Our Worst August Ever

My prayer journal entry from August 11, 2020

Apr 23, 2023

Before 2020, August was my favorite month of the year. It was our Black Friday if you will. Over 50% of our profits would come from this month alone every single year. Students and parents would be everywhere. We referred to it as “organized chaos.”

Here’s a really cool video from a “back-to-school” Saturday if you want to get an idea of the chaos… 42 scooters sold in one day (August 2017)…

In August 2020, 3 years after this video was shot, I was mentally not in the game. Rightfully so. As I have mentioned before, I was “out” of New Scooters 4 Less for the most part. From 2018 - 2019, I was in the process of building a new media company and a pandemic was sucking me back into the scooter shop. Sometimes I wonder if owning a business where you don’t have to be the primary operator is a complete fallacy. I know every time I’ve tried, something has pulled me back in. In 2020, it would be a pandemic.

Though our building is quite large (about 12,000 total square feet), only 1,200 square feet is showroom space. In order to ensure customer safety and keep people spread out as much as possible during the uncertain times of the pandemic, we decided we would set up sales by appointment only, which was a complete change for us. Because of these circumstances, sales for August 2020 would plummet and reach an all-time low compared to the ones before it.

Gross Sales (NOT profits):

August 2013: $215,635.42 (of $1,124,428.92 gross total sales for the year)
August 2014: $251,180.35 (of $1,332,945.72 gross total sales for the year)
August 2015: $369,010.51 (of $1,548,191.83 gross total sales for the year)
August 2016: $542,221.72 (of $1,823,675.94 gross total sales for the year)
August 2017: $574,811.56 (of $1,938,888.98 gross total sales for the year)
August 2018: $590,600.71 (of $2,149,542.59 gross total sales for the year)
- $32,862.65 of the year’s gross revenue was “media consulting” and thus why we decided to split off the media work into a separate company during this year.
August 2019: $409,633.04 (of $1,658,762.69 gross total sales for the year)
- This was the first sign that things were already on a downhill trend due to my focus being on the other company.
August 2020: $182,311.57 (of $1,025,262.28 gross total sales for the year)
- We’re in deep trouble.

Monday, August 10th, 2020 6:34 am

Jesus, what are you teaching me? What is it that you want me to know? I’m tired. I’m burnt out. I can’t seem to make anyone happy or make enough time in my life. The dealership is wearing. I try to change my mindset and approach it with positivity, but truthfully I fear what the day holds… chaos, angry customers, disappointment. Please make it clear what steps I should be taking each day.

Luke 12:31 But seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

Look at me. The lines under my eyes. Remind me that this body is a temple. I need to take great care of it.

[When you think of your body as the Temple of Christ (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), you start to treat it differently. Today, I find myself eating much better, exercising more, and doing what I can to take care of my health.]

Thank you for this past weekend and the time spent with family. The pure joy and smiles that come from watching the kids play in the pool and the smile and sound of Scarlett’s [my niece] voice saying, “again, again” every time she wants me to throw her in the air. May these special moments burn into my memories forever. This is what I treasure. Thank you for the reminders. [I think my favorite sound in the world is the laughter and pure joy of a child.]

LORD - as I move forward through the challenges this week, bring me those moments that really matter. YOU. FAMILY. Relationships.

Continue to protect those I love from Covid-19. Take my business. Put it in your hands. Do with it what you will. Take my life? How may I serve you today? Forgive me of my sins.

Love you.

Collin

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Some photos from this time in August 2020…