Small business like PCC or REI fit our lifestyle here in Seattle. We are a city that likes to get out of the house and into some place dry. We are shoppers. Pike Place market is one of those places where I spent way too much time when I was growing up. It’s fun to look at the variety of shops and talk with the people who are a part of the culture.
Retail is a great business that frustrates me. It’s hard for me to stay in one place trying to attract people into a shop. My first retail shop was for small items that were easily displayed. It was really a junk shop. Long story short was that my contracting business would clean out rental property, or estates, and I would sell things I got for free for cheap. The business paid the rent on a little storefront.
My goal was to have a place where the people who worked with me could meet in the morning, have coffee, and leave from there. The shop took over as a social gathering place and I wasn’t getting anything done, or done well. That was my last retail experience, but it is still near and dear to my heart and have helped a couple of people set up retail shops.
Many years later I bought a restaurant in Ballard with the idea that the money would roll in from a social setting. Let’s just say that it was more hours than a person can imagine with great rewards and a lot of drama. It was much more intense than retail with the greatest motivation being the perishable goods in the refrigerator.
There are a lot of businesses in Seattle that have huge potential. We may look at the now big players in our area, but there are so many that we may over look.
About David Losh
In 1984 I got my Real Estate license and worked in a small company called Advance Properties. The owner was extremely interested in Real Estate, building, and land development. Most of his work was concentrated North of Seattle. Since the 1970s I had worked for Real Estate agents in Seattle as a contractor, mostly preparing properties for rent, and sale.
After a few years my skill level increased considerably concerning land use, building code, and development practices. Escrow, and lending offices were housed at the Advance Properties building so it was easy to get involved in all aspects of Real Estate. It was very much a family owned, and operated business.
Over the years my Real Estate license has been at a variety of Real Estate companies, and offices. Nothing compares to those early years, or that sense of family. Real Estate has gotten to be corporate owned.
My hope with this blog is to share with you some of the things I've learned. If you have Real Estate needs, or want contractor help, I refer freely to what best suits you. If you should choose to work with me you'll find a great resource.
My Real Estate license is at Skyline Properties in Northgate. Skyline is a locally owned company that is a desk fee office. There is a wide variety of diverse agents. It helps me with some of the other projects that I have, and mentoring that I do, to be able to work with people from other cultures.
Here in Seattle we are close to Vancouver BC and are the gateway to China. Boeing has a great trade relationship with China, as does Microsoft have with all of Asia. We are a culturally diverse community, and it helps me to be invlolved.
