As I've stated previously on this site, we are working on opening a 2nd retail location for Dee-O-Gee in our town ~ Bozeman, MT. Reasons why we are doing this ... 

We've been having some issues with our POS system as of late and I'm beginning to think that it might be a good time to change things ... with a new 2nd retail location coming.  

Our current system (123Pet) is a local network system that I have set up with 1 main server computer (that doubles as our main retail counter computer) and 2 satellites (1 in the back room and 1 in the grooming room).  It is fairly powerful.  It has a nice scheduler, a solid inventory management system, a slew of reports I could fun, supports gift cards and web-based access to the local server computer.  I don't like that it's all PC based (no cloud, no Mac) and it's pretty large and clunky.  Recently, 123Pet went through a very major upgrade which allowed for the remote access, etc. Ever since that update, my local database has been really "wonky" ... weird stuff happening and weird bugs that don't seem to replicate themselves when I'm on the phone with customer support.  The short of it - I think there's probably a better option out there.  So, I'm currently on the search for better options ... 

I feel so fortunate to have been asked to be on this team!  It was truly a life changing trip.  I'll blog more about it later, especially related to WO Design.  But, I just wanted to play around with the slideshow feature on this and I really like it!  What do you think?

Here's our Mother's Day promo at Dee-O-Gee ... buy some dog food and get a pint glass & shirt for $5.

This went over amazingly well for us!  We had a bunch of extra pint glasses from a past promo and I have been antsy to get rid of some of our shirts b/c we have some new designs coming.  I kind of threw this one together in a pinch as I saw some other retailers around Bozeman doing some cool Mother's Day promos (all cards "face up" here) and our customers really responded! 

I think it was probably the shirt that drew people in ... we have to charge $16 to make those shirts pencil out for us, so I don't think that a lot of our regulars buy them.  They are more for tourists or promo items.  So, for this deal, I think it was the regular's desire to have the shirt at a cheap price that drove them in.

I like the fact that we were still able to get some $ out of the transaction for the "promo" stuff.  I think was a better 'feel' than a "FREE SHIRT" with purchase, as it created some value behind the shirt and glass.  What do you think about this strategy?

Life ... how to be Mason's dad, how to be a great husband for Holly, how to mix in some recreation in the few "down times" without sacrificing fatherhood and husbanding responsibilities.  

I don't really know how to do all of that well, other than to not stop moving.  Well, you do need to stop.  If you don't rest first (i.e. "sabbath") then you won't be able to "not stop" very well.  By "not stop" I simply mean to be very efficient.  If I'm going to be "on it" with Mason and "on it" with Holly, then I really need to make the most of my time with them.  I need to be present and interactive in their presence.  

I have found that a few really good smaller chunks of time with them in which I don't have my email up and my laptop open is much more effective than sustained time in which I am trying to multi-task with work and emails, etc.  

So, in order to carve out some time for recreation and hobbies, you have to be very intentional and present with your loved ones while you are with them.  Really, my wife and my kids trump my handicap (or, insert your hobby here) every single time.  

I know it when this balance is out of whack ... I can feel it in my gut.  I can feel it in Mason's increased neediness to be around me because I haven't been "present" lately.  I can feel it when Holly has a need to spend some quality time (i.e. date, sit and chat time, etc).  I try not to let it ever get to that point, but sometimes it does.  

So, be intentional about things that matter most, make sure you are present, correct things when they are out of whack ... anything you would add to this list?