Welcome to Curious Business

Every Friday, I post a small insight into running Curio City and/or Blue Hills Editorial Services. My most recent posts are directly below. You can also start with the first post, or use the subject labels to the right to home in on particular topics. Feel free to comment on anything that interests you.
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Friday, July 29, 2016

July Numbers (Already)





A couple of bulk sales unexpectedly put July in the plus column.

July

Total income: +10.6%
Total COGS: +12.6%
Payroll: +12.9%
Marketing: -12.3%
Net Income (Profit) vs LY: +34.2% (+$119)
Actual Profit/Loss: -$228

YTD

Total income: -6.6%
Total COGS: -5.5%
Payroll: -7.5%
Marketing: -2.2%
Net Income (Profit) vs LY: -13.9% (-$273)
Actual Profit/Loss: -$2,236

The negative profit means that my debt probably increased by more-or-less that much. Excel tells a somewhat happier story with income running $411 ahead of LY to land at 3rd best of 11 years. With a day and a half left to go, it only needs $46 (almost a sure thing) to take the #2 slot and $313 (it could happen) to be #1. 

Last August presents another formidable target thanks to three bulk kite sales and one bulk golf ball sale. I don't expect to match that. But then, July should have been a loser, too. It all comes down to these random big sales. 
 
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I was resolute and canceled Constant Contact after 10 years together. They tried to talk me out of it until I quoted their own FAQ to the representative: " Our specialists will not pressure you to keep your account." It's kind of sad after all those years, but the $240 that I'll save goes straight to the bottom line.

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Once upon a time, Panther Vision caps were the heart and soul of Curio City's business. Nowadays they're all but dead. Winter beanies kick some ass, but of course those only sell during the winter. Reviving caps would make a huge difference. Since mobile users now comprise roughly half of my traffic, I rewrote the page to address them. Shoppers using proper computers generally appreciate the thoroughness of my wall-of-text; those who don't can easily scroll through it. But cell phone shoppers don't read, and navigating a complex web page is a bitch, so I gave them instructions at the top of the page and moved the wall of text to the end. If I see any uptick in lighted caps I'll extend that approach to other products, and I might even delete the wall of text entirely. But I'm a stubborn old man; I believe that most shoppers appreciate getting as much information as they can find.    

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