Getting Closer

And things are looking good in here!

The skeleton for the cover and folding areas around the washing machines is being built. It's really a neat contraption that Benj designed. Once it's complete I'll post pictures of the finished product - complete with removable top and front to get to the pipes for maintenance. 

On a more decorative note, the "bubble" mirrors above the dryers were hung today.

There is a pop singer in Kyiv who's agent heard about our store and the bubble chandelier we're making, and they called to see if they could video her singing in the store in front of the chandelier. Sure! We don't know how this information spreads, but we'll take it.

Every year our business has to be re-tested to make sure we're up to fire code ... different than the fire permissions and certifications. So, yesterday the guy shows up to check all the plugs, outlets, and wiring. Good news, we pass inspection. Bad news is, he's only one of three people who have to sign off on the inspection. He informs us that one signature will require a large bribe, and the other guy is out of town for the next 10 working days. Ugh. But then he catches a vision of how ridiculous all these hoops are that people have to maneuver in, around, and through to open a business in Ukraine ... and he VOLUNTEERS to sign for all three names! Bam! Job done, just like that - he stamps it - and we walk it over to the government agency so they can file it away until next year. No waiting 10 days, no bribes ... it's taken care of.

On a final note for the day, I'd like you to meet our friend 'the Babuska'! And we really are friends. She stops by almost everyday, let's us know she's keeping a close eye on our building and bushes, making sure no one takes anything they aren't supposed to, and asks us for bread money - which we give her. 

 All is well that ends well ... and we really are getting closer!

Friend$

Turns out, more than friendship, what many people we interact with in Lviv, outside of Bubbles, want is money ... sometimes LOTS of money. Here's an abbreviated, slightly edited, version of a recent conversation:
Him: "I can see you are good people. I have a great business that I'm going to let you in on, where you can make lots of money, and not do any work."
Us - we also have a great business with the potential for lots of money, but we know it requires LOTS of work: "uh-huh?"
Him: "I know a guy who is starting a construction business ... making luxury homes in Slovakia. All you have to do is give me $5 MILLION U.S. dollars ... there's no risk - just BIG profits."
Us: "First, we don't have five million dollars to give you..."
Him: "But you know wealthy Americans - and can get it!"
Us: "Second, we have never been to Slovakia. Third we aren't into luxury home building. Finally, we're busy with our own business and don't have time for this. Sorry, we're not interested."
Him: "Okay, okay, I know $5 million dollars is a lot ... but that is okay because I have another business, a factory, that you can invest in and I only need $300,000 U.S. dollars from you."
Us: "I'm sure there are lots of ways to make money in Ukraine, but we are focusing our efforts on self-serve and full-service laundromats. Sorry, we're not your guy. But, to help you out, if you have a detailed business plan, we're happy to review it and send it along to someone else who might be interested."
Him: "No, no. You - I want you to be my partner. I like your family and I want you to make the profits. The only risk is that if you don't give me the money in two days time, someone else will, and you'll miss out on all the profits."
Us - trying to maintain friendship, and yet be honest and firm that we really aren't interested: "Sorry, not interested. Leave us alone."
Him - perhaps desperate, perhaps a bit crazy: "Okay, but I will stop by your store at random times, give you out-dated appraisals on the nasty processed cake factory and dessert machines, call you day and night reminding you what great friends we are, and that this is a BIG chance you are missing out on. I'll even give you my house as collateral (worth a fraction of the sum asked for), and see you at church, so you can't get away from me!"
Us: "Awesome, thanks. It's so great making friends here."

Zoriana

Meet Zoriana: soon-to-be manager, director, and any other title she wishes of soon-to-be Bubbles.  Her list of accolades exceed our own - fluent in six languages, conversant in more ... she holds a MBA from the University of Chicago (where she studied American laundromats, of all things), and most importantly, she co-founded Atlantis, Poland's first self-serve laundromat.  We are thrilled to have Zoriana heading the Bubbles team - she is bright, has our vision, and recognizes the value of offering "clean clothes - clean life" to the people of Lviv.  Plus, she assures us that she looks forward to returning to her homeland and Lviv, where her mother and brother still live.  Hurrah for Zoriana! A true 'silver-lining' in the frustration of not opening sooner.

And, not to be overlooked, Zoriana brings with her the Dexter distributorship for all of eastern Europe and Russia ... another feather in the Bubbles cap for years to come!

When to Wear What?

It's not so much that people in San Francisco don't, or wouldn't, wear these things ... it's just that we're not used to seeing them at 10 in the morning, in a children's park area.

The back of the shirt is a really popular feature these days...

And while we're sure this dress looks great at a cocktail party, it was a bit surprising to see it mid-morning on the ice-rink with the kids.

Of course, if you're not sure you are wearing the right thing - just change! We don't mind.

And to simplify life, the one-piece, romper, or whatever else you like to call it, is a quick grab-and-go option.

No need to coordinate - you just step in and you're ready to go!

What was lost, is now found

 Two of our stolen bushes have been returned. We have two more we're still waiting on.

Remember the Babushka who took swept the cement into her purse ... well, we're pretty sure our bushes also grace her garden ... perhaps in recently constructed cement planters.  We put up a sign reminding people it's illegal to steal, and that there is an outdoor video surveillance camera.  She stops by the store regularly, and during a recent visit she tentatively asked how long the video surveillance cameras have been working. "A few weeks." The consternation showed in her eyes. "Do you know who took those bushes then?" she inquired. "Yes we do," we said, though previously we didn't know ... it was like Edgar Allen Poe's The Tell-Tale-Heart. Her eyes widened. Then she put her fingers to her lips and with glistening eyes, said "shhhhh."

Speaking of the bushes, we overheard a conversation as a middle-aged couple walked by and saw the sign reminding people that taking something that doesn't belong to you is stealing. The woman remarked how terrible it was that people steel bushes. The man scoffed. "Why would you plant so many? No one needs that many bushes! Of course people take them." After 2o years of independence the former communistic and socialistic values ingrained by USSR government have not worn free from many. Never the less, couldn't a socialist/communist argue that allowing the bushes to stay put in a public place actually allows for more people to enjoy them - rather than in a private individual garden? So, essentially from both ethical viewpoints, the bushes should remain where we planted them.

Denim Denim Everywhere!

We don't pretend to be fashion savvy, but we have noticed that jean is in this summer. 

We won't comment on each outfit ... but you get the picture.

the cut-out dress

the inner-thigh cut-out

the one-piece

the one-piece

the Boots

Firefighter Approval

SMC Firefighters 1921

While sitting at work in San Mateo last spring, a city firefighter came to the office. He was dressed in full firefighter apparel, had the truck in the parking lot, and proceeded to explain the various ways in which our office was not up to code. Then he handed over a paper that said we owed a specific sum of money - to be paid on the spot. The whole thing was a little amiss ... Clearly the owner of the building, not the tenants, should pay for any such violations, and why the urgency, on the spot payment? When we suggested this to the said firefighter, he got a little uneasy and said it would be better if we paid right now, and signed the form. We didn't. He left quickly. We looked up the issue, and sure enough, it was a scam. While there was a geographic area in San Mateo that the various precautionary codes applied to, our office was well outside that territory.

Lviv Fire Department

That was one experience that set our fears of Ukrainian corruption at bay a bit. We realized no matter where you do business (Lviv or San Mateo) someone is out to make a buck on the less suspecting.

Our construction company Abelit tried to convince us today that our current dryer set-up would never pass the Lviv firefighter approval - we needed to drill a hole in the roof behind the dryers for ventilation ... more time, and more money. We already know (an expensive lesson) that this construction firm is not always straight forward and certainly have their best interest in mind at all times - more work, more time, more money.

So, we brought in the big guns and had the Lviv fire department walk through and get it from the horses mouth - are we up to code? The verdict ... No need to drill another ceiling hole! We were right - Abelit was wrong. Great news. See, Ukraine isn't so corrupt after all ... well, at least not the firefighters.

Resumes

Stock Photo

We've interviewed many potential Bubbles employees for positions including store managers, clothes folder, delivery-driver, hotel contract and sales, and security.
Among the 100+ resumes two stand out.
Neither was offered a job, but both get the PR prize for being most memorable.
The first had a hand-written resume on napkin, much like the one in this stock image - only without bullet points.
The second had a nine-page resume detailing his work history with his nine past employers.
He explained all the reasons why every job had not worked out, and in each case, it was the unreasonable employer who had the problem.
The gentleman was only 32.

Bush Thief

 A 6 by 60 foot planter box graces the outside of Bubbles. We "designed" a bush garden to bring a little life to the area - bought shrubbery and hired a local to plant and tend. On the first night after the foliage was in place, someone stole one of the bushes! (I told you we keep a watchful eye over inventory). Over the next two nights, two more bushes were stolen ... in various locations so as to not draw attention to any one area. Who steals plants? From a garden? So, until the video cameras and security system are running (they're installed), we've hired a night guard. For $10 a night, our bushes (and building) are safe.

Workman's Comp

Standard U.S. construction attire (hardhat, steel-toe shoes, etc) are not commonly used here in Ukraine. In fact, most of our construction workers show up in flip-flops. So, the other day when an employee accidentally drove a nail through his foot - though horrified - no one was too shocked. What happened? Well, he was rushed to the ER, later went to the HR director, filed a complaint, is on short term disability, and workman's comp.

No, no. This is Ukraine! The guy pulled the nail out of his foot himself, and apologized for the construction hold-up. He was grateful that we went to the nearest pharmacy and bought an armful of disinfectants and supplies (the pharmacist knew exactly what was needed, seems this sort of thing is a regular occurrence) for the grand sum of about ONE dollar, and the day continued as usual.

Cement Steal-er

To save money, we've opted to be our own general contractor as we build-out what will become the first Bubble's chain Ukrainian laundromat. That means we have a lot of construction supplies, and people to oversee. We are constantly checking dry-wall, tile, cement powder bags, and other supplies to ensure no one is walking off, or selling off, any of our inventory. The workers know they are under a watchful eye.
People often come in from off the street to see what we're doing.

The other day a kind older woman, commonly referred to as a Babushka, wandered in. She seemed genuinely interested and elated at the prospect of a self-serve, full-service laundromat. Then it was back to work, overseeing everyone, as usual.
A few minutes later, we spotted this same Babushka at the far end of the store - she had maneuvered her way around, under, and through the scaffolding. What's more, she seemed to be sweeping. As we approached we noticed she wasn't just helping us clean, she was sweeping cement powder into her purse.
Us: "Can I help you?"
Babushka: "Oh, it's fine, the owner said I could have some of this."
Us: "Really? I'm the owner."

stock photo

Babushka, a little embarrassed, but not apologetic: "Oh, well I only need a kilo or two to fill a hole in my balcony."
We head out of the store together - all indoor construction work stops, and everyone watches to see what will happen.
~Outside~
Us: "You were stealing construction supplies we bought for our store."
Babushka: "It's only a little bit. I didn't think anyone would notice. It's just for a little hole on my balcony."
~Clearly the ethical nature of this situation resonates differently between our two parties~
Us: "Even stealing a little bit is still stealing."
~We part ways. Babushka carries her purse, laden with an extra kilo-plus of cement powder, and shaking our heads in a construction haze of disbelief~

We've concluded a good, ethical general contractor is worth every penny. Perhaps we deserve a raise.