Category Archives: Business ideas/analysis
Another day at the office
In some ways, things haven’t changed despite the lockdown, even with converting the bar & bottleshop into an off-licence that does local home deliveries. Wednesdays remain as ever my main delivery day: fresh stock continues to arrive, photos need be … Continue reading
This is the new normal…for now
One month into the lockdown and like many people I’m running out of things I thought I would never use. On the flip side, I’m managing to sell things I assumed would end up in the bargain bin. Looking at … Continue reading
From ‘Last Christmas’ to last orders…and now the last to leave the lockdown: a Covid-19 diary
One morning, very early in January 2020, maybe only a couple of days into the New Year, I remember hearing a brief item on the radio about a virus outbreak in China. I sighed to myself ‘oh, here we go … Continue reading
A year on and still evolving
A few weeks ago we celebrated our first anniversary at the premises, an occasion which saw us unveil several changes to our way of doing business. Instead of pouring beer direct from the taps, we now have beer engines. Instead … Continue reading
Getting down to the nitty-gritty: banking & other money matters
There will come a point while setting up your micropub when all it feels like you’re doing is writing cheques while watching your bank balance plummet. Speaking of bank balances, I suggest early on that you set up a business bank account to help … Continue reading
Getting down to the nitty-gritty: insurance
There’s a pub near to us which suffered a theft last summer. Someone entered through the kitchen (the doors were wide open to let in fresh air on a hot day). They then walked upstairs unnoticed into the office (someone … Continue reading
New Year’s resolutions
It’s 2015 already and the weeks are flying by. Although we have not yet been open 3 months, it feels much longer (in a good, settling-into-the-swing-of-things way) but it’s clear we still have plenty to learn and lots more to do. … Continue reading
Our first month
I’ve quit my day job to become a glasswasher. Our micropub has been open a month, during which time we’ve had hundreds of customers through the door…each of them needing a clean glass of course. Cue hours stood at the sink … Continue reading
Getting closer…
After six weeks, the builders have finally packed up and cleared off. The bar has been built, the toilets are ready, the alarms are all set and the light fixtures are up. Now we can finally put our touch on … Continue reading
Two weeks…?!
There’s a running gag in The Money Pit, the 80s comedy in which Tom Hanks and Shelley Long buy their dream home at a rock-bottom price. They are told the house is a bargain but needs a little work, when actually … Continue reading