Yellow pages list five different trophy companies in Tulsa. If you don't have a non-disclosure or non-compete claus in your employment agreement, talk to your competitors and see if they'll make you an offer. Lots of times they'll want you, not only for experience, but for your client book. If you can bring them enough business to pay your salary, then it's a win win.

http://www.superpages.com/yellowpage.../S-OK/T-Tulsa/

I looked it up, and it says my position average salary is $15 an hour. Starting pay...nice to know lol

Don't limit yourself to trophy shops. There are lots of places someone with creativity and decent Corel and Photoshop skills would be useful. Print shops, advertising agencies, newspapers, magazines, etc.

we haven't given our staff raises on about two years either. As a business owner, it isn't always about "were doing well as a business". You may do 3-6K per day as a business, but depending on the overhead, if the company isn't growing, but rather just the same as the last two years, then giving a raise to you is taking money right out of the owners pocket. I never understand where the staff at my office thinks raise money comes from. It doesn't grow on trees. If the office revenue didn't grow, and I give raises, then my take home goes down. Yeah, that seems fair.

You are correct. This place isn't profiting enough. I think it's just keeping its head above water actually. However that isn't my fault. I do everything there as far as the actual work that comes through the door, and we do a lot of work. I am very efficient with my work. It's really easy to screw up product when you're engraving a lot of various text. We SHOULD be making a lot of profit, but like I said, it's run inefficiently. We have people on the payroll that don't contribute nearly enough, if anything. There's no management from my dad. Sorry dad, but you just aren't cutting it lol.

The point is, I think it's time to put myself out there and see what happens. I've grown complacent. Burnt out. Sick of the problems every day with orders not getting written up right, or scheduled improperly. Lost orders. It's just a nightmare a lot of times. Which is a shame. It could be a great place to work. 10 years is a long time. Started here when I was 18.

I'd like to get my own house someday. Even if it's a crappy house. Maybe....maybe...start a family. I don't know. I know people have done that on less than what I make, but I should at least check out what opportunities are around.

I'd certainly put yourself out there. Being at a place for 10 years and being only 28 years old makes you a pretty attractive hire as long as you have a skill that the employer is looking for.

Yeah, my wife got a 20% pay cut recently (though they've already bumped back 10% after a few months). The economy is tough, and if the company can't provide raises, they can't. But the OP needs to go ahead and put himself out there and try to find something better.

I'm just unsure how my skills here will translate to somewhere else, barring another awards place. I don't really want to work at another awards place tbh. Between a rock and a hard place?

you can obviously use those devices you mentioned. Is that the only thing they are used for? Perhaps looking into a graphic design type job or school?

Update for anyone that cares (nobody probably). My dad (the GM) hired an outside dude to come in and be his assistant manager. This guy used to work here before I did, which was about 12 years ago. He only worked here for a year or two. Now keep in mind, I've basically been keeping this place afloat for years now. I've never truly been a "manager" but I've been in charge of the place really. I opened and closed, and the past few months when we were busy, I was working 10-12 hour days almost 7 days a week, sometimes up here by myself.

So now I have this guy here who thinks he has authority over me, even though he really doesn't. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets paid more than me. I've been trying to get a raise for the past 3 years to no avail. So instead of promoting me to this "assistant manager" position and making the new guy take my duties of laser engraving, it's the other way around. I feel god damn betrayed. By my own father. I guess just because....the new guy is older? I don't get it. I need a new career opportunity.

Get two more minimum wage jobs. Should work out fine.

I'd be looking elsewhere.

Sounds like you have an external locus of control.

Tell him you're out.

Have you ever sat down with your Father and expressed these thoughts to him?