Attack of the auditors

Fig 1: Numbers people

So it’s that time of the year where we have to submit our accounts and have them verified by the auditors. Lilaine and I have no gift for numbers and frankly, it scares me that there are people out there who are into these sort of things.

Edwy, our most patient and long-suffering accountant, has been asking all sorts of questions we can’t answer, i.e. How many did tees did you sell last year? What happened to all those unaccounted for tees? Where are the suppliers receipts? What disease did cured ham actually have? 

From his line of questions (and the fabulously vague answers we keep pulling out of thin air), this business is obviously doomed to failure. Lilaine, to her credit, has been spending late nights tying up all the loose ends and making sense of the various scribbles on pieces of paper that passes for our ‘stock chart’.

Not a good month, this.

Sales update

There was no emotion from her face. “I just picked up our cheque from Canaanland” she said. “There’s good news and bad news.”

Unsure of what to expect, I decided to get the good news first.

“Our tees are all sold out at Canaanland in Centrepoint,” she said. “And they decided to order 150 more units.”

“Uh, wow. That’s great. But what’s the bad news?”

“Guess who’s going to do the sorting and packing?”

Penang, Kota Kinabalu and soon in Singapore

Together with our distributor Canaanland, we’ve just sent out a shipment to stores in Penang and Kota Kinabalu. We’re also finalising arrangements with outlets in Singapore, and will let you know where and when as soon as possible. Spread the word and thanks for your support. Right, now back to the leaflet for the email blast I was planning …

I remember 2009 as if it was yesterday

Welcome to the new decade. Except it doesn’t feel quite so new and 2010 still looks like 2009.

One year ago, Laine and I started this blog to chronicle the adventures of starting a new company. There were many things we could have written about: travelling up and down every 3 weeks; opening and then closing an online payment account after several months; receiving, lugging and storing the tees; devising a basic stock tracking system etc. Fortunately, we didn’t get around to it - it would have bored everybody to tears I think.

Instead, I discovered a latent humor writing skill (if letting your mind wander can be called a skill) and a profound ability to cut and paste from other people’s blogs to make up for the fact that I’m too lazy busy to post something original. What all this has got to do with starting a new company, I’m still trying to figure out.

Meanwhile, business is a little slow but that’s ok - we’re in no hurry. Canaanland is graciously helping us distribute the tees to East and West Malaysia (50ish stores in total), we’ve got a couple of contacts in Singapore and are looking for distributors in Jakarta, Manila and anywhere else willing to take the tees. 

Our accounting system is probably/ definitely in a mess (Laine and I have the accounting sense of a turnip) and that’s something we need to sort out before handing our books to the auditors – if there’s a book to begin with.

We also realise we don’t quite know how to handle an online business. Plus, the site itself needs a makeover. The two parcels we sent by post never reached their respective destinations and there are probably other problems we don’t even know about yet.

Nevertheless, I’d say it’s been an amazing experience. 2009 will be fondly remembered. Hey, we launched a t-shirt brand and are glad a lot of you like them. Laine and I are especially grateful for all those who went out of their way to help us (setting up appointments, lending your car, designing, selling and buying the tees) – you know who you are.

We are now in back in Malaysia (after 3 wonderful years in Singapore) and looking forward to what the next few months will bring. Lukas starts nursery on Monday 4th Jan, and I’ll have to do a bit of travelling workwise, hopefully not too much. In between, we’ll need to sort out the housekeeping for Sunday Morning and start prepping for the next set of tees. A lot of work but worth it, in the end.

To all regular readers, thank you for support and encouragement over the past 12 months. It’s been a privilege and an honour.

“Behold, I am making all things NEW” Revelation 21:5.

Find us at Canaanland

Sunday Morning tees are now available at Canaanland bookstores throughout Malaysia. Just in time for Christmas. Addresses here, if you don’t already know where they are. Thanks to all the friendly peeps at Canaanland for your support!