I just got another bite from a dispensary Idaho Springs. We are arranging a meeting.
I’m so high on this pipe dream, that if if all ended tomorrow, it would have been worth it.
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Thursday, January 23, 2020
2020/01/23 - Relaxation and planning
Wow... Yesterday sucked! It was almost like work! I cant believe I ever did this shit willingly every day for years!
So it was nice to relax and plan for the next order.
I figured that I wasn’t going to get any pipe re-ups for a while, and that any bites from my new 5 msgs/day task would only yield new customers, whom I promise the “deluxe” display FREE on their first order.
Do you know that there are over 200 dispensaries in Colorado?
I figured that the best use of my time today would be to make deluxe display cases.
So I took my time and between chess games I made two deluxe display cases.
So it was nice to relax and plan for the next order.
I figured that I wasn’t going to get any pipe re-ups for a while, and that any bites from my new 5 msgs/day task would only yield new customers, whom I promise the “deluxe” display FREE on their first order.
Do you know that there are over 200 dispensaries in Colorado?
I figured that the best use of my time today would be to make deluxe display cases.
So I took my time and between chess games I made two deluxe display cases.
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
2020/01/22 - The Pipe Line
Today was a very busy day.
I had to deliver 40 Swivel-Lid pipes to my new customer in North Denver.
I hate to drive and this round-trip took 90 minutes.
I had the 40 pipes ready, but only 2 of the fancy hardwood displays which were supposed to go free to customers on their first order. But they were ordering one for each of 4 stores, so I understood their wanting 4 displays. Besides, I want to present my pipes in the best light possible.
But that meant making 2 more fancy displays before leaving the house at 12:15 PM to make my 1:00 PM meeting.
I waited until 8:00 PM to start, so as not to make too much noise with my table saw before I heard other competitive noises outside.
Taking a few breaks for chess and other necessities, I wound up rushing to get done in time to leave!
I took a long-cut so as to avoid highways and got there 10 minutes beforehand to wait in the car and check out the location.
Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to look inside the store. The waiting room was packed, and my contact came right out to meet me and we sat outside at a picnic table. She was young enough to to be my grand-daughter and had all necessary piercings, tattoos, and hair colors required for her age and position. She was actually very pretty, but at my age, youth itself is beautiful.
Obviously she knew little about the transaction except her instructions to meet me for 40 pipes. She asked if I was paid, I say yes by PayPal this morning. She asked how much they were each. I told her $5. She immediately doubled it for a $10 retail price.
I’m anxious to see how they do. She said that she thinks they will sell good and they will be reordering soon.
To be continued...
I hate to drive and this round-trip took 90 minutes.
I had the 40 pipes ready, but only 2 of the fancy hardwood displays which were supposed to go free to customers on their first order. But they were ordering one for each of 4 stores, so I understood their wanting 4 displays. Besides, I want to present my pipes in the best light possible.
But that meant making 2 more fancy displays before leaving the house at 12:15 PM to make my 1:00 PM meeting.
I waited until 8:00 PM to start, so as not to make too much noise with my table saw before I heard other competitive noises outside.
Taking a few breaks for chess and other necessities, I wound up rushing to get done in time to leave!
I took a long-cut so as to avoid highways and got there 10 minutes beforehand to wait in the car and check out the location.
Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to look inside the store. The waiting room was packed, and my contact came right out to meet me and we sat outside at a picnic table. She was young enough to to be my grand-daughter and had all necessary piercings, tattoos, and hair colors required for her age and position. She was actually very pretty, but at my age, youth itself is beautiful.
Obviously she knew little about the transaction except her instructions to meet me for 40 pipes. She asked if I was paid, I say yes by PayPal this morning. She asked how much they were each. I told her $5. She immediately doubled it for a $10 retail price.
I’m anxious to see how they do. She said that she thinks they will sell good and they will be reordering soon.
To be continued...
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
2020/01/21 - The Pipe Line
Oh man... This new business venture has so far been a hell of an emotional roller-coaster ride, but I love the excitement.
With no responses from the new Craigslist ad that I placed Sunday, and no responses from yesterday’s 5 friendly email offerings (as mentioned in yesterday’s post), I repeated the process this morning.
On my 2nd mail. I got a hit! Wow! It was like the trill of catching a fish!
This reply was from an owner of 4 stores. He bought 40 of my Swivel-Lid pipes, 10 for each store.
I’m now in FIVE stores!!!
With no responses from the new Craigslist ad that I placed Sunday, and no responses from yesterday’s 5 friendly email offerings (as mentioned in yesterday’s post), I repeated the process this morning.
On my 2nd mail. I got a hit! Wow! It was like the trill of catching a fish!
This reply was from an owner of 4 stores. He bought 40 of my Swivel-Lid pipes, 10 for each store.
I’m now in FIVE stores!!!
Monday, January 20, 2020
2020/01/20- The Pipe Line
I guess I’m betting my whole ego on pipes right now. It’s going to make or break me.
I haven’t had a whole lot of interest in making pipes in more than a few days. Depression? Sure...
But this morning was the start of a new week and I decided to try something different. I located email addresses or “contact us” forms on 5 of the nearest dispensaries.
I created a friendly email offering my pipes and sent it to the 5 dispensaries.
No one had responded yet, but it’s giving me that small dose of hope that I need right now.
I plan to do 5 more each day.
Meanwhile no one has responded to my Craigslist ad.
After thought: As I reread this, I realized that it might sound like I’m depressed and seeking sympathy. Totally the opposite. I want to get you hooked on this ultimate success story! And like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, I started in my garage!
I haven’t had a whole lot of interest in making pipes in more than a few days. Depression? Sure...
But this morning was the start of a new week and I decided to try something different. I located email addresses or “contact us” forms on 5 of the nearest dispensaries.
I created a friendly email offering my pipes and sent it to the 5 dispensaries.
No one had responded yet, but it’s giving me that small dose of hope that I need right now.
I plan to do 5 more each day.
Meanwhile no one has responded to my Craigslist ad.
After thought: As I reread this, I realized that it might sound like I’m depressed and seeking sympathy. Totally the opposite. I want to get you hooked on this ultimate success story! And like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, I started in my garage!
Sunday, January 19, 2020
2020/01/19 - Take Two
I just published a new ad on Craigslist looking for a new sales person:
https://denver.craigslist.org/sls/d/arvada-part-time-commission-based-sales/7058973004.html
Wish me luck!
https://denver.craigslist.org/sls/d/arvada-part-time-commission-based-sales/7058973004.html
Wish me luck!
Saturday, January 18, 2020
2020/01/18 - Who let the dogs out!
This morning, after feeding our two labs breakfast, Billie (our chocolate lab) went to the backyard door asking to be let out.
Meanwhile I was doing my budgeting and reading the news.
About 45 minutes later Trixie (our yellow lab) came out of the garage (she likes to take a short nap on the cold concrete after breakfast) also asking go out into the back yard.
Now that both dogs were outside, I started playing a game of chess.
Somewhere during my game I heard a distant barking. It sounded like my dogs, but way too far away.
Curious... I opened the door to the back yard and started calling them, but they were gone!
We had a tremendous wind storm last night that blew the covers off our outdoor grill and furniture, and also a small portion of my backyard fence.
The dogs were gone. Luckily it was just turning to dawn, so there wasn’t any traffic in the street.
When I finally found them, they were down the street, barking at someone’s Christmas blow-up Santa flapping in the wind.
When I eventually got them back in the house, they were so excited from their adventure I actually had to separate them to calm them down.
A taste of Freedom!
Meanwhile I was doing my budgeting and reading the news.
About 45 minutes later Trixie (our yellow lab) came out of the garage (she likes to take a short nap on the cold concrete after breakfast) also asking go out into the back yard.
Now that both dogs were outside, I started playing a game of chess.
Somewhere during my game I heard a distant barking. It sounded like my dogs, but way too far away.
Curious... I opened the door to the back yard and started calling them, but they were gone!
We had a tremendous wind storm last night that blew the covers off our outdoor grill and furniture, and also a small portion of my backyard fence.
The dogs were gone. Luckily it was just turning to dawn, so there wasn’t any traffic in the street.
When I finally found them, they were down the street, barking at someone’s Christmas blow-up Santa flapping in the wind.
When I eventually got them back in the house, they were so excited from their adventure I actually had to separate them to calm them down.
A taste of Freedom!
Thursday, January 16, 2020
2020/01/16 - Wouldn’t it be my luck?
I know I’m paranoid, but there were a couple of things that just didn’t add up about my sales-person.
First of all her resume presented a retired woman from a pretty good career. Second, she wasn’t exactly poor. At our first meeting, she pulled up in a nice BWM.
But her story was that she was bored after her first year of retirement and looking for something to keep her busy. She was too good to be true, and I bought it.
During our initial interview she mentioned that she had a sister that was wheelchair ridden, but she could help with assembly, and that her husband was a hobbyist woodworker and could help with the woodworking. She was thinking really big-time mass-production. I was like, “Slow down, let’s start by seeing if your contact likes the pipes.”
In retrospect, I think she was a little too interested in my construction process (in the guise of drainstorming improvement ideas) but that’s probably just my paranoia kicking in.
I should have thought of this, but I’m such a trusting soul, or as some would say, a fool.
She took my 50 pipes home, she and her family examined them and said “We could make these pipes ourselves. Why do we need Steve?”.
Her 20 store connection (which probably did return her call) was her ticket to stealing my idea and running with it, destined to be the next billionaire weed-pipe magnet. 😎
Sound familiar?
This really didn’t happen, as far as I know, but wouldn’t it be my luck?
First of all her resume presented a retired woman from a pretty good career. Second, she wasn’t exactly poor. At our first meeting, she pulled up in a nice BWM.
But her story was that she was bored after her first year of retirement and looking for something to keep her busy. She was too good to be true, and I bought it.
During our initial interview she mentioned that she had a sister that was wheelchair ridden, but she could help with assembly, and that her husband was a hobbyist woodworker and could help with the woodworking. She was thinking really big-time mass-production. I was like, “Slow down, let’s start by seeing if your contact likes the pipes.”
In retrospect, I think she was a little too interested in my construction process (in the guise of drainstorming improvement ideas) but that’s probably just my paranoia kicking in.
I should have thought of this, but I’m such a trusting soul, or as some would say, a fool.
She took my 50 pipes home, she and her family examined them and said “We could make these pipes ourselves. Why do we need Steve?”.
Her 20 store connection (which probably did return her call) was her ticket to stealing my idea and running with it, destined to be the next billionaire weed-pipe magnet. 😎
Sound familiar?
This really didn’t happen, as far as I know, but wouldn’t it be my luck?
2020/01/13 - “The Pipe Line”
I took a steep fall on Friday afternoon on my roller-coaster ride of a pipe business. I hate the feeling that this is just another one of ”Stevo’s Foleys.”
But... It was a Friday afternoon, and that’s still a good thing in my life. It’s “dinners out“ with Val and sometimes friends, and a weekend of crafting together in the garage.
But things all came crashing down this Monday morning as I got back to my spiraling-down life adventure.
In the afternoon, I met my sales-person to pick up the 50 pipes that I had given her sell. I was disappointed that she gave up so easily but I’ve come to suspect that she was banking on her contact with the 20 stores, and that would have been quick and easy money for her.
She also made a comment that the market is getting flooded with cheep Chinese versions of my pipe. I think that’s bullshit.
But the day wasn’t a total loss. I visited the one store that is currently selling my pipes, and they ordered 30 more. And the manager was full of complements on my pipes and was impressed with my new packaging.
I also tried something different with my store contact. Up until now I’ve been dealing with one on the budtenders. The problem with that is that I’m on a line of customers, and don’t want to hold up the line with my sales pitches. So my conversations have been short and unsatisfying.
So I decided to try and call the manager directly. To my surprise he took my call and I was able to arrange a meeting with him the same day.
He loves my pipes. He’s a kid in his 30’s and said that all of his father’s friends had a pipe like these at one time.
He took his sweet time choosing which packages of 10, saying ‘Im looking for one I like best for myself!” And then added “And I already have one!”
Anyway This gave me new hope and I plan to place another ad on Craigslist Sunday, looking for a new salesperson.
But... It was a Friday afternoon, and that’s still a good thing in my life. It’s “dinners out“ with Val and sometimes friends, and a weekend of crafting together in the garage.
But things all came crashing down this Monday morning as I got back to my spiraling-down life adventure.
In the afternoon, I met my sales-person to pick up the 50 pipes that I had given her sell. I was disappointed that she gave up so easily but I’ve come to suspect that she was banking on her contact with the 20 stores, and that would have been quick and easy money for her.
She also made a comment that the market is getting flooded with cheep Chinese versions of my pipe. I think that’s bullshit.
But the day wasn’t a total loss. I visited the one store that is currently selling my pipes, and they ordered 30 more. And the manager was full of complements on my pipes and was impressed with my new packaging.
I also tried something different with my store contact. Up until now I’ve been dealing with one on the budtenders. The problem with that is that I’m on a line of customers, and don’t want to hold up the line with my sales pitches. So my conversations have been short and unsatisfying.
So I decided to try and call the manager directly. To my surprise he took my call and I was able to arrange a meeting with him the same day.
He loves my pipes. He’s a kid in his 30’s and said that all of his father’s friends had a pipe like these at one time.
He took his sweet time choosing which packages of 10, saying ‘Im looking for one I like best for myself!” And then added “And I already have one!”
Anyway This gave me new hope and I plan to place another ad on Craigslist Sunday, looking for a new salesperson.
Friday, January 10, 2020
2020/01/10 - A Rude Awakening from Pipe Dreaming
Wow... How my reality can change in a moment.
I hadn’t heard from my sales person all week. I didn’t want to bug her, so I waited until Friday afternoon to ask for a status report.
I texted her: “How did you make out this week?”
She replied “Not good. You may have the wrong person for this. I did not get my foot in a single door, I think it’s my age. They just are not opening the door for anyone over 40”.
I asked “How about you contact with the 20 stores?” She replied “Never got a response back by email or phone”.
Meanwhile I’ve been working on making pipes all week, high on a dream, thinking I’ve finally found a way to stop spiraling down.
In my daily budgeting, I even started counting pipes as if the were $5 bills, counting pipe inventory as money in the bank. What a jerk dreamer I can be...
So now I have a huge inventory of pipes, and maybe another folly. 14erWorld comes to mind. So does cookies, and Brazilian mini-pies. This is embarrassing!
At the very least it gave me hope. And hope is extremely addictive.
I once heard of a man with a gambling addiction. He said it wasn’t the winning that gave him the “high”. It was the excitement from the moment the ball started rolling on the roulette wheel until it stopped.
That was the period of “hope”. And hope is extremely addictive.
I hadn’t heard from my sales person all week. I didn’t want to bug her, so I waited until Friday afternoon to ask for a status report.
I texted her: “How did you make out this week?”
She replied “Not good. You may have the wrong person for this. I did not get my foot in a single door, I think it’s my age. They just are not opening the door for anyone over 40”.
I asked “How about you contact with the 20 stores?” She replied “Never got a response back by email or phone”.
Meanwhile I’ve been working on making pipes all week, high on a dream, thinking I’ve finally found a way to stop spiraling down.
In my daily budgeting, I even started counting pipes as if the were $5 bills, counting pipe inventory as money in the bank. What a jerk dreamer I can be...
So now I have a huge inventory of pipes, and maybe another folly. 14erWorld comes to mind. So does cookies, and Brazilian mini-pies. This is embarrassing!
At the very least it gave me hope. And hope is extremely addictive.
I once heard of a man with a gambling addiction. He said it wasn’t the winning that gave him the “high”. It was the excitement from the moment the ball started rolling on the roulette wheel until it stopped.
That was the period of “hope”. And hope is extremely addictive.
Monday, January 6, 2020
2020/01/06 - Spiraling Down
‘When I woke up this mornin, things were lookin thin. Seems like the bottom is the only place I’ve been.”
-John Prine
When I check my budget this mornin, it said “Steve you better start selling pipes, if not you only have 24 months to live in the style you are accustomed to”.
Darn... I thought those days were over, and I’d live my retirement out comfortably on my savings. I didn’t plan on having to keep mom in assisted living.
I was done working!!!!
-John Prine
When I check my budget this mornin, it said “Steve you better start selling pipes, if not you only have 24 months to live in the style you are accustomed to”.
Darn... I thought those days were over, and I’d live my retirement out comfortably on my savings. I didn’t plan on having to keep mom in assisted living.
I was done working!!!!
Thursday, January 2, 2020
2020/01/02 - My Pipe Dreams Just Might Come True
Are you familiar with Ralph Cramden from The Honeymooners? He always had these get-rich-quick schemes. Sometimes I think I modeled myself after him.
Last Monday morning I was all set to hit the road selling my pipes. I had prepared a beautiful display case loaded with my best looking pipes, and mapped out 13 cannabis dispensaries in Boulder.
I had spent most of the previous week in preparation.
But when the time came, I couldn’t pry myself out of the house. Truth is I’d rather get a root canal than sell face-to-face. And I had to admit to myself that sales is a skill set that I don’t have.
So I got on Craigslist and bought an ad looking for a salesperson. Within 30 minutes I got an answer from the perfect candidate. In fact after reading her resume, I took my ad off of Craigslist. She’s the one.
She’s a retired senior like me, and looking to keep busy. She has vast experience in the cannabis industry. She knows the business and has good connections.
She scheduled a meeting next week with the buyer for 20 stores. If he likes my pipes he will try them in one store. If they sell well, he will order enough for all his stores.
Today I registered a Limited Liability Company, got a company email address, domain name, and business cards.
All this make for some good pipe dreaming!
The basic “RetroPipe”:
Last Monday morning I was all set to hit the road selling my pipes. I had prepared a beautiful display case loaded with my best looking pipes, and mapped out 13 cannabis dispensaries in Boulder.
I had spent most of the previous week in preparation.
But when the time came, I couldn’t pry myself out of the house. Truth is I’d rather get a root canal than sell face-to-face. And I had to admit to myself that sales is a skill set that I don’t have.
So I got on Craigslist and bought an ad looking for a salesperson. Within 30 minutes I got an answer from the perfect candidate. In fact after reading her resume, I took my ad off of Craigslist. She’s the one.
She’s a retired senior like me, and looking to keep busy. She has vast experience in the cannabis industry. She knows the business and has good connections.
She scheduled a meeting next week with the buyer for 20 stores. If he likes my pipes he will try them in one store. If they sell well, he will order enough for all his stores.
Today I registered a Limited Liability Company, got a company email address, domain name, and business cards.
All this make for some good pipe dreaming!
The basic “RetroPipe”:
The “Swivel-Lid Pipe”:
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
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