Branding! We're Insured! We're almost standing in a space!
It's Saturday and I've got almost a full free day to work on the business. listening to the new Tyler the Creator album, the one that looks like that ODB 'return to the 36 chambers' album cover. I think my favorite song right now is WILSHIRE, this is a post IGOR album cycle but that uncomfortable relationship stuff is still fun to listen to and i'm glad a little bit made it's way over.
this last week the business got insured! I got quickbooks! we've got a brand guide in stone to start planting seeds on the look of the business. we're putting some money down and getting into things.
Just to touch on the Branding quick!
This has been a month or two of going back and forth with Mike Csorba our designer. I gave him pages of honest comments and he responded with pages or redesigns, alt colors, and a brand bible. Even going above and beyond to flesh out themes and concepts. Can't wait to put these to use!! with anything creative it's fantastic to have two or more people to discuss with. Also Google cloud FINALLY has a drag and drop folder system, so that's been hella helpful. anyways,
Hopefully we are physically standing in a building by next week
meaning I can get some contractors in the place to get started on a sign out front, I can get permission to destroy the weird half partition walls that made the building whatever it was before. put some flooring down, paint the walls, replace the moldy drop ceiling. all that good stuff.
We went with a pretty beat up space so we could get some decent rent, the area we're looking at is a little expensive, but the neighborhood is cozy and I wouldn't have it any other way. we're gonna clean this place up and make this work.
Next we're diving in to the expensive stuff
I want to do as much as I can by myself. I want to build the bar, put the floors down, and paint the walls. But the reality is, going through a stiff leasing company means I need to use an architect, specific contractors, and take careful documentation of everything. which is going to cost a nebulas amount of money even for my tiny space, and take some things out of my hands.
I've done my best to use some home building sites to get rough quotes on everything, and spoken to some other business owners online. but ya never know what it'll cost until you're paying for it! I spoke with Lobos coffee roasters in Orlando and the owner told me he got hit with a grease trap installation at half my business cost because he had a dish washer. I don't have a dishwasher (sorry future employees). But I do probably need a grease trap.
And I'm afraid of the unexpected costs, but I'd rather be psyched out now than on opening day.
Just gotta remember that two months from now i'll have a better idea of the costs, they're not gonna kill me, I'll have homies behind me, and 3 months ahead of me to open doors before I need to pay rent.
Once we're there it's going to feel great, can't wait, peace
- Elias
