No business like retail business – Palveluloiste

I have to confess that I’ve never really thought retail business to be that interesting, even though I have read books with interest about Walmart, Starbucks and McDonalds. Heikki Peltola’s Palveluloiste-book opened my eyes to finnish retail landscape in a way that I did not think was possible. Suddenly I realized how remarkable companies many of the retail chains were and what kind of transformations have happened and are about to happen also in Finland.

Book was quick and easy read, laying out clearly details about each chain – pressing the importance of financial figures in years 1995-2005 in a way that has not been seen in everyday financial writing in Finland. And numbers told very interesting stories that give context to all the stories about local politics in retail landscape. I was amazed to see in black and white profit margins that from the outset ( and from very capital based view to Finland ) even very modest chains were able to produce. Return on invest percentages in the range of 10 to 20 percent made it clear why even today entrepreneurs were doing their best to get into business – and how exceptional some entries like Erätukku were to the marketplace. Book also gave numbers to phenomenas that have shaped retail industry in Finland: S-group’s rise and importance in retail landscape along with Kesko, supersized shopping centers like Itäkeskus ( over 20 million annual visitors ) and that Stockmann’s department store in the center of Helsinki is largest (measured in sales ) single store in Finland, including also being largest seller of food in Finland.

Though Palveluloiste is not by any means the best business book I have ever read, it fulfilled it goal amazingly well and I read it through in two sittings. Author Heikki Peltola has done remarkable job in collecting all the information into one book and process it into stories that both explain what has happened in retail industry and at the same time are entertaining to read. Though I doubt I will not see myself participating in retail business in anytime soon, this book helped me to understand better forces and currents that have shaped and are shaping the business environment in Finland and around Europe. Definitely great read, but available only in finnish.

Link to author’s website.

Running, running

For the past two months I’ve been logging my runs to dailymile.com and noticed a trend. Even though I can easily keep up 40 km / week pace in running, every month something comes up and my total kilometers for the month will be just 140 or so kilometers. Last month I had a small injury that took almost a week from my running schedule and this month we had traditional midsummer festivities, which did the same. There are still few days left in this month, but I doubt I will run more than 10-20 kilometers more – which would mean 160 or so kilometers for this month. 140 kilometers on average is not bad, afterall it is much more than I used to run previously – but it is still very much short of the training kilometers of marathon runners, who run even on their easy weeks 60 or so kilometers and more than hundred on hard training weeks.

Different ways to dine in Helsinki – gonna try them all..

On summer vacation we have had the opportunity to sample different ways to dine and lunch in Helsinki.

For example yesterday we sampled impressively cool restaurant at the 8 th floor of Stockmann’s department store, called F8. On the eight store of the departmentstore F8 proved to be much better diner and cafe than we had anticipated, and to be honest also the deco and good service made an impression. Because of Cityshopper card we got two dishes for the price of one, but even for the full price food was reasonably priced. We took mediterraen beef and grilled salmon with new potatoes from the grill, each costing about 16 – 18 euros per dish – including salad, bread and icewater. Other options would have included home cooking ( pasta etc. ), salad bar or oriental options – including really good looking dishes of noodles and eggs. Dishes looked superb, tasted very good and like I said – service and decoration were superb. I really liked the place and imagine that it is very popular place among people who spend more time shopping in the department store or want something good during the lunch hour.

For this summer we took ambitious project to take advantage of most of the restaurant promotions in Cityshopperi card, which we got for free – because our household is a subscriber to Olivia magazine. Dining in Helsinki can be an expensive experience – even if you don’t frequent fine dining places, but use services of quite normal restaurants. Multiply 50 to 160 euros by the times you eat out, and suddenly you have used as much as students use for rent and food in a month. However with promotions like the ones you get in Cityshopper-card you get to dine in much more reasonable expenses more often – and thanks to the markup in drinks and other products that restaurants serve also they get something in return. Best promotions in the card are usually two meals for the price of one and reasonably priced wine bottle while dining, which puts dining well for two persons in the price range of 40 – 80 euros.

So now we have 10 to 15 restaurants on our todo-list, and need to also write reviews about them to http://eat.fi/. Whole lotta eating to do, but some one has gotta do it. Earlier this year we made arrangement to not to eat in normal eateries, but rather pool our resources together and eat in a better establishment once a month for a much larger sum, but also for a much more memorable experience. That however lasted only for couple of months as even though we decided not to, we still went now and then to normal lunch restaurants and did not really make the effort to really plan ahead and set the milestones for all the great fine dining restaurants in Helsinki. So that is another project that we need to continue, when autumn comes – if economical situation allows it.

In other news we are also enjoying cooking at home, but would really need to have more dinner parties with friends as it usually is much more fun to cook with friends, and enjoy food and great wine together. These days we actually have very good opportunities to eat well at home as we have really good food shopping choises around us in Itäkeskus and in new Prisma department store, which houses decent meat, fish and cheese sections – and has also small alcohol store right next to it. If we just had the energy to invite anyone for dinner…

Yesterday we made great late evening snack, chicken hamburgers. Homemade bun with all sorts of seeds and healthy goodness, chicken filee instead oh hamburger patty, tomatoes, cheese, lettuce and three slices of bacon. Mouth watering good! I’m beginning to salivate even now. Picture however was not that good:

After eating the burger I was done for the day. I barely managed to roll myself to the sofa and watch news for a while, before we decided that it is time to hit the bed. Experience that I haven’t had since I ate Bacon Ultimate Cheeseburger at Jack In The Box in California. Somehow fast food in Finland is light years behind chains that are only available in US like Jack In The Box or In-N-Out. Jack In The Box was really nice for their outrageously fatty meals that made you realize that you just ate something big, where as In-N-Out was about quality, even making french fries right there in the store.

Compare that to fast food restaurant here:

Image is from Hampuris chain’s XXL Burger meal.

Aurinkolahti – Miami beach of Helsinki

Aurinkolahti has been an ambitious project here in Helsinki. Aurinkolahti was built almost middle of nowhere in eastern suburbs in Vuosaari and it seems to have created whole new life and atmosphere to the area. First of all houses in Aurinkolahti are not cheap in any means. For an apartment with a view to the sea you are requested to cough up somewhere near 300 thousand euros for less than 60 square meter apartment. City’s goals was to balance eastern suburbs social structure by creating a housing area for people in higher middle class, and it seems to have worked.

Atleast during the summer time Aurinkolahti is extremely nice place to visit. 700 meters of swimming beach, small boat marina and no sight of social problems that people have associated with Vuosaari – and still associate with other parts of Vuosaari. But it is still just a place in Vuosaari.

It seems that older I become and more I have travelled, less and less I’m inclined to invest in housing in Finland, atleast with the prices that are thought to be normal these times. Helsinki is great place to live, but to have to pay 3000 or 4000 euros per square meter is insanity, especially if you have not accumulated wealth that you want to invest for long term profit in apartments but have to use loans. This is not London, this is not Berlin or New York – this is Helsinki.

But all and all Aurinkolahti seems like a very nice neighborhood if you can afford it and are willing to take financial risks associated with it. Beach, marina and nature near by are definitely something to be proud of – though you can really enjoy the sea only for only few months in a year.

We live quite close to the area – and can luckily travel there easily with metro or bicycle.

If you happen to come to Helsinki and want to see something you would not expect to see, then Aurinkolahti – during a sunny day – is definitely worthwhile place to see.

Though the seaside is mostlt reserved for houses, there are few restaurants and cafes – where you can enjoy a drinks, food and good company.

One place to recommend is Ravintola Loiste, which offers to holders of Cityshopperi-card 2 chicken korma dishes and bottle of wine for 35 euros – which is not the sweetest deal in the city or huge bargain, but as they say: every penny saved, is penny earned. And the food was good.

Flamingo Spa & Wellness

Earlier this month we visited – for the first time – new shopping and entertainment center at Vantaa called Flamingo. Flamingo aspires to be Las Vegas of Finland, but comes a little short. Or to be honest, a lot short – but that does not mean Flamingo can’t be a success and entertaining place to visit.

Our reason for the visit was Flamingo Spa & Wellness center, which boasted to offer great waterpark and soothing environment for adults who wanted to relax and spend some quality time in a day spa. As we are older than 7 years old and do not find waterslides and ability to jump into the pool from a ledge entertaining, we decided to spend the whole time in Spa & Wellness section, which is forbidden area for anyone under 20 years old.

Entrance to the Flamingo Spa. Kitsch!

Even though entrance to the Spa is pure kitsch I have to say that the service was very friendly and efficient, and we immediately felt very welcome to the place. At the cashier we exchanged credit card to wristbands that gave us access to area, worked as keys to lockers in locker room and worked as substitute for credit card inside the spa, if we wanted to purchase something from the bar or get access to any special treatments or massage.

Waterpark section of the facility was similar to any other waterpark with lot’s of kids running around and access to the Wellness-section was more than needed to soothe our nerves. As we entered the dimly lit wellness area through a sliding door that also blocked any sounds from the waterpark, we sighed as it felt so much comfortable. Adults were walking around in their bathing suits or in comfy bathrobes, decent looking bar was open and people were generally saying enjoying their time there. We browsed through the facility and tested different pools: 36 degrees warm warm water pool, 32 degrees warm mineral water pool that also had jacuzzi features in the other end and music playing under water in the other end. We tested different kinds of saunas and enjoyed steam baths with different kinds of aromas and scents.

After three hours of pampering we were so relaxed that it was time to leave with a smile on our faces. Definitely a nice experience, though I usually don’t like waterparks so much. Flamingo Spa & Wellness section was definitely targeted to adults and tourists who are willing to spend for their pampering, since most of the treatments offered there were significantly more expensive than anything that I would think a normal middle class person would be purchasing with their own money. Unless you get a well priced package deal, get a corruption gift from business associate, are wealthy enough, want to think you are wealthy enough or are a above middle class russian tourist, then most likely many treatments offered at Flamingo Spa & Wellness are above your pricepoints.

However even without any special treatments the Spa & Wellness section is a worthwhile place to visit, though the normal admission fee ( 32 e ) for it is quite high for three hour access. Best value for money you get if you spot a promotion or get a decently priced package that might also include accommodation at Flamingo hotel. We payed only 12 euros per person for our access, thanks to a sweet promotion deal.

http://www.flamingospa.fi/en/p2-in_english.html

What about other offerings at Flamingo?

We did not have time to test anything else than the Spa and restaurant section – for which we have nothing to complain. We went to Parilla steakhouse that offered reasonably priced meals and have a decent menu with meat to eat. Portions were sufficiently large and well made, wine was good and we enjoyed our time. One thing that caught my eye was that on the menu they had beef sirloin steaks all the way to 500 grams.

Naturally for this trip I had to switch off all and any ecological thinking, though it popped into my mind while I was floating in the 36 degrees warm water: “I wonder how much energy this facility actually uses”

King for a day – Faith No More in Helsinki

It was about time. Faith No More reunited and came to Helsinki, to play in Kaisaniemi park just before the annual Tuska-festival.

Compared to grab the cash and run tours that old starts might be tempted to do there was no sign what so ever about that, when Faith No More walked on to the stage. Crowd cheered as they sang Herb & Peaches cover Reunited as the first song before actually launching into their own more agressive material. Patton totally dominated the stage and took over 10 000 spectators to his palm. His vocals were as impressive as ever and his presence on the stage admirable, even 130% heterosexual males were seen to gawk in total admiration. This is entertainment.

What struck me most during the gig was the great mood that everyone was, including the band. Cheerful 30 to 40 somethings had gathered to listen their youthful years’ heroes and they were there to take us back and more. Funniest moment of the gig was spanish version of Evidence, Mike Patton channeling energy and feel of Enrigue Iglesias. Amazing.

Concert was a great success, except on three accounts.

One. It was next to impossible to get beer within the concert area, as the line to drinking area was more than hundred meters when we arrived and no one was in a hurry to leave the area.

Two. Warm up bands sucked. Waltari and CMX looked.. well.. they looked like something. Especially CMX looked and sounded like something out of it’s place. I’ve liked CMX at Tavastia, but on a sunny stage it did not work at all.

Three. Food at the place was rubbish. To top it off it really did not work well with my stomach.

But overall it was great to see Faith No More in Helsinki and Patton doing a great show.

What a vocalist.

Walk on the countryside

We live in a small metropolitan called Helsinki, but every now and then it still feels like we were on the countryside. Our suburb was built in 1960’s, which means we have wide open spaces and quite large areas reserved for parks and public use, compared to new zoning solutions around the city. And I have to say I like it, a lot.

During our sunny day stroll around Puotila bay, we just saw for example a fox and swans – and large number of smaller birds. And all this just a kilometer or two away from the largest shopping center in Nordic countries.

We spotted young fox robbing magpie family for one of their young ones. Birds followed the fox for a kilometer as it tried to hide somewhere in the forest to eat his lunch.

Our paths intersected as the path that we walked on was the fastest way to get distance to the magpie nest.

Swans we met under Vuosaari-bridge.

Adult swans made a funny hissing sound if we got too close to their young birds who were enjoying breadcrubs thrown by a father and son duo.

At the other end of the Vuosaari bridge is the famous Puotila yacht club, which is our local small boat marina.

Though having a boat is ridiculously expensive hobby in Finland, there seemed to be not so many free spots in the marina.

Police medic

Just too poignant and funny.

Bacon – the world’s greatest condiment

It is true. Bacon is the world’s greatest condiment. Fit to almost any occasion.

Above bacon is used to enhance chicken file and salad.

Works like charm.

European city guide – pan european scam

It is that time of the year again. Summer vacactions are starting and new business catalog scammers are sending their invoices to businesses.

It seems that this type of business is profitable enough, as different operators have continued it in various different countries under different names for years. European City Guide is a notorious scam around Europe and in this age and time of the internet you would think that people read documents before signing and google up companies if they approach them without prior relationship.

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/news/opinion/article.html?in_article_id=428676&in_page_id=19

http://stopecg.org/#ecg