I of course have the same problems as everyone else. bookkeeping(I totally suck at) keeping bils paid, cleaning. rearangeing, inventory etc all the same problems. I do mostly repair so profit can be a bit better. I live in an area where people have money, a most people dont have money. the ones with money are cheap and try to haggle on everything you do. the ones that dont have money have ya do a job but dont come and pick it up or some type of excuse. or they have ya make something whine that its to much and can get it at walmart cheaper. those are the fun ones. but in the end i get paid. the transition from working to leatherworking shop full time was kind of by necessity or just had to much invested in it anymore to be a hobby. i was running a bar and restaurant and lost my butt on it. I figured if i can lose my butt on something that i did for short period of time I can get by or make money on something i know a lot about. so here I am in a shop that if i didnt own id be closeing the doors but because i dont have rent expense Im getting by. winter months just about kill me but summer i go 7 days a week. in the shop when im not at a show(bike rallys all summer). If i had to rely on shop solely i dont think id make it. If it werent for the shows I wouldnt be this far. Its advertising for me. I get a reutation for my work which brings them to the shop. this is going on my 4th yr here in shop/store 5th yr in town as a business, im finally seeing a little profit going. its a slow go but im not in any big city, but some of my customers do. I draw people in from 200+ miles away(bikers). It is overwhelming sometimes being the manger,employee and manufactuer but i enjoy it. plus at my age in this economy no one would hire me. Im way over qualified for most jobs around here which there isnt to many. and having the ol man working his job we squeak by. Its a slow go but i enjoy the people(most) and never a dull moment. the things people want when ya have a leather shop lol.