This is topic Need a break! in forum Old Archives at The Letterville BullBoard.


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Posted by Kevin Landry (Member # 1352) on :
 
A question for the group. Do you ever close the shop for a week? We both need a recharge and are probably going to close for a week. It isn't peak season anymore but the work is steady. We don't run a home shop either and have heard pros and cons for it. We haven't really taken any time off for quite a few years now. Any advice???

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Kevin Landry
KnL Signs
Halifax NS
knlsigns@hfx.eastlink.ca
 

Posted by Bob Rochon (Member # 30) on :
 
I'll be closing next week for a much needed vacay.

All I can say is, once you do it, you will see how much is does for you

T H E R A P U D I C

I always come back recharged and ready to go!

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Bob Rochon
Creative Signworks
Millbury, MA
bob@creativesignworks.com

"Some people's kids"



 

Posted by Glenn in Williams Lake (Member # 2162) on :
 
Hi Kevin
I left employees in charge of the shop when I went on vacation. I discussed it with the one who would be in charge and set her up with all the help and support she would need including an ex sign shop owner, and a contact # for me. But in the end I found that she did not care enough to use the help supplied. Next time I will close the shop, because it will not cost me as much. She charged me for all kinds of overtime,and even came in on the stat holiday ( I close for all stats) just to work on "some stuff". Well I paid her well over a grand as well as having to pay the other support staff, for a grand total of $250. in sales.
Nest time I come and visit you in Nova Scotia, my shop will be closed.

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Glenn Thompson
Tell-Tale Signs
Williams Lake, BC
digital@telltalesigns.bc.ca
 

Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
 
Kevin...GO FOR IT! Life is too short to have your business running your life.

As you know, we close up for a whole month in the winter, and last january there were only 13 phone calls on Call Display for the month when we got back, and only 2 of them were from folks that we knew..the rest were "unknown name". Only one answering machine message in that time period, and it was from a friend who called a little too late to say Bon Voyage.

One thing we DO do though is get in touch with our regular customers a couple of months in advance and let them know that we will be closed and that is appreciated and usually stimulates some last minute work before we leave.

I also leave a message on the machine saying that I will be checking my e-mail daily from the laptop, so they can get an immediate response from me if they wish to.

Man if ya work all year and can't take a break for at least a week, you may as well be working for someone else...at least they HAVE to give you the manditory 2 weeks of vacation time each year.

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Dave Grundy
AKA "applicator" on mIRC
"stickin' sticky stuff to valuable vessels and vehicles!"
in Granton, Ontario, Canada
1-519-225-2634
dave.grundy@quadro.net
www.quadro.net/~shirley
 

Posted by Pierre St.Marie (Member # 1462) on :
 
I can ohly speak for our shop, of course, but our Architects and Generals don't stop ordering because we need a vacation. We have too broad a client base and the daily demand isn't going to wait for a week. My kids are old enough now to keep things going for a few days, but a week in any month other than January isn't going to happen for us.

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St.Marie Graphics
& Makin' Tracks Sound Studio
Kalispell, Montana
stmariegraphics@centurytel.net http://www.stmariegraphics.com
800 735-8026
We're chiseling every day of the week! :^)



 

Posted by Rosemary (Member # 1926) on :
 
I happen to know that he's wanted a break for a long time. All while we were growing up he'd constantly tell me and my brother, "WILL YOU KIDS GIVE ME A BREAK?!?"

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Girls carve too!
Behind every good Woman, there's a man.............waiting.

http://www.stmariegraphics.com


1911SRs and Paul Reed Smith Bass Guitars!
 

Posted by Heather Moodie (Member # 1417) on :
 
Kevin,
By all means take a vacation! You will probably find that your customers are very understanding. I let my good customers know in advance that I will be closing, so if they have anything that HAS to be done, hopefully I can do it before closing. Last summer I closed for two weeks because I had the opportunity to visit your beautiful corner of the world-N.S. Usually I take a week in the summer and put a message on the machine as to when I will re-open. Surprise, no-one seems to have gone elsewhere. Believe me, you owe it to yourself. Actually, I think myself & hubby will come to N.S. next summer.
Enjoy yourself!!!
Heather Moodie
Scott Signworks,
Perth, Ontario, Canada

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Posted by VICTORGEORGIOU (Member # 474) on :
 
Here's a two part answer for you.

First, it should not hurt a one or two person business to shut down for a while if it is done right. You know your client base and have a pretty good idea when nothing is happening.

Second, always give your regulars advance notice. They will plan around you if they know what you are doing. Your vendors, for instance, give you notice when they are closing for inventory, and you plan around thrm. Giving notice tells your clients you are a dependable person, and that is the image you want to convey. Vic G

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Victor Georgiou
AnchorBlanks.com
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=1520990
Clipart CD's & FONTS
Designer Sign Blanks
 

Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
 
mine does it for me some times...dont got no work....might as well go fishin....hehehehehehehe

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joe pribish-A SIGN MINT
2811 longleaf Dr.
pensacola, fl 32526
850-944-5060
BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND


 

Posted by Kevin Landry (Member # 1352) on :
 
Thanks for the advice everyone. I have informed my most important clients. We are going no matter what happens. (Of course, something or someone will try to interfere.) See ya in a couple of weeks.

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Kevin Landry
KnL Signs
Halifax NS
knlsigns@hfx.eastlink.ca
 

Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
 
TAKE THE TIME OFF!

1. Inform you regular clients when you will be closed
2. put a message on your answering machine, that you are on vacation and will be back on XXXXXX
3. Paint a sign,to stick in your window, saying "on Vacation, back on XXXXX"

AND go out and enjoy yorself!

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Si Allen #562
La Mirada, CA. USA
(714) 521-4810
ICQ # 330407
"SignPainters do It with Longer Strokes!"

95% of all accidents occur immediately after the words "Hey...watch this."

Brushasaurus on Chat

Gladly supporting this BB !
 

Posted by The Moon (Member # 452) on :
 
But on that sign in the window of your shop announcing to every burglar in town that you will be gone for week... let them know that the Gaurd Dog is running the shop while you're gone! (But he's not very good at painting so they might want to come back when you return.)

...or the Candid Camera guys have taken up residence in the back while they shoot film of the idiots trying to break into the shop that's closed for a WEEK. (Video Cameras On)

The back home from the big city side of the Moon

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The Moon
aka: Stefenie Harris
Moonlight Designs
Pollock Pines, CA
learnin' somethin' new every day!


 

Posted by Adrienne Pereira (Member # 1046) on :
 
Heck, not only do I take a week off now and then...I took a whole MONTH off!!!!!!
Not only that, but I encouraged other weary Letterheads to blow off and have a little fun too!!!
Go for it Landry's!!!!!
A

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Adrienne Morgan
Splash Signs
"Wherever you go...there you are!"
www.splashsigns.com
"Rainkatt'on chat

Benicia, CA
707-550-4553
heyu@splashsigns.com

[This message has been edited by AdrienneMorgan (edited July 25, 2001).]
 



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