Retail is hard then you die
Posted March 29th, 2007 in The Desk
Which of course is my way of saying I’m leaving bicycle retail. Yes, I’ve handed in my resignation and have but one working week left in front of me.
What am I gonna do? Dunno. Call me, e-mail me, Twitter me, IM me, send smoke signals or leave a comment saying, “Phil, you’re awesome, just the man I need and I want to pay you truckloads of money to blog and virally market my business.” If that’s you, my people are interested in talking to your people, and they will take your call. In the meantime, it’ll be several weeks of riding every day.
The reality is that I’m burnt out, retail is like that, and increasingly eight hours on my feet handling a large volume of customers on a day-to-day basis has robbed me of much of the enthusiasm and energy the job requires. It’s also a young (wo)mans game, and at 47 I ain’t that anymore - at least in terms of doing the daily grunt work retail requires. Don’t get me wrong, I love selling bike stuff and talking to customers, but that’s about it.
Cleaning shelves isn’t world changing, but getting a fat arsed middle aged cashed up golfer or middle management cubicle drone on a nice new carbon machine, and then seeing them change their lives to an early to bed early to rise lycra clad fit happy individual is and has always been a buzz.
And then there is the commuting class. I love selling regular bikes to regular people. Folks who have never thought of riding to work are now doing just that. My respect for them is immense because they have made a world changing choice. It may not seem like a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but it is.
Our entire system of transport is designed to preclude just that choice, and it takes a serious act of deliberation and courage to make it. Quite often that individual is the one so-called crazy guy or gal in the office who rides in rain or shine, but they are the unsung heroes of cycling and the environment. That one individual spark is often the catalyst for others in the office to take up the commuting challenge. I know it because I heard it every day. Yes, one person can make a difference, and it’s you.
Lastly I should say that one of the paradoxes of working in bicycle retail is that it’s often hard to swing a leg over the bike and do the hard yards needed for peak fitness - as a result, during the long break I’m really going to enjoy spending several hours in the saddle every day and then sitting on my post ride arse drinking coffee and talking trash with the boys.
Yep, it’s chamois time!
technorati tags: cycling, bicycles
What others have to say…
I know what you mean Phil. Work does get in the way of a good riding life. Good luck and say hello to the boys and girls before you go.
Fritz, Oz is home and I love the blogging media so I don’t think I’ll stop.
Of course it goes without saying that I’d love a job where I can blog and talk about cycling, and yes, advocacy groups don’t pay big money, but then again I don’t really work for the money, if I did I wouldn’t have been in the bike biz for so many years.
Either way I’m probably going to end up working in the importing/wholesale end of things in the bike biz because I want to stay in the industry.
With anything I do it has to be about the passion, so something that would give me a great deal of creative and personal satisfaction is probably more important than the cash and prizes.
Anyway, I’m hopeful………and looking forward to buckling down to something new.
Chris, thanks for the comment, it was a pleasure working with you when you were there, I’ll pass on the hello to the boys on Saturday.
I’m jealous would love to join you but I have a Bondi mortgage to pay.
Oh I have a mortgage too Jamie, the clock is ticking already and I will have to find work quick smart in order to support the high paced fashionable life that comes with living at Canterbury on Cook.
Wow! Phil is leaving the shop! I’m lost for words…
Far out.
So what are you going to do?
Well firstly Jake, I’m gonna dedicate the next few weeks to getting you into a lycra cycling outfit, complete with shaved legs and onto a nice light carbon bicycle……..you’ll never go back.
Actually, I think the Chaser needs a quiet introspective grown up in the cast just to counter the shameless publicity seeking that goes on there…….get the casting couch ready.
Haha, no chance. I need a bike that I can leave outside the shops without it getting pinched in the first five minutes. It also needs to be able to survive 120km a week on Sydney roads, day in day out, rain or shine. As for the lycra, that’ll be the day…
You should join our SBAR yahoo group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sydneybodyartride/
We had a job for some people on Chaser earlier this week. The five naked people for our audience all came from SBAR, they got paid $250 each. I’ll keep you in mind next time something comes up.
i knew it. more training for your racing comeback!
Adam
Osaka on route to Amsterdam and Guatemala (retail burnout survivor)
I know that Wooly’s will never be the same without you- that’s obvious.
I sincerely hope that the right company, a smart company, comes along and swoops you up… but not until you’ve had a few rides.
From across the big pond, I’m wishing you the very best.
Ever thought about starting a blog? I hear that pays really well.
No, I’m thinking I’d rather be a Bike Biz Australian correspondent Carlton, we’d work well together.
I sincerely hope that Wooly’s understands just what they are losing! People with passion and ability are hard to find.
But congratulations on making what I know must have been a tough decision and I hope everything works out well for you.
Ever considered a pedapod franchise? 
Good on you Phil, There is life after Wooly’s.
Wow, how did I miss this. The news comes as a bit of a surprise, but I can’t blame you. As much as I love getting people on bikes, 4 years in a retail environment was more than enough for me. I will be interested to keep reading Spinopsys as your career evolves. You are a talented guy so I expect big things in the near future.
Sorry I missed you on your last few days. I wonder if we’ll have another 7 year gap before working together again. You’ll be 54 by then!!! Hah!!!
I for one will miss the world saving, enviro-technophile conversations we had so give me a coffee call sometime and we’ll bounce some more around. Cheers Phil.
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I’m shocked! Wow.
You’d be great as an director or marketing guy for an advocacy group. They probably don’t pay anything, though. Are you staying in Oz? More importantly, will you continue to blog?