This embedded video is supplied on line by The Star Press and we happen to be the recipient to many of the financial benefits of their being in our city; as we do a lot of selling and sewing for this type of group.

In our shop we make so many things that SWAT teams use or wear, and then we do the modifications to existing products and repairs while they are in the challenge for the few days they are here.

So all I can say is have more Challenge Matches here in Muncie Indiana!

Yep we are once again not able to accept credit/debit cards and we still won't take checks and in fact our Bank account was closed down for a bit amidst all the up-evil that is part of this worst recession since 1929.

We are still available but just barely.  We are on a Cash $ $ = and Carry basis for our products and services for the time but are looking into something Point of Banking or Cashless ATM Script machines that allow a customer/client to use their cards but only pay less About .99 Cents to use them for transactions in that shop.

The machine is placed in the business for free in exchange for taking a portion of the fee paid by the customer/client.  This is a big deal because as the Merchant, I don't pay anything but the phone bill and provide space to house the terminal. 

Thus allowing customer/clients who don't want to carry much cash the convince to use their cards at our shop, and we don't have to have much cash on hand to handle such transactions either. 
This could be a Win for You and a Win for US too.

I am not looking forward to the day we have gone completely cashless as a nation, as I think that will bring us another day closer to the Mark of  the Beast and all that the Bible tells is coming some day.
But one thing is for sure, that being more and more people are using their Debit cards instead of a Bank Credit Card; and that is a good thing as they are using their own funds and not borrowing to shop or while out shopping and taking care of business.

So for our part anyway; I like the idea of the Cashless ATM Script machine being free to the shop to help make all our lives that much easier.  Most customers/clients I have polled thus far don't seem to mind a minor charge of .99 Cents to use their cards instead of carrying extra cash.  Heck if that is true?  Maybe we should put in a couple of those "Cashless Vending Machines" of the type that dispense ding-dongs or something?  Or Peanuts and gum or something like that so when they are out and about they can use it wherever they like the idea.

We don't have a bathroom in our buildings, and one fella suggested when we were talking about this; suggested I should put in a pay per use toilet that would open the door and dispense a toilet paper packet at the same time.  Hmm...this isn't sounding too bad it may even pay to put in those Cashless items?

Fear Not, I don't think I will put in the cashless toilet (at least not theis year) but I do expect to have one of those POB or Cashless ATM Script machines by the end of September 2009.

But in till then?  Bring Cash...my past due bills would really appreciate it.  And please hurry; as they are beating at the door daily.

  Sure I am still sewing up a storm in our Shop even as our phone and other contact means are interrupted.  Yet we are still available to do what we can as we can and are otherwise fully functional.

So if you and yours stops by?  We can and will do what we have been doing to fulfill your needs and we are still well stocked and are still processing special orders (Pre-Paid) and shipping time is still about three working days excluding holidays and weekends.

So short term and long term we are planning on being around...but the advertising I have been trying is NOT working aside from the INTERNET and local blogs.  So yes we can process your requests on a Cash & Carry basis.  No Cards or Checks and yes we are still doing some form of Barter and Trade to the extent possible.

So please do stop in and check us out and we are still making many hundreds (at least dozens) of sewn products daily.  As well as doing Modifications and repairs daily.

We have been in continuous operation from the winter of 1986-87 through present and have NO plans in stopping now... regardless of the economy.

Last quarter of last year was almost a killer. It all but finished us off as a Army Navy Surplus; given the state of my health (Stomach Cancer and all) and the state of the Economy Nationwide and locally also.

Muncie and surrounding communities continue to lose jobs as the world wide economic woes continue to mount. Muncie being heavily invested in the automotive industry has felt the blunt of much of its continuing ills. We have just about lost 99% or our manufacturing base; and with it most of the well paying factory jobs in the area. Even the Information Age jobs are hurting because of the interdependence between all industries and their related exchanges interwoven into each business.

But we are into April 2009 and I can say with some confidence that it is looking like we will survive the coming months with hope for a better year ahead of us. After a really shaky start to this year we are seeing people get past the fright & stun stage of last November, December and January and seem to be able to some hope in different areas of their lives...though the Jobs scene is still pretty dicey. But I am seeing more people, more often because this year we "Launched" a full blown "Exposure Crusade" covering the Internet, phone books, Local TV and new client hand-outs given to clients when they visit to share with friends, family, and associates.

Thus far; I can point to over 80% of "New" traffic being attributed to internet searches on Yahoo.com, Google.com and others. This is important to know; as I can pinpoint my efforts to increase these and not spend time wasted on Less Productive areas.

All In All; I am feeling hopeful as my Chemo is progressing well and I am able to do a bit more then maybe expected back in December of last year. I have determined to try to get a Veteran Small Business loan to expand our building & Grounds next to our home. I am hoping that maybe I might build a 2500 Sq Ft Pole/Quonset Hut type building, to house the Sewing Shop together with the Army Surplus.

Keep in touch (tuned in) as this will happen quickly if approved.

The question should be asked from time to time whether our time and effort to post a blog or journal is worth the time and effort...Is anyone out there reading our postings?

Feedback is the only way to know...either a person leaves a comment, or a suggestion; and or we see a view by how many stat counter or something will we ever know if we are being productive or not.

Sometimes we get really lucky and a person or two will actually call us or email us and let us know they saw our ? ? ? and where and maybe even what prompted them to contact us or follow up and write or visit.

We need to keep on keeping on no matter what until we fully determine that the rate of return is not worth the effort and time consequences invested.  So Here I am today asking for feedback!

Please let me know what you like or don't like about this Information only site we have had now for some time and what you would like to see me develop differently.

I know I would appreciate it immensely.

Thank You,

Randall