OT - Self Employed - OT

[1955 plymouth]

So, today I went to work and had a funny feeling it might be my last day on the job. The shop owner had been on vacation for the past 3 weeks and got back today, his first order of business was to send me down the road.

I have been planning to branch out on my own for a while now. I have worked for Harley-Davidson dealers for 13 years in the Service dept. I turned a wrench for the first 7 working 60 hours a week the whole time, even during the winter months. Had the opportunity to step up into management Jan '05 so I did that, I have ran the shop in WA for the past five years, trained alot of new entry level mechs from newby to journeyman level.

The opportunity came a couple months ago to buy a commercial building, has a nice store front, good sized lot, detatched shop building all sitting right along Hwy 20 in Concrete WA, we got about 1.25 acres of ground behind the shop to do with what we will. just down from the shop is the convergance of two rivers, the Baker river and the Skagit river. World class Salmon fishing right in our backyard.

[Norm's Coupe]

Congratulations on your new venture, and good luck. I branched out on my own 20 years ago, after the company I worked for sold out a couple of years earlier. I stayed on with the new company for a couple of years but didn't like the way things were done, so left and went on my own. Haven't looked back since.

A friend of mine who is a mechanic worked for the same shop for over 20 years. Then the owner of the shop decided he wanted to retire. So.......my friend bought the shop and building in the early 90's. One of the mechanics that stayed on the payroll stayed because he wanted to buy in with my friend. But....my friend didn't want any partners. So........after about 3 years, that guy left and started his own shop a few miles away. That was a friendly split though and they both still get along. In fact, if one gets too busy, they send the customer to the other. So.......they still work together a little and both of them have a good business going. We all still went to swap meets together too, except me. I stopped going to swaps about 2 years ago. Can't do all that walking anymore.

So.........change is good most of the time. Just stay positive.

[eric wissing]

Good Luck!! I think Concrete, WA is the setting for "This Boy's Life", a great movie. Hopefully the latest South Park episode won't hurt ya. I worked for myself for 20+ years.. Eric

[mackster]

congrats! it is a dream of mine to go to work everyday, were I absolutley love the boss!

[1955 plymouth]

Thanks for the good luck and the tales of sucess. We are excited, time to put all this hard work and training towards some real rewarding times. Looking forward to helping people out without he big box store corporate feel to it. I feel the mom / pop shops are well received and people right now seem to want to support the little guy rather than the Franchised stores, so we are optimistic and full of great ideas. I will keep you all posted. Oh, yeah I forgot to mention earlier, we will also be buying classic cars, fixing them up to be good solid drivers and selling them in our parking lot also, I think Im going to label the '52 pilothouse as my local shop truck, paint the logo on the door etc... should be a good time if nothing else.

[dezeldoc]

Nice place, Need any help?

[Norm's Coupe]

Thanks for the good luck and the tales of sucess. We are excited, time to put all this hard work and training towards some real rewarding times. Looking forward to helping people out without he big box store corporate feel to it. I feel the mom / pop shops are well received and people right now seem to want to support the little guy rather than the Franchised stores, so we are optimistic and full of great ideas. I will keep you all posted. Oh, yeah I forgot to mention earlier, we will also be buying classic cars, fixing them up to be good solid drivers and selling them in our parking lot also, I think Im going to label the '52 pilothouse as my local shop truck, paint the logo on the door etc... should be a good time if nothing else.

Making that truck into an advertising truck would also make the cost of the truck purchase, insurance, plus repairs on it tax deductible too, as a business expense. The truck would have to be titled to the business to make those deductions legal though.:cool:

[greg g]

So Bikes and old cars, are you gonna do custom flyrods also??? I have all my father's fly tying stuff, supplies materials (anybody need a coyote pelt) and all the clamps vises bobbins and various tools. Wish I had the interest to use the stuff, but it's not my thing.

Good luck with your business.

[BobT-47P15]

Best wishes for success in your new business venture.

Looks like a nice place you bought. Gives you a little room to

move around. The old Dodge shop truck would be cool, too.

[Normspeed]

I wish you the best of luck. Nice looking shop building. Your experience on the management side should give you a boost in setting up a business that brings the customers in.

[T120]

Hi 1955 plymouth - Nice to see someone with a positive attitude looking to

the future - wish you the best on your business venture

Edited November 6, 2009 by Ralph D25cpe