Working Woes...

[MPJ]

I entered the Financial Services industry at quite possibly the worst time since the depression and now I find that I will likely be unemployed come the end of the week. It\'s possible that I can push it back a few more weeks but it\'s pretty darn slim that I\'ll have a job come the new year.

Sadly for me I need at least $50k income to pay my bills, that\'s no fancy things, no savings, just paycheck to paycheck. About all I\'m qualified to do employment wise is sales in or out of the financial industry but given the current economic condition jobs above $15/hr are pretty darn hard to find or I\'m just not even remotely qualified, not to mention I could probably pull off close to $15/hr selling painted minis on eBay and doing local commissions (even though I\'m no Russian chick).

I have owned my own business before and of course am seriously looking at it again. Like many of us I\'m sure, I have often dreamed of owning my own \'game store\' and am currently looking into it but I would be under-financed, being able to lay my hands on less than $20k. There are just so many unanswered questions. So many of my usual sources of business advice are basically telling me I\'m crazy to be considering retail at this time.

Any words of encouragement, advice, other store owners willing to chat (I\'ll call you), whatever people have to offer would be greatly appreciated.

Anyway, sorry to be such a downer. I\'m usually quite the opposite only occasionally dumping and then not really all that seriously.

 

[squidders]

The financial sector does indeed suck at the moment...

My contract wasn\'t renewed a while back when I was working for an investment management company.

The only advice I can offer is to sit down with someone and work out what your transferrable skills are... things like high numeric skills, any accounting experience, basically, think of everything that would be useful to an employer in any sector.

Then just go nuts and follow your dreams (while still sending out CV\'s in your most skilled area).

Call every single person or company you pay money to, offer them a reduced rate or ask for a payment break, they will often take this over painful nagging and snotty letters.

Also go through any regular payments and subscriptions and see what can be changed... things like mobile contracts, internet access, motor insurance... basically anything that can be reduced.

The bottom line is that while being jobless is going to really suck, it\'s not going to kill you and just keep telling yourself you can get through this.

Stay positive and motivated mate.

Joe

 

[Amazon warrior]

Crap, sorry to hear about your situation MPJ. That really sucks especially at this time of year. I don\'t have any personal experience at running a gamng business, but I think you should read THIS COLUMN because this guy sounds lke he knows a bit and it looks like it has some good advice. We (my bf and I) also have distant dreams of running a game shop (give us five to ten years...) and I read it with interest.

 

[Gilvan Blight]

Sorry to hear about your, all to common lately, problem. I couldn\'t tell you if I will be employed in two weeks let alone next year. I could be set for life (until retirement) or on the street tomorrow. Today\'s market is hurting everyone.

I know the owner/operator of our FLGS and I really doubt that he\'s taking home 50K a year, and that would be Canadian. I also know that he\'s suffering like everyone else in this area due to so many people with less money and people scared to part with what they do have.

I can\'t see now being a good time to open a Game Shop, at least not in North America.

 

[MPJ]

On a related, side note...

I have an Omega \'40 Years of James Bond Limited Series\' Seamaster watch which I\'ll consider letting go for $4k. # 09966/10007, a few minor scratches which I\'m told by the store that sold it to me can be easily buffed out.

Oh wait, this is CMoN, not eBay. :drunk:

 

[Sand Rat]

Give you the same advice I gave my brother - if your family can take you being overseas, there is always contracting.

 

[airhead]

I had a swimming pool store opened just as the oil boom busted back in the 80\'s. FDIC was taking over banks and banks were taking over homes.

You could buy a home at auction with a pool, cheaper than I could install a new pool. Guess that may have something to do with why I\'m not in that business any longer.

I understand the $50k need. Cannot sell my house right now if I wanted to. There are already 3 empties on my block and 3 more within a block. All in various states of empty: vacant & for sale to foreclosure. I\'ve heard a lot of talk about the government helping out if you cannot make your house payment, but that is all they\'ve done so far - talk about it. (I\'ll save that rant for another day).

Keep us posted. Cut what you can. Collect unemployment. Polish your resume.

 

[MPJ]

This will likely be only the second time I\'ve been \'unemployed\' in my life, the first being back in 1992 and I was a full-time university student at the time but still went shack happy and got another job within a few months.

 

[Logan]

Can\'t offer you any real advice mate, only commiserations. Tough in the UK as well. Our company\'s the market leader and privately-owned but we\'re reining in our spending, cutting out freelance spend, not replacing leavers etc.

Just hope things turn out okay - know you\'ve had it tough-ish...

 

[freakinacage]

good luck mate!

 

[ScottRadom]

Can you relocate? The rescource sector out west here is still strong, despite all the gloomy talk and predictions.

 

[waghorn41]

Same here in the UK, my department is relocating 30 miles away but I can\'t afford to travel so I\'ll be out in a month or two.

 

[MPJ]

Interesting note, just found out that the #1 game store in the area closed last week because the owner retired, he ran his store for 30+ years.

I hear so many people telling me not to do it and they are likely right but I\'m still undecided. I was about to throw the idea away until I heard the news today which opens a void in the market...

Damn my stubbornness. :drunk:

 

[PegaZus]

Originally posted by MPJ
Interesting note, just found out that the #1 game store in the area closed last week because the owner retired, he ran his store for 30+ years.

I hear so many people telling me not to do it and they are likely right but I\'m still undecided. I was about to throw the idea away until I heard the news today which opens a void in the market...

Damn my stubbornness. :drunk:

Well, I can warn you a bit more. I\'ve had THREE hobby stores in my area close in the last year. And these were NOT game stores mind you (ok, maybe the GW was a game store). But the other two just couldn\'t make it.

I\'d suggest calling up the retired guy and ask his opinion. He may have seen something coming down the pipe and realized he\'d be better off retiring now rather than lose everything in a year or two. I\'m sure with 30+ years his insight is invaluable.