another victim of the economy

[DeadBishop]

I lost my job today.  They may be closing our doors as early as Friday.  Barely one year after I lost my previous position.  14 years with the company.  They're closing 27 out of 32 locations here in the cities, and my store didn't make the cut.  Not sure what to do at this point.  Going to keep looking for another job though.  If anyone knows somebody who knows somebody with any possibilites, let me know.

[RenRobin]

DB,
I am so very sorry!  I will be keeping you in my prayers that your search is expeditious.

[Trillium]

Sending you lots of sparkly hugs and good luck!

[lady serena]

Sorry to hear that DB. You and Nyte are in my thoughts and prayers.

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

Sorry to hear the bad news, DB.  Steve and I will keep you and Nyte in our prayers.

[Noble Dreg]

Damn...very sorry to hear that.  A real fear in my position lately too.

Keep your head up high, you did excellent work for many years, remember that!  It's their failure, not yours!

[Taffy Saltwater]

I'm sorry to hear this - you're in my thoughts.

[Ferret]

I am sorry to hear.

I've had a lot of my customers lose their jobs or had hour or pay cuts.

I have a party coming up at my business this weekend and I've been letting people know that if they've had hardships because of the economy to see me when they come in. I don't want anyone to miss out on the fun because of a little thing like lack of money.

I sure hope things start turning around soon, for everybody.
Ferret

[Tygrkat]

That sucks out loud, DB.

May the next opportunity be the best one for you 

[DeadBishop]

Thanks everyone.  I've actually been looking for another job for exactly one year now; I jsut haven't found anything.  The problem that I've encountered is that I have a very narrow skill set.  I was at my job for 14 years, doing pretty much the same thing.  A lot of the jobs that I've been interested in and have applied for turned me down because of my lack of other skills or degree.  Even with the experience that I do have, it's retail related, so it doesn't count for much.

If anyone has any suggestions of where to look or apply my skills, I'm all ears.

[William_MacKean]

Th advent of the digital camera and cheap printers has put the hex on stores like yours.  I would start hitting Best Buy, Target's electronics, even WalMart's electronics and maybe even Walgreen's.  You might even take a photography course at a community college and start a wedding photog biz.  (Or contact a few and see if they need peeps.  Wedding season is fast approaching!)  Contract a developer.  Assemble albums yourself.  Work from home!  High school senior pics this summer.

Or, just a thought, contact the SBA and open your own store!  You know the vendors, POS machines, products, etc.  Add some printers and media and you're all set.  Heck, have a contract photog for portraits and do the whole shebang.

[Zaubon]

Good luck! There's a lot of that going around lately.

[renfairephotog]

You'll be free of the non compete clause. So you can do weddings again.

[DeadBishop]

Th advent of the digital camera and cheap printers has put the hex on stores like yours.  I would start hitting Best Buy, Target's electronics, even WalMart's electronics and maybe even Walgreen's.  You might even take a photography course at a community college and start a wedding photog biz.  (Or contact a few and see if they need peeps.  Wedding season is fast approaching!)  Contract a developer.  Assemble albums yourself.  Work from home!  High school senior pics this summer.

Or, just a thought, contact the SBA and open your own store!  You know the vendors, POS machines, products, etc.  Add some printers and media and you're all set.  Heck, have a contract photog for portraits and do the whole shebang.

Heh, umm, obviously you don't know my history too well.  I went to school for photography.  I had my own wedding photography business for about 12 years.  Had to give it up because of Ritz requiring a non-compete contract and the advent of "digital-cameras-making-everyone-their-own-photographer".  Mom and Pop studios have been dropping like flies for the past few years.  I may do my own photography business on the side, but this just isn't the time to start that kind of business back up again.  

[Lady Amy of York]

Sorry to hear this  DB.  seems  to be  happening  more  and more lately.  Why is it always  the  good  guys  that get  all the  bad luck?  Wishing  you well  sir, and  that something comes  your  way soon.