we don't give receipts

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I was at Cash and Carry Mall yesterday. I saw this stall in front of the grocery store selling native delicasies and other baked goodies. I got lured by the 3 for 100 sign. I got a pack of puto, brownies and chicharon. I gave a 100peso bill and waited, waited... waited for my receipt. So I asked the sales lady, "Where's my receipt?"

                                                imonojewelry

"We don't give receipts. I'll just give you something." She got a piece of paper and was about to write an "unofficial receipt". I said while giving back what I just bought, "Never mind. Just give me back my money."

Ive heard that everytime there's a scheduled inspection from the city hall, a lot of stalls from this so-called mall close shop for a day or two. Unbelievable right? I don't understand how Cash and Carry allow this thing to happen. They've even expanded from just a simple grocery store to a bigger mall with a department store that is soon to open. They should at least give back to the city by being a law-abiding establishment. I wonder if some Makati City hall employees are somehow protecting these unashamed business people from Cash and Carry?

leave me in peace

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When I go shopping, I browse different stores for hours and hours. Sometimes I end up buying nothing at all. I am not a compulsive shopper. It's no surprise that my younger sisters don't like to tag along when I shop.

A major turn off for me is when salesladies hover and suggest things for me to buy. I will leave that store in a blink of an eye! I want to shop in peace. How can I concentrate on what I am looking for if they're suggesting a new shampoo or perfume that I don't necessarily need? I will definitely forget what my purpose was in going in that store.

                                                                yummy yogurt after shopping!

To all sales ladies out there, please just approach a customer if they beckon you to help them. Or if they've been browsing the same item for hours already. Don't bombard your customers with suggestions as soon as they enter the store. Sometimes what you want us to try on doesn't even look good on us, not exactly our type or we don't even need. Please allow us to see for ourselves, we're not blind, what your store has to offer.

do you have an online store?

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back pains

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I have scoliosis. I found out when I was 12 years old. The doctor said, "It is just a factory defect". Not funny doc, not funny at all. I decided not to use a back brace because I didn't want to be the center of attention in school. How can I find friends in a new school if I look funny. I was imagining myself with something on my back everywhere I go. Betty is more lucky than me. She just needs to wear braces on her teeth!

Back pains are becoming more frequent though. My son is planning to put up a massage business in our house. He said that a few months back, when he was still 8 years old, so I think I will invest in his business. I hope he accepts my proposal. I will buy the massage tables and all I ask in return is a free massage everyday!

i am a mom first

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My number one priority is my son RJ. Me, myself and I - just next on the list. I was pretty young when I gave birth to him at the age of 24. Although I was just starting to build a "career" at that time, I decided to put it on-hold. From the time he was born, I was with him 24/7.

He's 9 years old now. I now have a few hours each day, while he's in school, to put up a homebased business. But the fact still remains - I will always be a mom first.

wedding supplier

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One of the many work-at-home business that I tried was being a handmade wedding invitation supplier. I have limited skills in photo editing, just had to buy some nice expensive-looking papers and I was ready to start.

Easy right? No!

I didn't have a maid to help me with housechores. I didn't have a nanny and a driver to bring and pick up my son to and from school. My son is at school from 1pm-330pm only. So my time for the business is from 9pm onwards.

I advertised online and more than five clients inquired the first week, wohoo!

I got sick, really sick the first week. These about-to-get-married people were mean to me! Okay, just one couple. I did every single detail that they emailed but everytime I give them the finished sample invite - they had to add more details.

Lesson learned: Research, research, research first. And it's ok to ask for help. A contract is also very important or clients would take advantage of you.

thank God for my checklist

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Being a stay-at-home mom is not easy-peasy. That's what people-so-naive-hasn't-even-tried-it always say. "You don't have anything to do, I have loads of things to do in the office, you plan a get-together." Believe me it takes lots of will power to smile and say, "Sure"!

I chanced upon an Oprah episode that talks about keeping a list of "goals for 10 years". Right then and there, I started my list. It did help me become more productive. More productive than those whose life revolves around being a slave-to-their-bosses-24/7.

I have yet to find a more profitable business, being a wholesale distributor perhaps. I have a lot of plans to add to my list. I will now change my list to "goals for 20 years".

use facebook to build your brand

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Facebook is not just for playing Farmville or Sorority Life. More and more companies are using facebook to let people know that they are still alive-and-kicking or to show their latest products.

Whether you're a big time business owner or just a struggling new entrepreneur, use facebook to your advantage now. It will help you grow your business by building your online presence on the world wide web.

do you love shopping online?

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I will be launching an online shopping website in a few weeks, I hope. The problem is, I haven't started comparing the web hosting sites that I found online. Some we're recommended by other blogger friends. Some web hosting providers, on my list of prospects, I found while searching online.

A free webhost is a no-no to an ecommerce website. There are a lot of "online thieves" lurking, not safe for an ecommerce business that has a shopping cart and online payment system. And customers won't trust an online shopping site that is using a free hosting service.

What I need is a hosting provider that has a dedicated server. A dedicated server is the solution to make an ecommerce website secure. Yes, it is more expensive but dedicated servers provide numerous benefits to an online business.

I have seen a lot of hosting providers that has unlimited-everything. unlimited webspace, unlimited transfer, unlimited domain hosting, unlimited email accounts, unlimited MySQL databases, unlimited etceteras. Could that be true? Need to find out if those webhosts are for real!

It would be an advantage if the hosting provider also provide a free website builder. Because I don't know how to create or set-up a website. I need a webhost that is reliable and will help me in everything that I will need to make my ecommerce business successful.

Would need more recommendations. Just leave a comment if you can recommend one.

ways to promote your business

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Business plan? Check.

Register business? Done.

Promote new business? No idea yet?

You have come to the right place. I have been busy with business strategy research the last few weeks. An effective marketing plan is very crucial in attracting new customers and retaining old customers.

Here are the online and offline marketing stategies that can be used in promoting a business.

1. Website - What better way to promote your business than to make it visible in the world wide web. Do compare the different hosting packages available because some webhosts are more expensive than others.

2. Facebook - Use social media marketing work for your business. You can create a fanpage, group or both. Join the current facebook craze.

3. E-Newsletter - Updating your clients with your current deals. Also a way of informing them, "Hey, we are still available to serve you".

4. Trade Shows - Helpful in showcasing your latest products and services.

5. Banner Stand - Can be used outside your offline store and during trade shows. These banner stands are light weight and easy to transport.

6. Cards - Send your customers a handwritten birthday card. An opportunity to make them feel that you care.

7. Word of mouth - Good service to your clients can earb you more client.

These are just a few of the business strategies that can help you attract more customers. Come back again for updates of the list.

should i give up?

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After paying a few thousands, which by the way were earnings from my blogs, they say that they don't accept new applications for this kind of business.

I don't undersand why the barangay clearance was approved. Then the occupational permit, which was located on the 3rd floor of the new building of Makati City hall, was approved. But the City Administration, located on the 6th floor, is saying that they don't accept new applications? After already paying Php 3,650 (taxi transpo not included yet), they now tell me that!?

WTF!!! I am so f*cking confused now? Don't they hold office in the same building? Departments from the same city hall!

Paano ko mamahalin ang Makati, kung ganito tayo?

Are big companies, in this line of business that I am trying to put up, paying the city administration to stop accepting new applications?

Can anybody point me to the right people who can help me. Mayor Binay, Jun Jun Binay, Rico Puno? What the city administration is doing is very unfair.

Makati City Hall personnels, do your job!

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As I have said on my previous posts dated March 17 and March 19, a Makati City Hall personnel whose name is Engineer Glenn Recamora is giving me a hard time with my occupational permit. After 4 working days of waiting, I am still waiting for this permit to be approved. Take note: they said on March 16, "if you pay now you will get your occupational permit tomorrow". I have to process locational permit, mayor's permit and BIR clearance when I get hold of my occupational permit.

I do daily follow-up's in the morning and afternoon. "He's just doing something, He's outside the office or He's in a meeting."

Friday, March 19, I was able to talk to the Engineer. He said that he's just going to write the report. "When will I be able to get the permit?, I asked." The Engineer said, "Wait until Tuesday next week, we cannot force my two bosses to sign it right away."

"Why is it taking so long for you to do the report? When I submitted the requirements, they asked for payment already, for me to be able to get the report the next day. Do I really have to pay Php2100?". His reply, "I have lots of things to do, did they give you the breakdown when you paid? Php2000, that's for the occupational permit. You can ask a Civil Engineer to do that if you know one, but I already did the report so you can't do that anymore."

At that point, I was so annoyed already. They never told me that I don't have to get occupational permit from their office. I have an uncle who is a Civil Engineer so I could have saved Php2000. I then told him that I will follow-up on monday. He said to follow-up with May monday afternoon.

At 9 am this morning I called Makati City Hall. Anna, the personnel that I talked with March 16, said that the engineer who made me wait 3 working days just for the report finally submitted it. Another boss signed it already and she's just waiting for another official to sign it. "I will call or text you in the afternoon." I asked her if I'll be able to get the permit today, "Yes, definitely, the boss usually signs documents in the afternoon."

No call or text the whole day. I called May at 330 pm, "You can't get it today, there was a problem with the affidavit and we had to do it again." I asked who did the affidavit. Her exact words, "Aba ewan ko, sino ba may gawa ng affidavit mo?" I said I submitted all the requirements tuesday and I don't know who did the affidavit. I have no idea that when she made that "unprofessional" comment, she gave the phone to Anna without even telling me! Anna then explained to me that they did the affidavit but there was a mistake so the boss asked them to redo it again. She then promised me again that it will be ready for pick-up tomorrow.

I am very angry right now.

getting a business permit in makati will test your patience!!!

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It has been 4days already. The engineer that was supposed to make a report is just letting my papers gather dust on his desk. I already paid them Php2,100. No receipt was given. They said that in lieu of a receipt, they will give me the occupational clearance needed to get the locational permit.

"If you pay now (Tuesday), you will get the permit tomorrow." Every f*cking day I call, Engineer is either out or in a meeting. I have to be nice when talking to them. If I p*ss them off, they might deny my application. I already paid Php3,650, that still doesn't include the Mayor's permit and BIR.

Does anybody here know somebody from Makati Cityhall? I need help.

business registration in the philippines

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I registered my business name 5 years ago. Here in the Philippines, business names should be renewed every 5 years. So yes, my business name is going to expire in 8 months. For the past 5 years I didn't apply for a business permit yet because my son is my main priority. Now that he is 8 years old, I feel that this is the right time for me to finally do what I have to do to make my business legit.

I'm now done with the baranggay clearance, only waited 30minutes for it. I had to pay Php1,550 and this includes the General Liability insurance already. I already paid for the Locational Permit and they are processing it already. It's been two days of waiting and I am so stressed out already.

Why stressed out? I still have to process the Mayor's permit and BIR clearance after the locational permit. I am already stressed out thinking how much I still have to pay. A lot of people, even inside the Makati City Hall, are saying that I still have to pay Php6,000. That's how expensive it is to get a permit to operate a small business here in the Philippines?

God's Whisper #2

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I hear you. I will, I will ...soon. I promise.

Dear RJ's Mama,


There are so many ways to make money. Right now, opportunities are everywhere, all around you. Open your eyes. You'll be overwhelmed at what you'll see.

Love,
God

P.S. How to open your eyes, RJ's Mama? Believe they're all there. Because you'll always try to prove your beliefs. So change your beliefs, and you'll change what you see in the world around you.

God's Whisper

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I enrolled in Bo Sanchez's GodWhispers Club. The latest message that I received:

Dear RJ's Mama,


Jump in. Do it. Unless you move, nothing happens.


I empower you,
God

P.S. Plans are good, RJ's Mama. Thinking about your plans is good. Talking about your plans is good. But unless you act, your plans mean nothing.

I better register the small business that I am planning to put up. Actually, I registered it in DTI a few years back so I have a business name already. I better working on it.

a better way to promote your business

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Safety Magnets are custom promotional refrigerator magnets that have important and potentially life-saving information. They are a great custom promotional item for businesses - much more appreciated and less likely to be thrown away than the more typical sports schedule, calendar magnets or other promotional products. Safety Magnets promote by combining your business or organization’s logo, contact information, or business card with clear, easy, and meaningful directions for what to do in common medical emergencies (CPR, Choking, etc.) - now that's a message that's not likely to get thrown away.

Simply peel back the adhesive layer and add your business card. Magnetic back-side allows it to stick to a refrigerator, file or medicine cabinet, or anything metallic.

Do you want 50 free magnets? All you have to do is purchase 100 or more business card magnets. You can choose from Heart Attack and Stroke Warning Signs and CPR Steps Business Card Magnets. This is Safety Magnets Offer for this February's American Heart Month. What better way to promote your business than Safety Magnet's Heart Attack & Stroke Warning Signs -or- CPR Steps Peel and Stick Business Card Magnets, right? Not to mention the additional free magnets. And yes, FREE customization is available for orders of 100 magnets or more.

Safety Magnets customers include insurance agents, real estate agents, fire departments, urgent care centers, family health centers, elder care centers, and more. Check out the customer testimonials page to view customer feedbacks and some samples of magnets created for them as well.

To choose the right design for your business, do visit Safety Magnets store today!