Happy New Year!
Many changes to RPI are under way! Every time I start to pen a blog, I am amazed at the number of updates I have to share. RPI has evolved and grown because of all of the support and encouragement I continue to receive from the members. I was awed at the number of members who attended our December informational meeting in my living room - standing room only!!! RPI is no longer just a whimsical idea of mine. It is a self-supporting group of awesome pet-owners that now spreads throughout Indiana and into several other states! I want to personally thank everyone for their words of encouragement and willingness to volunteer. RPI is blazing new trails all because of you! Thank you very much for believing in me!
Here's the scoop (bear with me.... you NEED to read it all) -
1. Please welcome David Busch as RPI's new general manager! We do share the same surname because we also shared the same parents! David has been 'in the wings' since the inception of RPI in 2007 so he is very familiar with the coOp. He recently retired and has a wealth of business knowledge so I am confident that RPI will flourish under his guidance. Actually, he has been my sounding board and support-person for the last four years so his retirement came at an opportune
time for RPI! David's presence will allow me to locate new and more suppliers, which is what started RPI so I feel like I have now come full circle!
2. The new store will be up and running no later than noon on Dec 30th. Orders are due by 10PM on Jan 6th. Since the new store tracks inventory, monitors the taxes, and tallies the orders, that is the ONLY way in which you can place an order. In the past I have taken verbal orders or email orders. However, this will no longer be an option! Anyone who misses the order deadline is welcome to shop the overage or extras at the close of D-Day.
3. Members are going to have to check into the website regularly to stay abreast of what is going on. There will be a similar monthly schedule so please pay attention to the calendar. We have grown too large to rely on mass emails and now that David is here, I will be able to provide the members with more frequent updates.... via the Blog!
4. Indianapolis Distributions (D-Days) are no longer going to take place on Saturday mornings. Instead, they will take place on Friday evenings from 5-7PM. This will allow everybody more time to enjoy their weekends.
5. Notes on the new store -
a. Please send any input to rawpawsinfo@gmail.com We need to know what works and what doesn't and of course, we are always open to suggestions. If you see an area that could stand some improvement, let us know.
b. The store is defaulted to list items from lowest priced --> highest price. Items can be arranged alphabetically by selecting 'Title' in the sort by drop-down. You can play with this option to see what works best for you.
c. EVERYTHING is pre-weighed, pre-priced, and ready to go!! You just select the items and the quantity you want to add to your cart! This is going to simplify the ordering process... on both ends! Also, items that are in limited quantities will disappear as they are purchased so if you want something in particular and we only have a few of them, you need to make your purchase as soon as possible! When something is gone.... it is gone.... until next month.
6. RPI deliveries will begin in a few weeks. We have satellite managers in Ft. Wayne, Kokomo, Dayton, Louisville, Toledo, and Jackson, MI. We are still looking for satellite managers throughout Illinois, Michigan, and anywhere else people want deliveries. Satellite managers accept prepaid deliveries for the families in their area. I am not a fan of dropping off product in parking lots. This is a community-based operation so I prefer to keep it in the community. Please contact us if you are interested in becoming a Satellite Manager or if you know of someone that might be.
Fingers crossed that all goes well with our new store! Again, I really appreciate being able to do this for everyone. Hug your Critters...
leslie
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