Bicycle Salesperson Profile
Straight out of high school I was faced with the opportunity of purchasing my own bicycle shop in outer Melbourne . I had always been involved with cycling since I was young, however not at a competitive level, but I still held a keen interest in the sport.
I decided to enter the industry without knowing entirely how much effort is involved. Acting as manager, the shop was involved in the retail, service and repair of bikes so the hours were fairly extensive because I ran the place by myself. Often after working a full day I would head home and still have a heap of paper work to sort through – it was simply too much.
I guess this was a huge step, however I decided to minimise my involvement and decided to sell the business. But my passion for cycling still lingered and I knew this is where I wanted to be heading. Before too long I was offered the chance to work as a salesperson within a bike shop, and the opportunity was far too good to pass up. So I was finally on track to where I wanted to be.
The work I do
Currently I work in a bike shop located in inner Melbourne . Regularly I undertake the repairs and removing/refitting of bike tyres and wheels as well as providing the odd mechanical repair.
I am also responsible for carrying out a range of retail and business operations. Specifically, these duties include sales, establishing customer relations, handling problems/queries, carrying out cash and credit transactions, merchandising and promoting business operations and services.
My workplace
I work within a big workshop, with a lot of areas for a number of different tasks. It’s great having a lot of room as it lessens the pressure. Also one of the best aspects is there isn’t any clutter, we have separate areas which relate to mechanics, sales, servicing etc. So the workplace in terms of set-up is pretty good.
The guys here are great value; they are pretty relaxed and everyone has a great time each day. It makes things a lot more enjoyable when you have a group of guys who want to be where they are and are working towards a common passion.
Education and training
Following the completion of my VCE, I entered the industry immediately.
So a wide range of what I know now has stemmed from simply learning on-the-job.
However recently, with the offering of the qualifications that recognise
acquired skills, I have since completed my Certificate III in Bicycles
(Sales).
>> course/qualification
Why I love this industry…
This industry is something I know, and something I’m comfortable with. I know bikes inside out so it’s pretty easy for me. I come to work and its not a major stress, and I’m always learning new things which provides the ideal challenge.
I also love meeting new people everyday that come in with various problems. I love the problem-solving element, sometimes you solve the challenges, sometimes you don’t – but there is always something new to learn.
In the future, I would definitely consider opening up my own shop again. I think given the extra couple of years of experience I have gained since my original attempt, I believe I would be in a much better position, plus the good money to be made is always an excellent incentive.