I know many of you who know me would right away think I would be talking about Dan Bahr and you would be right "but" this is about my other best friend, "My Computer".
When I first started managing in Brandon, I did everything by hand using paper & pencil w/eraser. All the liquor and wine each had their own page in the inventory book and every time we made a sale or made a purchase, we would make an entry into the book on that particular date. Back in those days this was a perfect way of tracking sales & inventory. The good thing was, at the end of the year, we knew exactly how much of any particular item we sold and then we could just turn the page over and start a new year. But - every 2 years we would have to make new pages for all the different items and as the inventory grew, that turned into quite a project.
Then along came modern technology and a thing called "computer". The more I heard about them, the more I wanted one - but I was scared and nervous. I suffered from a thing called "computer illiteracy". I talked the city council into purchasing a computer in December of whatever year it was and August of the next year the council asked me how the "Age of Computer" was going. I informed them that I had not started using the system -- yet. It was at this time they informed me that I had until Sept. 1 to put the computer to use "or else".
I was scared. How was I going to get this done? I was COMPLETLY COMPUTER ILLITERATE!! I was lucky enough to have an employee who knew computers and was patient enough to get me started. Little did I realize that this was just the beginning of a whole new experience.
In 2002, I moved from Brandon (a smaller town combination on/off sale store) to Pelican Rapids where it is just off-sale. Pelican Rapids at this time had no computer, just the paper and pencil w/erasers. I think part of the reason Pelican Rapids hired me was because of my ability to start the computer system in Brandon. Little did they realize how little I really knew about computers and just how nervous I was around them. I always knew I had the ability to make mistakes and freeze them up or "whatever".
Now to fast forward to the year 2010. I must confess, after about 20 year of using computers, I am finally comfortable around them, in fact, they make my job a whole lot easier AND a whole lot better. I now enter invoices and other information as I get them and can make "ALL" the necessary adjustments immediately. We all know that prices are constantly changing, and with the use of the computer we can adjust those prices.
I realize many of you are what we might call "computer experts" but I also know there are others out there who are going through the same thing I went through and might be looking for some help. For those people who are looking for help, you are in luck. With the MMBA annual conference starting this Sunday in Alexandria, you can get help. I know there will be people from at least a couple different computer companies "PLUS" all the other managers & employees who can help. All you have to do is ask.
Now for my other "Best Friend" I really would like to thank Dan Bahr for all the help & tutoring he did with me. It must be working - by the time you read this, hopefully the City of Pelican Rapids will have had their bid opening and awarded the bid to a contractor to begin construction of a new liquor store.