Waiting to lose my job - wwyd?

[Wifelife]

Sorry this might be ramble on a bit

For the last year the small boutique I run has been up for sale, I’ve only been working in the shop for 18 months and didn’t know the owners plans to sell prior to taking the job, had I known my decision may have been different - the sale fell through and the owner is reluctantly carrying on and I’ve been promoted as manager.

The industry is changing and the business is struggling, my boss has already said her heart is no longer in it and would sell if the right offer was made - but there doesn’t seem to be enough cash flow or enough want, to address many of the issues we’re facing so it’s not particularly attractive to a buyer nor is it bringing in the clients we so desperately need to stay afloat.

The last 6 months have been tough, putting off paying suppliers, reducing opening hours and so on - she’s said ‘we’ll be closing down soon at this rate’ several times.

I earn just over minimum wage and work part time hours as they’re the opening hours of the shop, I love my job and the industry I’m in which is something I’ve never felt previously in other jobs. Typically the business owners in this industry would run the business themselves day to day so we’re an anomaly and the idea of just finding the same position somewhere elsewhere just isn’t going to happen.

My DH and I are TTC and having issues there so I don’t want to stop until this has resolved itself, it hasn’t done for months - I feel constantly in limbo and waiting for the sky to fall and it’s on my mind all the time.

I feel pressured and responsible for the renewed success of a business that isn’t even mine all for the very low salary my DH and I rely on and the role in an industry I love. I feel reluctant to put my family plans on hold but also feel stupid going ahead with them knowing I could be laid off at any moment.

My DH is very supportive and says we’ll manage come what may and to remain positive but I worry if I do that I’m just being naive.

Wwyd?

Me?

I'd continue TTC because there is never a right time and if you really think about it you can never actually afford it! And you will get by!

I'd also at the same time look for something else workwise. If it's a case of when not if you will lose your job it will be easier to find a job whilst you still have a job.

And I'm sorry you're going through this. How shitty.

@sittingonacornflake

Thank you

TTC wise absolutely- we’ve been trying without success so far so I don’t want to put it off on the back of someone else’s business. I worry that this stress isn’t helping things and is having a negative effect TTC too.

Family have made similar suggestions about another job I just feel so upset to be in this position when I know what I do is so difficult to find

You work in fashion retail

It's hardly niche!! Plenty of jobs out there

@AnonaMouse1

I don’t work in fashion retail

What is it then?

What would Alex Polizzi do?!

@AnonaMouse1

I’d rather not go too specific in case it’s outing, but as I work in it, I know that transferring to a like for like job just isn’t possible hence my reluctance, if it was I would have started a job search months and months ago to avoid this daily stress.

The reality is finding a new job that would be completely unrelated and I’m unhappy about that prospect because I’ve spent over a decade to find this area that I both enjoy and feel pride in doing.

This is my dilemma really

It is fashion retail. Surely lots of transferable skills.

@Tippexy

Thanks for your comment, it isn’t ‘fashion’ retail I appreciate I’m being vague but if it was fashion I would find another job elsewhere and not think twice, it’s not

What kind of town do you live in OP? Is it one with lots of boutiques?

@Tippexy Obviously knows more about OP’s life than OP

Selina, never heard of searching?

Well as of April you had fashion retail experience so you do still have those transferable skills

If u have managerial experience in any retail (not just fashion retail) business then you should consider finding another job. There will be loads of seasonal posts if nothing else given the time of year. It's not your responsibility to worry about someone else's failing business. My advice would be to move on.

@SelinaMyers

No, fairly quiet community and nothing in the same sector sadly. Typically what’s available if anything does crop up, is weekend staff only so a third of my standard hours and this is looking further afield

Personal shopper/stylist in a department store? Very similar role and using plenty transferable skills.

@fairypuff

Thank you, skills are definitely transferable but it would mean moving out of my sector into general retail management and that’s why I feel so conflicted and upset really but I realise that the choice may be taken out of my hands

I'd be aggressively job hunting tbh, and would make it my highest priority to get another retail job asap. It's usually not too hard to find another job in retail especially if you have managerial skills. This ship is sinking, it's just a question of when.

I would carry on TTC as long as I could manage on maternity allowance while on leave. Always start planning your exit strategy when a business starts struggling unless there is a robust turnaround plan. Don't just wait for the crash to come.

@Tippexy

I’m not particularly up to speed on the search functions and previous posts etc - I’m much more of a lurker than anything. If I’ve mentioned fashion retail in an earlier post this is again in order to be vague - the skills are transferable and not niche but the specific job role in the particular area I work in aren’t very common which is why I’m hesitant to make a change as I’ve said

You seem to be in denial that this shop is going to shut when everything says it will. You either take control of the situation and get another hopefully more secure job or sit in your comfort zone and wait for the shit storm to hit. Hope you can afford to live on one wage as you are taking a huge risk don't nothing.

You’re only on just over minimum wage at manager level - why are you so wedded to this role? You’d earn more money, and likely have better hours and more stability.

You’re right, it’s not up to you to feel responsible for a failing business.

No you have been very specific, I don’t think the skills are especially niche (it is fashion at the end of the day) but then again I don’t run that kind of shop!

I think you would be surprised though if you sent out some applications, you might be more employable than you think.

Meanwhile definitely continue with TTC.

It's a minimum wage job!! So come on, it's really nothing special to deliberate over

The products you sell make it a bit different, that's all....be it wigs/designer handbags/sari's/cultural items

It's retail.

A retail supervisor or managerial job will be higher paid and more secure....assuming security is what you are seeking when starting a family

I think you should at least update your CV.

@DianaPrincessOfThemyscira

My reason accepting such a low wage for my position is because I intended to work here for XX length of time to gain the insight into the industry so I could start my own business, the fact that I unknowingly took the job on when this particular business is struggling so much is forcing my hand and meaning I have to re-evaluate this, I’m not really at a point to start my own (DH thinks we could) so that’s another reason I’m hanging on I suppose