Struggling to step back
Discussion
I am still very much hands on in my bespoke furniture business;
Meet the customer, do the designs and costings, do the drawings, help with manufacturing and installing.
Due to a pretty major car crash a couple of years ago and recurring physical problems I am doing less and less hands on work - averaging 40hrs in the workshop and another 20 in the office.
I have a receptionist/showroom lady who does invoicing in and out and an accountant for the wages, vat etc.
I have a good team of 4 lads, 3 old apprentices that have stayed on and a new apprentice and the most experienced is slowly taking over stock control, and managing the workshop.
I am just stuck as to what to do next, ideally I would do even less physical work and be more office based.
I also have a kitchen showroom where we buy in and sell on and would to focus on this, I just can’t seem to let go.
I have been off today as we fitted a 200kg island top yesterday and I couldn’t get out of bed this morning, if I carry on I am going to do myself some real damage.
Any advice?
Meet the customer, do the designs and costings, do the drawings, help with manufacturing and installing.
Due to a pretty major car crash a couple of years ago and recurring physical problems I am doing less and less hands on work - averaging 40hrs in the workshop and another 20 in the office.
I have a receptionist/showroom lady who does invoicing in and out and an accountant for the wages, vat etc.
I have a good team of 4 lads, 3 old apprentices that have stayed on and a new apprentice and the most experienced is slowly taking over stock control, and managing the workshop.
I am just stuck as to what to do next, ideally I would do even less physical work and be more office based.
I also have a kitchen showroom where we buy in and sell on and would to focus on this, I just can’t seem to let go.
I have been off today as we fitted a 200kg island top yesterday and I couldn’t get out of bed this morning, if I carry on I am going to do myself some real damage.
Any advice?
Do I enjoy it - sometimes yes, but less and less.
The business isnt worth anything without me and probably worth less than i have put into it. Also none of them are at a stage that they can do it all themselves - and they dont have the cash too.
I take a decent wage and we are not exactly struggling, i just feel like i am stuck and if something doesnt change i will grow to resent it.
The business isnt worth anything without me and probably worth less than i have put into it. Also none of them are at a stage that they can do it all themselves - and they dont have the cash too.
I take a decent wage and we are not exactly struggling, i just feel like i am stuck and if something doesnt change i will grow to resent it.
Get a good sales person, bespoke furniture may be a bit rarer but there’s no shortage of high end stuff around. Then you can do the designs, and anyone the lads can do the rest, and come to you if they really need help with the manufacturing.
Either step back now, or sell.
What will happen when you’re dead? It will either adapt or go under
Either step back now, or sell.
What will happen when you’re dead? It will either adapt or go under
Quick update, after talking to a lot of people and getting some great advice - come the 1st July I will be fully office based, operating from our showrooms.
I have promoted one of the lads to be an official workshop manager and he will be running the workshop day to day.
I will be in the workshop for an hour or less every morning to check progress and sort any larger orders required, until it gets to a point where the workshop manager is capable of this as well -I don’t want to overwhelm him initially.
Over the past few weeks I have dropped out of manufacturing and been getting more back office processes sorted, also got my quote turnaround time to 24hrs or less.
I am very nervous but it’s all in my head, I was on holiday last week and they completed all works and more and for the first time in a long time we are ahead on projects.
The showroom lease is up in March 2019 so will strive to get kitchen sales up to target before Christmas, and if we don’t succeed then we will seriously consider closing that side down and putting the savings into expanding the manufacturing side.
I have promoted one of the lads to be an official workshop manager and he will be running the workshop day to day.
I will be in the workshop for an hour or less every morning to check progress and sort any larger orders required, until it gets to a point where the workshop manager is capable of this as well -I don’t want to overwhelm him initially.
Over the past few weeks I have dropped out of manufacturing and been getting more back office processes sorted, also got my quote turnaround time to 24hrs or less.
I am very nervous but it’s all in my head, I was on holiday last week and they completed all works and more and for the first time in a long time we are ahead on projects.
The showroom lease is up in March 2019 so will strive to get kitchen sales up to target before Christmas, and if we don’t succeed then we will seriously consider closing that side down and putting the savings into expanding the manufacturing side.
Blakeatron said:
Quick update, after talking to a lot of people and getting some great advice - come the 1st July I will be fully office based, operating from our showrooms.
I have promoted one of the lads to be an official workshop manager and he will be running the workshop day to day.
I will be in the workshop for an hour or less every morning to check progress and sort any larger orders required, until it gets to a point where the workshop manager is capable of this as well -I don’t want to overwhelm him initially.
Over the past few weeks I have dropped out of manufacturing and been getting more back office processes sorted, also got my quote turnaround time to 24hrs or less.
I am very nervous but it’s all in my head, I was on holiday last week and they completed all works and more and for the first time in a long time we are ahead on projects.
The showroom lease is up in March 2019 so will strive to get kitchen sales up to target before Christmas, and if we don’t succeed then we will seriously consider closing that side down and putting the savings into expanding the manufacturing side.
Nice one. Sounds like you have a plan - stick to it!I have promoted one of the lads to be an official workshop manager and he will be running the workshop day to day.
I will be in the workshop for an hour or less every morning to check progress and sort any larger orders required, until it gets to a point where the workshop manager is capable of this as well -I don’t want to overwhelm him initially.
Over the past few weeks I have dropped out of manufacturing and been getting more back office processes sorted, also got my quote turnaround time to 24hrs or less.
I am very nervous but it’s all in my head, I was on holiday last week and they completed all works and more and for the first time in a long time we are ahead on projects.
The showroom lease is up in March 2019 so will strive to get kitchen sales up to target before Christmas, and if we don’t succeed then we will seriously consider closing that side down and putting the savings into expanding the manufacturing side.
Blakeatron said:
Quick update, after talking to a lot of people and getting some great advice - come the 1st July I will be fully office based, operating from our showrooms.
I have promoted one of the lads to be an official workshop manager and he will be running the workshop day to day.
I will be in the workshop for an hour or less every morning to check progress and sort any larger orders required, until it gets to a point where the workshop manager is capable of this as well -I don’t want to overwhelm him initially.
Over the past few weeks I have dropped out of manufacturing and been getting more back office processes sorted, also got my quote turnaround time to 24hrs or less.
I am very nervous but it’s all in my head, I was on holiday last week and they completed all works and more and for the first time in a long time we are ahead on projects.
The showroom lease is up in March 2019 so will strive to get kitchen sales up to target before Christmas, and if we don’t succeed then we will seriously consider closing that side down and putting the savings into expanding the manufacturing side.
Sounds like a decent plan. It’s what I would suggest having seen my dad struggle to step back.I have promoted one of the lads to be an official workshop manager and he will be running the workshop day to day.
I will be in the workshop for an hour or less every morning to check progress and sort any larger orders required, until it gets to a point where the workshop manager is capable of this as well -I don’t want to overwhelm him initially.
Over the past few weeks I have dropped out of manufacturing and been getting more back office processes sorted, also got my quote turnaround time to 24hrs or less.
I am very nervous but it’s all in my head, I was on holiday last week and they completed all works and more and for the first time in a long time we are ahead on projects.
The showroom lease is up in March 2019 so will strive to get kitchen sales up to target before Christmas, and if we don’t succeed then we will seriously consider closing that side down and putting the savings into expanding the manufacturing side.
You need to invest into people and grow them into managers and take a leap of faith in trusting them. If it doesn’t work out, find out why, adjust and try again, as it’s the only way to relinquish responsibilities.
You have to accept some things won’t be as good as you could do them, but you simply can’t do everything.
Good luck.
FunMeterAMG said:
You need to invest into people and grow them into managers and take a leap of faith in trusting them. If it doesn’t work out, find out why, adjust and try again, as it’s the only way to relinquish responsibilities.
You have to accept some things won’t be as good as you could do them, but you simply can’t do everything.
Sound advice. You have to accept some things won’t be as good as you could do them, but you simply can’t do everything.
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