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Would you walk? Job dilemma.

56 posts & 29 voices | Started 1 year ago by Hairychested | Latest reply from Hairychested

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midlifecrashes - Member

Regarding the sales etc. I sold 68 bikes two weeks ago with an average bike price over 400 Euro, yesterday alone 8 bikes went, the cheapest 399 Euro, the dearest 939 Euro. He still complains we aren't making any money.
Without trying to sound pompous I've made this place a bike shop people travel to.

and

He's loaded, his construction business made 25+ million Euro so far this year and his wife earns over 1m Euro annually...

Call me cynical, but maybe the shop is supposed to make a loss so he can use it as a tax reduction vehicle and you've gone and ballsed it up for him?

Posted 1 year ago #
epicyclo - Member

midlifecrashes - Member
...but maybe the shop is supposed to make a loss so he can use it as a tax reduction vehicle and you've gone and ballsed it up for him?

Running a business to deliberately make a loss is a myth.

Posted 1 year ago #
user-removed - Member

No written contract, just a verbal agreement.

This doesn't have to be a stumbling block but is certainly a p1ss poor start.

Sounds to me like you're pretty much managing the place. Also sounds like you've made up your mind to leave. Before you do, and if you like the job (if not the hours) why not ask him if he's willing to pay you to manage the place - keep it positive and upbeat as others have said - keep it non-confrontational. Take along a list of ideas (and recent sales figures) and point out the areas where your personal approach to doing business has worked.

Take the pressure off him - suggest hiring a new mechanic so you're free to implement the new ideas as a manager.

Working in a factory is sh1te. Any factory. Sell yourself and your expertise, your sales skills and your mechanical know-how. Make him see that you are an integral and necessary part of his business, then ask for what you are worth. It's not unfair or unreasonable. Just don't do it with a chip on yer shoulder

EDIT: no matter how rich he is, he'll have no problem with any kind of a plan to make him richer - he just needs convincing that it will.

Posted 1 year ago #
jahwomble - Member

"...but maybe the shop is supposed to make a loss so he can use it as a tax reduction vehicle and you've gone and ballsed it up for him?"

Could just be he's buying the wrong stock in and making bugger all margin on it ?

I've worked in retail stores where some stock, you made very little on and some you actually made a loss on, purely to get people in and buying stock with a decent margin. It's up to the sales bod to upsell to the profitable stock. If you've no profitable stock to upsell to, y' fecked.

Just an idea.

Posted 1 year ago #
ex-pat - Member

Do the 3 day on 4 day off thing.
If you've got a garage start a bike repair shop, take your clients with you.
I assume you've got trade contacts too?
Once you get a few pennies from the bike servicing, see if you can set yourself up as a business, so to get trade discount. And start local club canvassing, as you say you have a reputation that'll stick with you.
Can then do bespoke purchases as needed for the clubs, with mechanic skills in there too.
Setup shouldn't be too expensive surely?
Also, if you've got local clubs, one promo thing you could do is go to their events and do trackside support for them for a group discount price - the club can pay you, saving the riders a bit of cash too. Get some basic flyers so people can contact you another time.
All of the above would help with a business loan once you want to start your own store...

Coffee shop? That's not a career, and you need one if you have kids.

[edit]

not a single Eire supplier would trade with me. It took him personal connections and plenty of free GAA stuff to get even the most popular dealers to deal with the shop.

Just read that. Nuts to that idea then. Still wouldn't want to support my kids on a casual job (coffee shop) though.

Posted 1 year ago #
Hairychested - Member

I'll be leaving sooner rather than later I think. The idea of running portable workshop isn't new to me, I did it years ago as a student in London. It worked there, but here you go to the shop, people who ride on the road don't fix their bikes, it MUST be done at a shop. It's a cultural thing.
Working in coffee chains, I like it, but only at the managerial level. If I could get my own store than I'd do it, but not as a barista. It probably won't work out, but why shouldn't I give them my CV?
I never worked in a factory, never ever. At the moment it seems the safest, most secure employment here. I'm trying to get a decent QI position (sic!) as it pays well. When the times change I'll probably move. I say probably as you never know, I might enjoy the work.
As for the shop making losses, it's occurred to me it might be the idea. Some dodgy mates from the North, some strange individuals popping in. It might be that or he just doesn't have a clue how to make it work. If I were to bet on one of these options I'd go for the latter.

Posted 1 year ago #
Hairychested - Member

I've been fired without explanation given this morning. Time to join the http://www.joblesstrackworld.com
What a bummer! Time to move on

Posted 1 year ago #
wwaswas - Member

I've been fired without explanation given this morning.

I'd be thinking of talking to a lawyer, even if only to frighten him into giving you some form of payment in lieu etc.

Posted 1 year ago #
Hairychested - Member

I've started the legal joy, appointment booked for this Thursday. At least it'll keep me busy

Posted 1 year ago #
wwaswas - Member

Good luck with the other things you were looking at - hope one turns out to be what you want and need.

Posted 1 year ago #
Hairychested - Member

Cheers! There's always STW if I have too much time on hand...
Joys of life!

Posted 1 year ago #
don simon - Member

Hairychested - Member

I've been fired without explanation given this morning. Time to join the http://www.joblesstrackworld.com
What a bummer! Time to move on

Ex-boss is a singletrack lurker?

Hard luck chapster. Working in a factory isn't going to be so bad. I worked in a couple during my uni years. If the management are ok the culture of the workforce will be fine and if your mate enjoys it, I don't think that'll be a problem. I've worked 12 hour shifts and they're not a problem, even worked 16 hour days when needed.
You'll look back in a couple of years at the best thing that happened to you.

Posted 1 year ago #
Hairychested - Member

I know I will, I really do. Thing is it's inconvenient and that's it. I've spoken to many people and he seems to've broken the law. Will see what. if anything can be done.
I'll be going to other factories tomorrow, shops will get visited, recruitment agents will be contacted. There's plenty of work, I just need to persevere.

Posted 1 year ago #
vinnyeh - Member

bad situation, I'm sorry. Did you move your family across as well?
What does 'fired without explanation' mean? Did you just get told that you weren't needed any more? Has there been any bad blood between the pair of you? Have you been on the books and getting paid as an employee?

Good that you've got somebody looking into it.

Posted 1 year ago #
Hairychested - Member

On arrival this morning I was told my P45 was sent and I had no job there. I was wondering if telling him anything was clever but decided against it. Why? I knew he was breaking the law and I'd be getting my own back.
I hope to hear no more from him, he isn't worthy of my time. I'll be fine, he'll be fine, my mates will go elsewhere. It'll hit him where it hurts - pocket.
BTW If he reads this, who cares. I won't call him names, I won't swear at him. All I'll do is advise people to stay away from the shop. There are other places where your bike can be mistreated

Posted 1 year ago #
Twin - Member

Better pull this thread ASAP. There was a similar discussion a couple of weeks ago regarding the font on an STWers clients' website and some ****t sent the thread to the email address on the site. Consequently the client saw it and binned the guy doing the website design. Wouldn't want you to get canned in the same way if you decide not to leave.

edit

Just read page 2. Sorry mate. But the sentiment stands for anyone else..... be careful about giving details about sensitive subjects cos not everyone who reads these posts has a conscience.

Posted 1 year ago #
Hairychested - Member

True. I've been offered help finding a decent job from so many people it's impossible to be downbeat. It'll work out.
If everybody took criticism the way Hora does it the world would be a better place (that includes me too, for the record).

Posted 1 year ago #
Tinbred - Member

Sounds like your heart knew what it wanted a long time before your head agreed with it.
Once you know you are finished at a job it is time to get out. In "allegedly" breaking the law your ex-boss may have done you a favour if you were going to go anyway. You might get a payout that could kick start the mobile business.

Good luck with the job hunt. Sounds like you have the determination to get something pretty quickly. Did some food factory work a few years ago on shifts. The trick is to get in a good team and work your nuts off. Doors will soon open.

Posted 1 year ago #
sv - Member

http://www.realcycles.com/news.php?articleid=149

Come North?

Posted 1 year ago #
martinxyz - Member

delete the thread if you plan on taking this further (or at least shave yer chest if he comes looking for you!) why not go for an interview at realcycles? ;O)

Posted 1 year ago #
Hairychested - Member

I'm not relocating again after under a ear. My kid has settled here, as has my wife. I'll step away from bike shops for now to rekindle my love for riding. I might do a few hours every now and then locally but that's it.
Another mate is taking my CV to work, they're recruiting and I might stand a good chance. Otherwise it'll be a job somewhere, work to live not live to work.
BTW Yesterday I learnt my ex-boss offered then my job to a lad who works at the LBS some 6 months ago. Got the cold shoulder. Sweet, innit?

Posted 1 year ago #

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