Monday,

[Jim Bremner]

Monday will be an odd day for me. I've worked every day since I was 16. I was out of work for a short time in the early 90's and other than missing 3 weeks of work ( I still took phone calls) when I broke my back.

Monday I will not go to see customers nor drive to my office. I will be looking for work.

If you told me this two years ago I would ask you if you're on crack.

I've made a few mistakes. I also have had some devious underhanded vendors take advantage of me,

I'm frustrated. I've taken the high road when I could have screwed people. I've sent customers their checks back when they've doubled payed.

Now it's time for me to find out what I will do for my last 20 years of work.

Monday.

[tweezers74]

What happened, Jim?

[Jim Bremner]

I've owned my own company for 8 years and have been a manufactuarers sales rep for 20+ years.

Two of my vendors decied to sell around me and cut me off.

My Landlord has treated me wel and has released me from my lease. I paid off ALL of my debts to everyone and will need to find work.

[lendaddy]

Jim,

I feel your pain. I did the same thing, I cashed in my 401k to pay my companies bills (dumbest damn thing I ever did) and worked 80-90 hours a week without a raise for a decade... Ended up losing everything after 20 years in. I am 4 years removed from it all and have the benefit of hindsight now. If you want to talk PM your number.

In the short term, know that this is not as devastating an event as it seems to be. Inhale...exhale.... you need not do anything else for a couple days.

[Jim Bremner]

Lendaddy, Thank you, and yes I do remember. I have a project that I'll be working om and I think that it has major potential.

[pwd72s]

Jim...wishing you the best.

[Mrmerlin]

good, now your at a crossroads , you can go in any direction you choose easily.

I hope that your path will reward you for walking with integrity, it usually does and more.
Good luck to you and your future pursuits

[GWN7]

Companies do this all the time. They use independent sales reps to build their customer base. When it is maxed out they no longer need you or it becomes a numbers game when it is cheaper to put a salaried (company) rep in your place instead of paying you your commissions.

I had a company that I started to work for. Small minimum orders. 10% commission. Payed 30 days after shipping. Great product. Easy sell. Really nice people to work with. Owners decided to retire and sold the company to a guy in 30's. He sold the machinery to China and the building and land to a developer. I heard he made 10X his investment. Put me and another 100 or so people out of work.

Your a salesman, you will find something else to sell.

[Oh Haha]

Hang in there Jim. Our world was torn apart 4 years ago when my company decided to sell off their business to a competitor. Although I went to work for the new owners they laid me off after 3 months.

I was out of eork for about a month before I was hired at my current employer.

4 years later I am back in a similar position of management.

Your marketable skills are most likely better than mine, based on what you've shared with us here. I think you'll be fine. It just may take some time.

[asphaltgambler]

Jim, if you care to say, what industry are you in?

[911SauCy]

Originally Posted by GWN7

Companies do this all the time. They use independent sales reps to build their customer base. When it is maxed out they no longer need you or it becomes a numbers game when it is cheaper to put a salaried (company) rep in your place instead of paying you your commissions.

I had a company that I started to work for. Small minimum orders. 10% commission. Payed 30 days after shipping. Great product. Easy sell. Really nice people to work with. Owners decided to retire and sold the company to a guy in 30's. He sold the machinery to China and the building and land to a developer. I heard he made 10X his investment. Put me and another 100 or so people out of work.

Your a salesman, you will find something else to sell.

He wouldn't be around to reap his investment benefits...

[Jim Bremner]

I've been in the bicycle biz for 28 years. I'm raising capitol for a patent right now on a garbage disposal. I do need to earn money for day to day living. I've sold well over 100 Million in Bicycle goods in my life.

[Aragorn]

Sorry for your misfortune. Hope your patent works out. Is it a possible candidate for kickstarter?

[tevake]

It does come as a shock when circumstances turn against you like this. Especially when you know that folks that you have worked with to every ones advantage, have turned against you and helped to cause you harm. But, that will be their Karma to work thru.

For you at this time there are your skills and experience and contacts to fall back on, coupled with the knowledge that you have acted with integrity and decency. And can move forward to whatever is just around the corner for you free of guilt or other burdens that would impede your progress on the new paths to opportunity that I'm sure are lining up for you.

Often when one door closes another even better situation is there waiting for you. At least for those of us that are able to stay POSITIVE and FORWARD LOOKING to see and recognize the chance for new opportunity..

All the best, Richard

[mattdavis11]

Hang in there Jim, good things come to good people.

Recently, I was laid off. I was recruited to expand business with a new product in highly competitive market for my last employer. It was a franchise, but I was brought on board with corporate backing my salary initially, later 100% franchise comp. Sales went through the roof the first year, the second year growth was 100% over the first. After the second year, a local manufacturer of the product folded tent, in the third year a competitor shut down their expansion program after just two years. Another competitor, who had a 30 year strong hold in the area, was closing warehouses and had very little product remaining at their last location. We were on track to grow another 55-60% in unfavorable conditions (competitor liquidation and mother nature) before the plug was pulled. To add insult to injury, the last domino, the aforementioned competitor, fell two weeks later. I was the only field sales rep., covering about 1/5th of Texas.

Corporate had terminated our franchise agreement, leaving everyone unemployed. I was called by the new owner that evening with an offer. I haven't decided, but two of my former co-workers jumped on board. An offer has also been made by anther franchise owner in Houston who I have assisted, and enjoy being around, in the previous years.

It's very hard for me to accept the idea of working under the same (corporate) umbrella. They had never seen such growth with any of their other locations (200 or so), nor the intellectual insight in a market. Our franchise had the knowledge of how to annihilate the competition and it was successfully implemented.

Betrayal.

Sorry for the rant.

I really feel for you, Jim. Best wishes.

[Jim Bremner]

Originally Posted by Aragorn

Sorry for your misfortune. Hope your patent works out. Is it a possible candidate for kickstarter?

Once the patent is done I might think that way. It's a billion dollar industry with only 6 players in it. If I could get 10% of the market I would be happy!

[Hugh R]

Hang in there Jim. I've been in your position a few times in my life and almost always ended up in a better position.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Jim, you are obviously a man with talent and integrity. Short term loss, long term gain. You will land on your feet.

[bell]

What about your own shop? Or is that what you had? On the retail side....
A life long friend has a thriving bike shop in Ohio and had been doing very well.

[9dreizig]

Jim, if you can sell you'll always be able to find a job.. you just need to figure out what you want to del next..
Good luck.. !!