newsagent

[Sarahbilotta]

what qualifications do i need to be a newsagent?

[Sammy Snake]

None - just buy / lease a newsagent's shop and away you go.

It is very hard work, one of my friends bought one a few years back. It was fun at first but the novelty soon wore off. Getting up at the crack of dawn for the papers - even Boxing Day and New Years Day, no getting drunk Christmas or New Year's Eve! Shoplifters were in on a daily basis and even getting reliable staff who could keep their fingers out of the till proved difficult.

You could get a manager in or employ someone to open up in the morning but you always end up doing it when they are on holiday or off sick so you never escape the early mornings! You could even find yourself doing a paper round at 6:00am (like I did on many occasions) when a paperboy doesn't turn in.

[flip-flop]

You need the ability to stifle loud guffaws when a dirty old man comes in to buy his jazz mags!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Harry Nuttal]

Insomnia.

[tobeloy]

COMMITMENT.....Patience and lots of it, I used to own my own convenience store, up at 6am to open for 7 and not finishing till after 10.30pm....if you cannot afford to employ someone then it becomes your life and it is seriously hard work...plus as previously said you have to put up with thieves, abuse,moaning customers, etc...etc and hardly any social life....if you have an understanding family who could help then it may just be a success but believe me its not easy....good luck if you are thinking of going for it

[Eastender]

I had a paper shop one, and it blew away............