My First Business Transaction

I have been planning and making strategies for past two weeks and I did my first business transaction just now. Yeah!!

My hubby is doing plantation business for cut foliage for export purpose and I always see them scrapping foliage that is not up to their 'export quality' standard but is still considerably good.

Two weeks ago, I came out with an idea to sell their cut foliage to florists around my housing area. My hubby was not interested at all and thought the volume that they would order would be very small but I managed to persuade him to bring me some samples to show to the florists. The first time I went with the 'export quality' foliage and I could feel that they immediately shut me off when they told me directly that they were not able to afford this quality at higher price and they were always using 'rejected' foliage.

I went home and revised my strategy. I asked hubby to bring me 'Grade B' quality samples and went to distribute to them again. They were more friendly to me the second time I went as I told them I understood their need and I thought I could supply them foliage at the quality and price that was agreeable to them.

Last weekend, I received my first order from one of the florists. I was happy although the amount is very meagre. At least I knew that my strategy worked. Hubby laughed at me but still brought the quantity that I wanted to deliver to the florist. I told hubby I would do this business professionally with him. I would pay him the cost that they normally sell to their customer and I would only earn the margin that I had marked up.

My first batch of cut foliage sold to florist

I do not know if there will be more orders from the florists but I am keeping my fingers crossed. My hubby thinks that I am playing 'masak-masak' but I have more purpose in life when I plan, make strategy and think how to proceed with this business.

Tao's Favourite Past Time

Free Labour for Majlis Perbandaran Kulai

Picking up leaves, pebbles, soil from the ground and stuffing them into her mouth when we are unaware

Donating Stuff to Orphanage

I went for breakfast on Sunday with my girls and hubby and there was a small sized road show for parents and kids. There were singing competition, colouring competition, story telling etc. I noticed there was an area for recycling organized by an orphanage nearby. I did not even know there was an orphanage near my house and I had never heard my friends talking about it as well. It showed how uncaring this society had become.

After lunch, I gathered my bags of old clothes and boxes of old magazines and asked hubby to fetch me to pass my stuff to the recycling committee. When I reached there, they told me it was only until 12:00pm and gave me the address to pass my stuff directly to the orphanage. It took me more than half an hour to find it.

I passed my old clothes and magazines to them. They thanked me and I had to resist the temptation to check my stuff again to ensure I really do not need them anymore. I told myself, 'For Goodness Sake! You packed these stuff more than 1 year ago and never needed to retrieve any item. Just let go and you will find space for newer things to come.'

So I said good bye to them and left, feeling good about myself. I educated Tian about orphanage and how lucky she was to have mum and dad who loved and cared about her.

I plan to do more spring cleaning and de-cluttering these coming weeks.

Hard Anodized Wok

I have never thought that I would be so happy about buying a wok. I am falling into 'auntie' category.

I have been searching around for a value for money wok. The one that my MIL is currently using is too big for my liking. I only cook for my kids and sometimes simple dishes for the family so I do not like to lug around the big traditional wok for cooking and washing.

I planned to buy Tefal non-stick pan but after reading an article about poisonous fumes from the pan when cooked under high temperature (I am a Chinese, so it is inevitable) I dropped the idea. Stainless steel wok that I found looked more like aluminium wok and the quality on the handle etc was bad.

I went to Jusco to look for anodized wok a few weeks ago but all the good quality woks costed more than RM150. So I decided to wait for member's day to arrive before I go and buy.

Last week, I saw in the newspaper the same brand that I planned to buy at Tesco at 50% discount and quickly suggested to hubby to go shopping there. Ta da......



I am so happy. The quality of this wok is good and it not too big for daily handling and most important thing is that it costs less than RM100. Hehe!