Cycling UK Forum

Sorry to put a downer on things but I am wasted
where I am. I work in retail. I can earn minimum wage
anywhere these days.
So does anyone have any suggestions?
I am practical, computer literate, reliable.
Have my own transport. I am nuts about bicycles.
Silly or sensible suggestions please.
How do you get into the bike trade? I can fix bikes.

cycle cat wrote:So does anyone have any suggestions?

working with bikes would still involve working with the 'great british public'. i'm so very, very much happier now i'm not customer facing

I can fix bikes but I dont think that I can fix bikes adequately profitably, that is the thing that is needed.

Maybe you need to go on a small business course?
If you have ideas of starting a small bike shop, work out a personal survival budget first. That is a total of ALL of the things that you spend money on each month and it needs to be a realistic figure rather than an utter, miserable minimum so would need to include clothing, holidays, entertainment etc. This gives you a start point for working out how much you need to make from a business.
As you are IT literate why not consider selling accessories or refurbished bikes online?
Do you live in a touristy bit of wales (you have told me sorry) - maybe you could work out some form of bike rental business, perhaps including guided and self guided tours?
My home town (Penarth) has a small bike shop that sells used bikes, a few low end new bikes, accessories and does repairs. It seems to support two people. I have used it a couple of times and it is a refreshing change to some of the bigger 'more polished' bike shops and certainly to Halfords.
I could maybe help with publicity and marketing (at least by talking you through some ideas)
Claire

Surely the point is to do something you enjoy (to an extent) at least

Any other industries other than bikes that you're interested in? Have a browse of job websites and see if anything stands out.

If you do decide to look into a start-up business and need a small website, I can give you a hand for free so long as it's not the middle of exam season.

Good luck

Thank you for your replies. At the moment I work somewhere
that's handy to get to.
The website wouldn't be a problem as my husband works
in IT. Thanks for the offer.
I am unhappy and unfulfilled where I work now.
Several incidents have happened that made me realise I would be better
off elsewhere.
Women work in pairs in an isolated part of the building.
There has been an incident. We just don't feel safe any more.

I spoke to a manager who said to phone him if there was a problem.
I'm not sure how you do that if you're being attacked.
Said person doesn't always answer his phone.

.

gaz wrote:As the job of CTC Chief Executive has now been taken, I suggest you become a Professional Puncture Fairy Hunter..

That could actually be a worthwhile suggestion

I know and have known, individuals who only get their punctures repaired by professionals

Of course I never get punctures, with my kevlar reinforced tyres

gaz wrote:As the job of CTC Chief Executive has now been taken.........................

Where did you get that info from gaz? - and, more to the point, who by?

Hi Cycle Cat,

I order books for my local Library service, and can tell you there are any number of books dealing with changing your job/career. Some are based on age - changing your job for the over 40's for example - others go through your particular likes and strengths and suggest jobs or careers which might be suitable and how you would go about getting one. They may suggest things you'd never have thought of.

Also we run 1:1 sessions with a local job counsellor - your local council may run the same service.

Look up your local council website and find the library catalogue - you'll soon see what's available. If you prefer, you can often get very cheap used books on Amazon.

Personally, I wouldn't take a job attached to a particular pleasure or hobby, in case by *having* to do them every day for a living removes some of the pleasure found in them. That's just my opinion of course.

Jan

Si wrote:

JohnW wrote:

gaz wrote:As the job of CTC Chief Executive has now been taken.........................

Where did you get that info from gaz? - and, more to the point, who by?

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=60021

Thank you for that Si - I'm not paying sufficient attention, am I?

I've looked on the topic that you linked me to - and if the new CE looks at some of the posts on there, he'll be discouraged straight away.

JohnW wrote: ... Thank you for that Si - I'm not paying sufficient attention, am I?

I've looked on the topic that you linked me to - and if the new CE looks at some of the posts on there, he'll be discouraged straight away.

Some things hurt more than others, and being ignored by one loyal retainer is much worse than any number of snide comments from malcontents like me. If he gets in touch to ask why you of all people hadn't noticed, saying SMIDSY will just add insult to injury.

Have you asked in your LBS? No point starting a new business yourself if there's a perfectly good one already which might employ you!

You've got retail experience and can fix bikes, so you might well find they need someone to help cover Saturdays or whatever, and if you did that for a bit then you'd be top of the list if a more full time vacancy came up.

thirdcrank wrote:.................If he gets in touch to ask why you of all people hadn't noticed, saying SMIDSY will just add insult to injury.

That's fair comment tc, but to be fair, I hadn't looked - eventually I would have trawled through that 'Campaigning.....etc', but there's not as much discourse on there as there is in 'Tea Shop', 'Does Anybody Know' and 'Technical'.