Just wondering if any other Canadian shops are feeling any effects from the strengthening Loonie?
I have been noticing that clients who were, in the past, very active are now pulling in their horns. I am refering to Canadian trucking companies and Marina operators near the border. They can't give the great deals they used to to US customers any more, since the Loonie is getting closer and closer to par.
Any comments or thoughts?
Posted by david drane (Member # 507) on :
Dave, I am surprised that the Canadian $ is strengthening as the Aussie $ has been up for quite some time against the greenback but just in the last 3 days it has slipped substantially. I noticed this morning that oil is dropping slightly too, but wether or not that has anything to do with it is beyond me.
Posted by Jon Aston (Member # 1725) on :
Dave:
This and a quarter won't buy you a cup of coffee, but the Canadian dollar has been trending upward against it's US counterpart for at least 5 years. My sense is that many exporting companies (and probably including some of your customers) got a bit complacent when our dollar was soft...got a bit addicted to easy money...when they could have been investing in technology to drive efficiencfies and productivity, and/or spending a little something something extra to strengthen their position in the US market. They've had plenty of time to plan ahead. But, like most of us, they needed to feel a little pain before acting. Or, worse, maybe they're still acting like a deer caught in the headlights.
The US exchange is just an excuse, in my view...and there's still time for them to smarten up. Seeing as fleet advertising is about the most cost effective form of advertising known to man, NOW is the time for them to be spending money with you. Not scrimping.
Posted by Duncan Wilkie (Member # 132) on :
It sure makes it easier for us to order from our manufacturer in Reno. It was pretty rough with a .70 dollar... sheesh! Hopefully our local suppliers of sign supplies and materials will feel the relief too and hang back on price increases.
Posted by Jon Butterworth (Member # 227) on :
Last time I went to North American our dollar was worth 56c US! Man, that hurt!
Now we just about par with Canadian Posted by Jon Jantz (Member # 6137) on :
Jon, you'd really be in trouble in the Cayman Islands.... we complain there because our U.S. dollar is only worth 80 cents Cayman....
Posted by Jon Butterworth (Member # 227) on :
I'm still dreaming of Mexico in the early 70's when you could really live on a "Dollar a day" !!!!!!!
It really depends on what your "Dollar" will buy. At the moment Canada looks very much like what we pay here for gas, food etc.
I shudder to think of Europe and their 'Euro' Posted by Randy Campbell (Member # 2675) on :
1973 I was dating my wife who lived in NY and I got 10 cents on my dollar.
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