REDUNDANCY ONE YEAR ON!

Exactly one year ago today I was delivered the news that my role was being made redundant. The news was totally unexpected and right before Xmas it wasn't exactly great timing.

It was hard to swallow because my category was pretty much the best in terms of YOY sales, the range looking better than ever, marketing mailers looking fresh, in store displays looking sharp and innovative, new suppliers/products coming on board and making huge savings. I was kicking ass for the business and easily paid for my salary for a year in the time I was there. I thought I was safe given all I'd achieved but it just wasn't meant to be.

So I dusted myself down and started the job search and enjoyed Xmas time with my young family. The search was tough, I updated my CV, spoke to lots of recruitment specialists and even made a CV video and posted it on here. I had the most intense recruitment process with a major supermarket (7 stages!) and thought the role was mine but it just wasn't meant to be.

Safe to say nothing came of it at that time and it didn't seem any jobs were right for me or I wasn't right for them. So I decided to make my own job and become my own boss! This is where I set up Geyzr LTD a HMRC approved drinks wholesale business. I got one of my pals to design the logo (which I'm super pleased with and would love to put on a product one day), signed up to some accounting software and I was pretty much off with just my laptop, phone and a few newly printed business cards.

I can safely say that setting up a new business is bloody tough though!! The bank doesn't help you, can't get credit with suppliers and the drinks market is so tough in terms of margin you make it feels almost pointless at times. However, I found my various niches and sold well over 5,000 bottles of Veuve and many other beers, wines and spirits products which sky rocketed turnover into the hundreds of thousands. All of my business was new business too which I'm super proud of. I reached out to old contacts, asked for deals better than ever as I'd had to convince new customers to pay proforma (which no one likes) and never turned my phone off (still don't). It wasn't easy but I thrived off of the challenge to get a sale, source products better than ever and provide for my family.

It wasn't long before what I was doing wasn't going unnoticed by some of the major distributors, brand owners and other key players in the industry. I even ruffled a few feathers at some major business about how well I was sourcing products and was able to offer the prices I did. Through one of my new connections I was offered the chance to talk to DMD about a full time role as Head of Buying & Trading. Safe to say it was perfect and the deal on the table was too good to turn down for me and my young family.

Today I look back at the business I was in and so brutally made redundant from and realise that being given the push was an absolute blessing in disguise. I've realised that I can push myself outside of my comfort zone and speak to business owners and buyers confidently and win new business and make new connections. I've hit the ground running with my new employer and I can see the vision for the future of the business and it looks super bright. However, I also want to make sure I offer something back to those who are facing redundancy or going through it and be available to chat and offer advice and help where I can. Please call me if you think it will help. It's tough to understand at the time of redundancy but things will get better and your future will become more prosperous if you want it to! Keep your chin up and keep moving forward, talk to people, you don't who they know or how they might just be able to help you.

All the best and remember winning is about thinking one step ahead!