BLISS NO MORE...

BLISS ACCESSORIES @ WESTFIELD MISSION VALLEY
(MAY 20, 2005 to MAY 19,2008)

We have struggled for more than three years but it's all come to a bitter and ugly end. Some of it was our fault, but most of was is not. There were plenty of others who mislead us and took advantage but I can't allow myself to be overly angry because karma is king and the Universe has a way of correcting itself, along with all the greedy beings that inhabit it. In the end, it was the economy, whose stranglehold over consumers, delivered the final death blow.

High fuel and food costs, a credit crunch, a never ending war, and a clueless administration leading the charge are all a recipe for disaster when it comes to small business. People just stopped buying and that was it. Sadly but not too surprisingly, the government's stimulus package was too little and too late in our case.

Besides the stress caused from lackluster sales, we quite enjoyed running the business day to day. We had a great groups girls who worked hard for us. Working along side of them, as you must in any small business, was a great experience that made it worthwhile to show up everyday. I equally enjoyed the relationships that we built with some of our vendors, who recognized our situation and tried to help in anyway they could. And finally, the customers who loved our store and understood the value of it. It felt good to give people what they wanted and have them come back again and again to see what we had to offer. It's hard to please everyone but it felt pretty good when we had "just what" they were looking for.

It's time to move on now,I suppose, but it's not easy walking away when you have just lost everything you have worked for since you started working. All the money is gone and nothing is left but family. So from that base, we must start again.

Good-bye Bliss. Good-bye San Diego, Good-bye Southern California. It's time to take a trip into the unknown. Again...

CIRCLING THE DRAIN...

So it looks as if the end is finally in sight...somewhat. Strangely, I'm actually looking forward to hitting rock bottom because after four years of years of losing my house, life savings, credit, family, friendships and my sanity; there's some solace in that when you hit the bottom, there's nowhere else to go but up. As it is now, the situation has been a continuous free-fall to nowhere.

These next few months are going to present some of the most difficult challenges I have faced. I don't how I will do it but then again I still don't know how I have been doing it thus far. At damn near 40 years old, my family has start all over again.

Yesterday, I read that Linens n' Things is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. At the conclusion of the article, one of the analysts is quoted :

"There is going to be a record number of store closings through bankruptcy in the next 150 to 1500 days, as the retail recession becomes the worst the U.S. has seen in 30 years."

Yeah...no shit.

LAST GAS-P!

So one of the first things that I noticed when getting into The City, was the price of gas. It's just unbelievable. I know this will reach San Diego soon. It's the beginning of the end. My business is down 35% from last year and this is just another nail in the coffin. I just got back on Sunday night. I'll have more to say later. I've been too fucking miserable to write and I don't want my blog to be too depressing. Not sure how much longer we'll be in business. It may just be another month or so now...

JUST LIKE THAT...

Today, We went to see an attorney in downtown San Diego. This particular attorney specializes in business and that other dreaded b-word, bankruptcy. So this guy is a friend and attorney of an acquaintance of ours, who also happens to a business owner.

Supposedly, this was going to be a "free" consultation and I was little wary of that but on we went. I think we were there for a little over an hour. During this time, we didn't learn anything new and/or insightful. In fact, as I sat there, I just started feeling more angry, hopeless and sad. For over an hour, this attorney just summarized and reiterated how fucked we are, albeit in a more legalistic, methodical and formalized fashion, admitting he had no "magic-bullet" solutions.

I couldn't wait to get the fuck out of there and finally, at what amounted to be quite an awkward conclusion - I had just finished telling him that we didn't have any money to pay our rent and out bank loan, he then asks for 375 fucking dollars!! I looked at my wife. What the hell had just happened? So there we were:I didn't bring any checks so we handed over the cash we just picked up from the store. That, was a almost a whole day's earnings...gone...just like that... for what? I don't need to pay some one 375 dollars to tell me that we're floating in the toilet and about to be flushed. I ALREADY KNOW!!

So now here I am. On top of being pitifully despondent, I'm now seething with an almost uncontrollable rage...goddamnit!!!

HELP ME JESUS! HELP ME OPRAH!

So this week, while Bear Stearns is in the process of "NOT" being bailed out by the government, I am presented with two equally fantastic choices: Behind Curtain number One : I can pay the rent for my house by Tuesday or face eviction (I've already received my 3 day notice) OR choose what's behind Curtain number 2: Pay the Bank for a past due amount and default on the loan. We all need a roof over our heads, especially when you have a small child, so you can guess which Curtain I will choose.

The last four years have been quite a learning experience for me. The number one lesson: Don't double-down with everything you have to go into a business partnership with a relative.

I have a lot of family that are praying for me but unless,Jesus, himself, can return to Earth yet again, make a quick pit stop in Mission Valley, and cut me a check from His Holiness' bank account for the sum of $520 grand, then I'm afraid it's all in vain.

In addition to all the prayers and well wishes, my sister-in-law (to whom I owe much thanks for supporting us), sent an e-mail to Oprah to help us out (seriously) but I don't know if she's quite as powerful as Jesus, but she certainly seems close.

Have a great weekend folks! And by they way, doesn't that Oprah look fabulous!

THE DEATH OF A STORE

So our Bliss store in Plaza Camino Real is NO MORE. Closed. Finished. It's a sad time. We worked so hard. Tried to so hard to make it work but the mall is dead. The decline of the mall, the economy, the Marines from Camp Pendleton in Iraq, the closure of Robinson's May Co., the price of gas, home foreclosures, the fires....all that and more...

The mall has been left to suffer aimless youths hanging about with nothing better to do but shoplift and make trouble. Three years ago, there were women in their 20s and 30s who came to shop but they are all gone now, perhaps shopping at the popular Carlsbad Outlet instead. I really wish we could have stuck it until improvements are made but it may be quite some time.

It's strange now. It feels like something is missing. There is no store to call and check in. So now we move on and try to save the shop at Mission Valley. Hopefully, with all the inventory from the other store, we can have a fighting chance. It will be difficult, we still have bills to pay from the other store but still we move on. What choice do we have?

Stop Being So Negative...

that's what everyone tells me and sure I admit, I can be quite depressing but it's hard to stay positive when so many things are going wrong almost on daily basis. Add that with loss of sleep and the difficulties increase. But still I go on. What other choice do I have?

The only ray of light, however, are those around me that care about me, like my family. The amount of understanding they have shown and the support they have given, both financial and emotional, has been incredible. If it weren't for them, surely I would be living in van down by the river.

I always thought I would be an independent man and not have to rely on anyone else but lately that seems like all I do. It is a blow to my ego to know that I am damn near 40 years old and still can't take of myself and my immediate family. I mean I used to take care of myself but my oh my how things have changed in the last three years. Why can't I just have a regular mid-life crisis like everyone else?

Despite all this, I do accept total responsibility for my present situation. I blame no one else. No one pushed me into the hole I am in now. I can't blame others for my problems because I am the one that let myself be led by others. This is the price I have paid for not making my own decisions.

So here I am now...trying to find positive solutions and move forward. We'll soon find out what happens next...

- the Guero

Vegas is not cool...

So my flight to Vegas was canceled so I took the next flight out an hour later. So I sat in the bar and ordered a breakfast and a pint of Guinness. I always try to have a drink before getting on a plane if I can. It's not that I am afraid of flying, it's actually quite a boring experience, but if the plane does ever decide to take a nose dive into the earth, I'd like to know that I at least had one final drink. The bartender is old black women with short hair who looks like she's had quite a life but seems happy to have a comfortable job at the airport.
There's a TV at the bar, CNN was doling out the so called news: Britney and her English accent, a dead Marine and her fetus, and other such newsy nuggets.

Two young white girls, who just met apparently, sit to my side taking about Britney, the murdered marine, and about boyfriends and clubs in Vegas. When I turn around and can't see them, I can't tell which one is talking. They have a lot in common. They sound exactly alike, they have that suburban white-girl accent.

Boarded the plane, It was an uneventful flight. Flew into the Vegas Airport. It's the first time I have ever been to this airport-it looks like a casino. It's weird. Got to the taxi-queue. It's a huge line but it moved quickly. My driver got me to the Hard Rock. I went to the fashion show. I was late and missed most of it.

Later I get a call from my manager. She tells me that a woman who accidentally walked into the glass door at my work last Sunday wants to be compensated for her injury. The door was closed and locked and she didn't see it. I was there the night it happened, I felt bad for her. But now she has walked into my store, demanding money. I just have to call my insurance...that's what it's for, right?

So I am in my hotel room. I didn't go anywhere. I watched a documentary on Hardcore Punk Rock in America in the early 80s. It was awesome.

I hate Las Vegas. There is nothing for me here. I don't gamble. I just don't enjoy it. I can't afford to play with money. There's already enough people trying to take mine away...

THE BEGINNING OF THE END...

Retail in a state of "anarchy" as consumers retreat

By Martinne Geller

Sunday Jan 13, 4:29 PM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. chain stores, reeling from the slowest holiday shopping season in five years, got some more bad news on Sunday: 2008 will not be any better and could see changes that may shift the retail playing field forever.

more...

BLACK FRIDAY BUST

So last weekend turned to be a horrible weekend. I think it was a strong weekend for the big department stores and big box, discount retailers. We sell accessories and no one is interested in buying 50% earrings or necklaces. They want TVs, computers, or clothes. It's hard to compete when major retailers who have their inventory marked up ridiculously high to begin with.

Here's a New York Times article to shed more light on what's going on...
Mall Stores See Trouble in Sales Data

shoplifter.

The November Retail Blues are here. Halloween is over and the store is empty of customers. We're just trying to get the store back up and ready for Christmas. One funny thing happened today. A few weeks ago, a woman who shoplifted from our store. It was busy and she took advantage by stealing a $70.00 costume. Well, we have cameras and I went back and saw the whole thing, including when she used her amex credit card!!! So I got her name off credit card receipt and called the police. Anway, she now has a warrant for her arrest and the detective I spoke with today said she called this woman and said that she was shocked but denied having anything to do with it. Well, I hope she doesn't get pulled over because if she does, she's going to get arrested.

Our New Bliss Store in Carlsbad

So here is our new store at Plaza Camino Real in Carlsbad. Were are in #137 downstairs next to the Sweet Factory. It's a lot smaller than where we were but it will have to do.
Here is a link to the slideshow with more photos: BLISS PCR SLIDESHOW