Just Cured - Experience Fine Foods

Over the last several weeks, I have seen a number of things that trouble me at local businesses. Some are owned by people I know a little bit, others by people I do not know at all.

When will you deal with the employee who is obviously stealing from you? The register is two feet away. Is there ever a need for that employee to safeguard your revenues in his/her pocket for the journey to it?

When will you see that the college girls you hire are more interested in entertaining their friends than in taking care of your customers? The slightly older women you hire get it. Why haven’t the new hires? How long will it be before your customers stop giving you a hall pass? This customer is very, very close.

When will you fire the addict who shows up for work high — on the days she bothers to show up at all? Your customers will applaud you, believe me.

When will you recognize that you must increase your prices to survive? The increases in commodity prices are killing you. Yes, it will cost you business from some customers; but you are losing money on every one of those customers as it is.

When will you call out the lazy employee who is taking advantage of you? You have modified this employee’s duties to the point where you can no longer evaluate him against any other group. And he knows it.

I know the economy stinks and many business, large and small, are struggling. I just hate to see you struggle needlessly. I can see these things as a guy who simply pushes your door from time to time; when will you see them?

Just Cured has completed one more step in our long walk to become a fully operational company. This week, my landlord and I got the smoking equipment completely installed in the building. I still have a couple of custom parts on order and am making do with temporary replacement pieces — but today, I finished the first batch of smoked salmon made entirely within the confines of our permanent production facility.

I am very happy with the layout of the facility and the performance of the equipment. I have a few tweaks to be made over the next week or so, including getting those custom parts completed. But, all-in-all, I am quite thrilled.

There should be plenty of Just Cured smoked salmon available for purchase at the Luken Poultry, Fish and Seafood stand at Findlay Market this weekend. Just look for the Just Cured signs on the counter. I should also be around much of the day Saturday to answer questions about Just Cured and our smoked salmon. I will also be the one slicing all the salmon.

If you are at the Market on Saturday, please stop by to say hello.