08-12-2012, 09:50 PM
I've never worked in a hobby shop but -- having visited them a lot and getting to know their staff -- I have some observations.
To some degree, the train part might become secondary as the business details will still need to be taken care of. For example, whether the business is about trains or computers or books, etc., you still have to plan your inventory, do your books and accounting. So you might spend most of your time thinking about business details rather than about the hobby. I think that could take some of the fun out of it but those areas are also the main responsibility of the owners, not the employees.
I basically frequently visit two hobby shops and I've made friends with the employees, moreso than the owners. The owners are usually too busy or are in & out, whereas the employees seem to be the real train enthusiasts who want to share & discuss the hobby. They're the ones who have layouts at home and who attend railway events, etc. At one of these shops, the main employee is quite a model train enthusiast and excellent repair & advise guy. I think he's one of the main "selling points" or attractions of the shop.
I'm sure there are pro's and con's to every side of business. If I had a chance to work in one, I think I'd pursue it!
Rob
To some degree, the train part might become secondary as the business details will still need to be taken care of. For example, whether the business is about trains or computers or books, etc., you still have to plan your inventory, do your books and accounting. So you might spend most of your time thinking about business details rather than about the hobby. I think that could take some of the fun out of it but those areas are also the main responsibility of the owners, not the employees.
I basically frequently visit two hobby shops and I've made friends with the employees, moreso than the owners. The owners are usually too busy or are in & out, whereas the employees seem to be the real train enthusiasts who want to share & discuss the hobby. They're the ones who have layouts at home and who attend railway events, etc. At one of these shops, the main employee is quite a model train enthusiast and excellent repair & advise guy. I think he's one of the main "selling points" or attractions of the shop.
I'm sure there are pro's and con's to every side of business. If I had a chance to work in one, I think I'd pursue it!
Rob
Rob
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