about 3000 DVDs that all need to be barcoded and filed. 3000 might not sound like much - but it bloody well is! That means 3000 filing slips need to be assembled, 3000 slip labels need to be printed and attached, 3000 barcodes need to be stuck on, 3000 DVDs need to be scanned and checked into the system. But that’s the easy bit! A good bunch of those discs where bought from a liquidated store, and so needed their stickers scraped off and the sticky residue cleaned with metho. Anyone for a sheltered workshop @#$%! So my friends all hate me now and have worn their fingers back to the first knuckle. I luv yous all!

But, the cabinetry is in and looks fantastic. Broadband on. Security in. Posters on the way. Cash Register in. Eftpos tomorrow. Software … um .. WHOS DOING THE SOFTWARE??? Ok .. that’ll be me .. still got a bit to finalise, but ITS LOOKING GOOD!

Here’s a shot of the inside - this video store is stylin!

And stocktake madness. It’s still going on ….

PS. Click the photos to see more!

From Seth, re ‘good enough’

“Is that enough? Is good enough enough to win? To change the game? To reinvent your organization and your career? In a crowded market, when all the competition is good enough, not much happens.”

Seth helps keep me motivated. He continually drops these gems that need to said, and said again (his bootstrapper’s manifesto is a must read).

“If you redefined the objective to be, “makes some people uncomfortable, changes the entire competitive landscape and is truly remarkable in that many of the key people we reach feel compelled to talk about it,” what would happen?”

What would happen? A new venture would be born! APPLEBOX is a big undertaking. We are coming up against established players with big budgets and established brands. We can’t beat these guys on their terms. We have to change the game, re-invent the model. Luckily for us, the competition are still in ‘good enough’ mode (and they don’t read Seth Godin!).

Edited 14/7 for readability

OK! Our posters are up! Yippee! 17a Railway Place folks.

That’s me! Great job Sare - the posters look fantastic. The shop won’t be open for another few weeks - still got to get the cabinetry in, all our DVDs barcoded and our systems bedded down.

It’s a bit hard to tell from the photo, but the shop is SMALL. About 36 sqm. Thats a HUGE contrast to the size of a typical video store, which can be 100 sqm plus. We figure we can give people a better service, better catalogue, better in-store experience AND reduce our overheads at the same time. We pick up overheads in other areas (software development, server hosting and equipment) but these can be rationalised across a number of stores.

We’re pretty excited about the location. Railway Place is fantastic! Michael has JUST opened his cafe - Bean Counter - on the opposite corner. With a light airy feel, great outdoor space, and a view over to the restored weatherboard train station (early 1900s), its the nicest cafe in the area I reckon (and you’re away from the nightmare that Station St has become). I had my first poached eggs on sour dough with coffee this morning & he passed with flying colours! Not bad for an ex accountant. Get on down there and eat some food.

And above the Bean Counter is the David Johns art gallery. David digitally prints onto canvas - quite amazing. His current exhibition The Smoking Gun is a number of film noir inspired stills that tell a “story of romance, tragedy, despair and revenge” - check it out.