I've worked in bike shops. If you're on your own it's really hard to balance getting the work done, generating new work, answering the phone, giving customers enough time to make them feel welcome/valued etc etc. You're completely at the mercy of whoever walks in: friendly chatterer who wants to talk about their life in cycling, angry nobhead who tries to tell you the price of stuff, average faffer etc etc. It can be a frustrsting tightrope on a busy day, processing people and work. I also used to run the shop rides - to which all abilities were welcome. I spent a lot of time trying to be encouraging, but wishing i could just get home.
I now work as a wheelbuilder. People can visit the workshop by appointment and we point customers towards email rather than answering the phone, which makes for a much more focused, productive and profitable day.
I now work as a wheelbuilder. People can visit the workshop by appointment and we point customers towards email rather than answering the phone, which makes for a much more focused, productive and profitable day.