The Nest

Almost 2 Years in the Making...

Posted Tuesday, March 18, 2008 8:06 PM

So today is kind of a slow day... actually this week so far has been pretty slow - work-wise, life-wise... in terms of DH's store, he's still moving along with things... not sure if i've filled you all in on what it is. We're in the process of opening a 24/7 environmentally friendly dry cleaner. It's a franchise and they have most of their stores in the Florida area, with a few in NJ and DC area. Really the concept is great. They use an alternative to PERC (which may cause cancer, but regardless is a chemical that doesn't seem that healthy). The store is more boutique style, but the really great thing about it, is the fact that you can pick up and/or drop off your clothing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. DH will work the traditional hours of a dry cleaner (7am-7pm, mon-sat) but the cool part is, there is an ATM machine that you can get your clothes from. Basically it looks like this:

So you get a magnetic card, its all pre-paid service... but the convenience factor seems to be what everyone loves. So my hubby has thrown his everything into getting this store up and running. And i can't tell you how much it is taking out of both of us! If all goes according to plan, we should be opening the doors in April. Which is very good news... considering we have been trying to get this business off the ground since August of 2006. Yes, almost 2 years of delays...  almost 2 years of only my income... almost 2 years of crazy amounts of stress... I sometimes really don't know how we're doing it. I told him if i had known this process was going to be so time, money and energy draining in the beginning, i would have never gone for it. but i guess what doesn't kill you will only in the end make you stronger.

I understand DH's reasonings to doing this. 1- we are young... me turning 30 soon, him just turned 30... and he feels if we dont' do this now, we may never get the chance. 2-DH's former job where he had the opportunity for major promotions would have included very long hours, all the time. I realize with the new business we will face that, but eventually we're hoping he can hire people and then just oversee things. 3-  he wanted to be his own boss. he comes from a family where they were all encouraged to start their own companies, his sister with her own law practice, his brother with his own dental practice.

Anyway, so that's what's going on with my hubby's career right now... once the store actually opens, i'm sure i'll have more updates!