I can’t imagine I’m the only one who has started something, worked on it on and off for a while, and actually moved forward with it to a large degree. And then says “No, this isn’t the right thing to do!” I assume others have worked on a dream to end up deciding ”Not now”. But I don’t know.
In any event, for decades, one of my dreams is to own a small store. The other is to own a boat.
I long knew that boat ownership was hugely expensive, and realistically never expected to own one. Of course, one day, I might, but not today, and not this year, and maybe never. And I’m OK with that.
But the store was, and still is, something within my reach. I have the skills. After all, I have successfully managed other people’s stores. I now have the language skills to do it here in Israel, as well as a good enough idea of how businesses run here, and who to ask if I have a question. I was an independent at the start of my working career (for 5 years) and I owned a business in the states (side business, not full time).
Since even before the start of Corona, I was looking at stores which were for sale, especially the ones in my neighborhood. I think it was a combination of inertia and fear which prevented me from buying one of the two near my home which were subsequently sold to someone else who turned them into nice businesses (a hardware/building supply store and a grocery store). Of course, my family knew of this dream as I had let them know that if the right thing came along, I was going to switch.
When it became obvious that the Corona Virus was going to be a major and global pandemic, it also became obvious that businesses were going to close, and (ultimately) re-open. It’s sad but death allows for new life. Likewise, for small local shops dealing in vital services, this provided a unique chance to have a captive market for short but profitable periods of time.
In 2020 I was working for (and had been for about 14 years) a well known international shipping company here in Israel. When the owner finally realized Corona was going to (possible seriously) hurt his business (around mid March of 2020), he asked me a personal favor (to stay with him, under much more favorable terms for me. As a salesman, I bring the money to the table, and he needed people who could do that). I told him I would stay on, at less favorable terms, for one year. It was obvious he was going through a crisis, and fortunately, things were going well for me and my family. Likewise, I expected that he would appreciate what I had done for him and compensate me fairly in the end.
During the course of the following two years, I looked further and further into the details of opening my own business here. What are the tax implications for different business structures; what are the costs; what businesses are for sale, versus opening an electronics/appliance store (targeting Olim and English Speakers).
In the summer of 2022, I parted ways with my old employer, and set out opening my own store (Ed and Sons Electric).
I actually got pretty far along the way – I had a location, I had drawn up my own business plan and was working with a specialist (from MAOF – a government organization) to apply for a loan, and was speaking with vendors. Of course, I had a domain name and very simple website and email, and was working on content.
Then things started to not work. First, the location I had been discussing for months fell through. The advisor from Maof was suddenly less confident the loan would be approved. Most importantly, my wife was becoming more against the idea, and I have learned that she sometimes simply reflects a part of me which I sometimes can’t see. And other signs that this wasn’t really the dream I had made it out to be.
Around this time, I asked myself “Ed, why were you unhappy at your last place? And how do you go about finding a better place which won’t have those issues?”
In doing so, I realized (and was told by people who knew me) that I was working long hours and crazy hours. I realized that I wasn’t spending most evenings or nights with my family. I realized that I wasn’t getting paid as much as people who were working less, because of the position I had been given and was stuck in. And I realized that I just needed a break from being in sales.
So you can see, opening a store isn’t the way to achieve any of this. As such, I decided not to open a store. At this point.
In the end, I’ll be staying in international shipping, and will turn this website (for now) into an informational website for people making Aliyah, Toshavim Hozerim, and anyone who has questions about shipping to or from Israel. If you have any questions about shipping to or from Israel, let me know. I may be in touch, or I may have a salesman be in touch.
And yes, the name of my business is Ed and Son’s Electric, LTD. For now. I even have the required rubber stamp. Because Israel.
EASE Shipping to Israel (Ed and Sons Electric) 