Windfall

 

 

 

 

                                                                                       Edition 432 Monday 18/06/18

 

Hi,one of my ‘happy places’ is collecting and hoarding stuff so imagine my joy at discovering the show ‘American Pickers’ on Duke channel 13 recently.The show follows a couple of antique (junk) collectors who scour the US for old and intersting stuff.They call in on people who have been hoarding and collecting a multitude of stuff for decades.They ask for permission to pick through these private treasure troves and then attempt to purchase items that take their fancy. The buzz for me is the intersting,iconic and priceless memorabilia that has been accumulated from the past including cool old signs, motorbikes, cars, juke boxes, pin ball machines and so much more,what a cool program, check it out junkies its an exciting retro blast from the past.

Fletcher reckons fishing is his happy place out chasing monsters from friends boats east and west coast or land based off the cool network of Auckland inner harbour wharves…tight lines team FJJ.  

Something funny….a quote spotted at a fave café last week “Listen before I had my coffee I didn’t know how awesome I was going to be today either.”Life is too short to put up with bad coffee!!!

Following on the happy place theme above I was cruising around an industrial area last week when I noticed a couple of old school signs in a scrap pile(as a Steptoe type does).Never one to be shy I rocked up and asked if I could have the signs given they were being thrown out anway?Hey presto ala kazam I am now the ‘happy place’ owner of totally cool ‘old school’ Heineken and Tip Top signs!

It would be fair to say my long suffering wife was not as excited as me about this windfall!!!

I hope you have fun visiting your happy ‘Upbeat’ places in the week ahead…………Cheers Jonesey.

 

Kate and Lily reckon it could be time to invite the American Pickers to # 48 soon!!

 

 

 

“Work for a cause not for applause,live to express not to impress.”

 

There are a number of amazing ‘not for profit’ organisations doing great work.

My boss(comedian)often reminds me….”we are not one of them so don’t discount prices”.

Jokes aside, wherever possible I like to try to support these organisations fully.

Last week the guys from the Cook Islands Development Trust did a waste collection for us.

The incredible thing is the stuff they collected from one of our retailers was a windfall for them.

Instead of having to be dumped it was a pile of shop fittings, mannequins and storage displays.

It went straight into a ‘pop up’ store they were setting up for selling other stuff to raise funds.

Wow talk about a coincidence and double whammy, payment from us and a shop fit out at no cost.

Now that is what I call a satisfying win/win business deal that leaves goodwill and smiles all round.

The money raised by these guys is spent on assisting with Cook Islands housing and infrastructure.

Another of my favourite ‘not for profits’ is “Abilities’ an organisation that employs IHC workers.

These are people who would find it almost impossible to find employment elsewhere.

Abilities take on lots of work mostly jobs people cant be bothered doing or find others to do.

Their workforce cant wait to get to work, get stuck in and get recognition for a job well done.

We assist them by referring their services to our customers and by providing ongoing GG support.

If you could see the sheer ‘Upbeat’ joy in the faces of the people at Abilities you would be moved.

They consider themselves the luckiest people in the world just to have a job no matter how mundane!

A lot of people who hate their job or don’t want to work need to visit Abilities for a reality check.

Helping these organisations makes us feel good and keeps us grounded…both essentials in business!

 

“Be miserable or motivate yourself , whatever has to be done, its always your choice.”