Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:11:26 -0800 (PST)
From: Tina Meeks
Subject: A response to defend our small Chatham business
Mr. Ismay,
I want to thank you for following us as closely as you have since you have a lot of information about where we are, how long we are there, what our vehicle looks like, our prices, etc. etc. but…I am not going to keep defending myself on this Chatlist as if I am doing something illegal. I know I will have folks that don’t like what we are doing and I am okay with it. The information you provided is not accurate so let me take the time to address your statements:
I do have my Pittsboro permit. The cost is $100 a year, not $25. I also have my Siler City permit and it is $25 a year. My permits, insurance, health dept approval and NC Dept of Ag approval is in our van. Please feel free to come by and ask to see it anytime you wish.
I am approved by the Chatham County Environmental Health and NC Dept of Agriculture to operate. I have a Sales Tax ID as well and I pay sales tax each month to the state.
I, and anyone that does business there at the lot, pays rent. I have cashed checks to prove it!!! The information you stated was true about Noel subleasing, but Noel has since been given approval by the owner (the management company) to allow others to operate at the site. There is actually a post on the Chatlist and BBS looking for new folks to join us! Noel wants to make this a mini-market offering all types of unique and specialty items to the folks in Pittsboro and Chatham County. If you know anyone who is interested, even if it is just on weekends, you can call him at (919) 616-5068.
We get NOTHING for FREE! I pay for everything, including ELECTRICITY once we get it finalized! The electrician is charging $150 and the permit for it is $50. Progress Energy is charging us a $75 deposit and we will have a monthly bill to pay. I can provide you my account number if you want to verify it. We also pay fees to be at events, fairs, festivals, etc., which can be quite costly since our average ticket sale is much, much lower than other vendors at these events. We also have to pay three times more due to the size of our van.
Ugly truck? That is your opinion and I won’t fault you for it.
We are very interested in participating in 1st Sunday and have made several attempts with the facilitator, Leslie Fesperman. She states there is no room for us at this time and she already has other vendors serving similiar products. I am not upset with 1st Sunday and hope eventually they will allow us to join them and pay the fee and participate officially.
It is your opinion that we have no interest in the town. We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t. Our goal is to make the best product for our customers and make it the way they want it. In our opinion, if they were getting it prior to our arrival, we wouldn’t have any customers. I’m sorry if you are offended that we are here, but there are many that LOVE what we are doing and think it is a great idea! At least we know you won’t be one of our happy customers!
What do we give back to Pittsboro? A unique business idea – the 1st of its kind in the Triangle area. In addition, I want to help with fundraising events and unite with other local businesses in hopes to improve both of our awareness in the community. We do donate 10% of our gross sales to the fundraising event.
We also are strong supporters of local business and have used a local graphic designer, sign maker, bookkeeper, CPA, bank, electrician, propane company, gas station, and the grocery stores to purchase our milk products. Most of all…we get our lunch from Big Daddy Dogs! I love the smell in the air when Lynn is warming things up, ahhhhhhhh – and of course, our produce from Noel. He has me addicted to the honey crisp apples.
Cheers,
Tina Meeks
Shot of Spro – Mobile Espresso Van
(919) 663-5796