At the risk of sounding "Dan-esque"(sorry Dan..couldn't help myself!!! ) Business has been booming around here!!! How are things going for all of you folks this month?
I'll start by saying that the first few months of the year were good, October really sucked (I think I wrote 3 invoices in Oct.), November ended up being a fairly good month and now December is, after only 4 days in, shaping up to be the best December ever!!!
I hope everyone else is having a great "end of the year"!!!
By the way... Dan is the eternal optimist, I hope to grow up to be like him some day!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Chuck Churchill (Member # 68) on :
December is going to be great! Just wrote the invoices for one big client for three large jobs that we finished over the past week. Today I received the contracts from another client that is the largest order we have ever received. Over 200 signs for a group of office buildings. And the best part is all the work has to be completed before Christmas and paid for before the end of the year. Also have several other clients that are making the phone ring and the fax machine run with purchase orders.
Now if I can only find some good people to do all the weeding, assembly and installation parts.
Posted by Kissymatina (Member # 2028) on :
November bit the big one here. I figured December wasn't going to be any better, it would give me time to experiment.
Yesterday I did a georgous brand new firetruck (if I were male, a certain body part woulda grown a lot!) they've referred me to another fire department so I stopped to talk to the guy that handles their trucks on my way back. Not only is that dept buying a new truck, but this guy has a garage & is buying a new tow truck too. Had the contractor working on the shop asking me about truck lettering today. Only 4 days into the month, it's looking to be a pretty good one.
Yeah, I'm feeling sorta Sawatsky-ish too. Posted by Amy Brown (Member # 1963) on :
Past few months we have been our busiest to date. Still coming too!! Yippee! Posted by Janette Balogh (Member # 192) on :
yes, it's been a good year!
December is good too. I'm feelin' downright jolly!
Nettie
Posted by Laura Butler (Member # 1830) on :
Nov. was the slowest I've had in 3 years but Dec. has started good. I have passed my 2003 goal and may make my 2004 goal. I just landed a big job for 6 park signs and did a small bus today. We are working on a 5'x8' doublesided sandblasted HDU that I need to get done by opening day-Dec 15th. This one is going to real tight as we can't sandblast at the shop and its going to be REAL cold to do it at home. Certainly helps to pray.
Posted by James Donahue (Member # 3624) on :
Dave, what type of work is it? Are the jobs related to the season or end of year?
Janette, You're new picture is really something! Regardless of what kind of mood I'm in, it makes me smile.
Out in California, I knew a gal that ran a window splash business with 4 painters full time, and her only means of advertising was a small signature and phone # on the splashes. I've been here 10 years, and don't recall getting a single call from the number at the bottom of my window jobs... until yesterday. Surprise, surprise, surprise.
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
I sincerely don't post my positive posts to bug folks or brag... I just have to share my passion for this crazy biz and what I'm involved in or I'd explode! Hopefully my posts will inspire others to chase their dreams too.
But since you asked Dave...
Business here is booming! The mall contract was extended to bring us home a week late. Now I'll probably never catch up.
Today I went over to Parksville, Vancouver Island for a meeting to start our new project there. I walked into my client's office and as he shook my hand he handed me a big check as a deposit without me even having to ask for it. (my kind of client!) The site meeting and preliminary layout only lasted a few minutes before he and his partners were happy and it was time for me to get going.
The project proves to be a great one as far as creative freedom and we will build the bulk of it in the nice warm and well lit shop out of the weather. Gonna be fun!
The client insisted on buying me lunch to top off a great start of a project that will take us into May.
May is already booked back at the Mall. And other projects wait patiently in line after that...
-dan
[ December 05, 2003, 12:45 AM: Message edited by: Dan Sawatzky ]
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
Dan..I do enjoy your posts!!
James, none of my work is actually seasonal, unless you count boats and even then the majority of them are done in the winter and spring while still in the shop after a paint job.
It seems that a lot of my clients are upgrading their fleets or adding to them this year.
Posted by KARYN BUSH (Member # 1948) on :
december is one of my busiest months anyway...but it will probably beat last years which was my record month....between the ski areas with tons of stuff and another contract that's going to be changing their logo in the spring, and my normal customers i'm completely out straight...i wish i had full time help right now!
Posted by Jillbeans (Member # 1912) on :
Hi Dave! My business is fast enuff not to worry about bills and slow enuff so I can browse Letterville. (May is usually my best month) I am sure I will get some last-minute magnetic orders from frantic housewives for their hubby's Christmas gifts...I always do, and of course some XMAS TREES signs! Happy Happy Joy Joy! Love- JILL
Posted by Lotti Prokott (Member # 2684) on :
It's been a good year, with no real lows. I have been "collecting" some big orders with a spring deadline. No worries here about what to do with all the winter months. I'm really comfortable with the speed at which things are going right now.
Posted by ScooterX (Member # 2023) on :
my summer was dead slow... and now everybody is trying to squeeze five months of orders out of me in two months. for the first time i'm having to worry about TOO much work . (too much meaning i'm having trouble keeping up with it, and i'm concerned that the quality is beginning to suffer). still, i'd rather worry about too much than too little.
i was hoping to do a few holiday window splashes, but i haven't had time. i'll get to them in january...
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
Our year has been the lowest in a long time. It seems like someone just turned off the faucet in October, 2002. Our gross is down 40% from last year. The last three months have been almost nothing.
But...the Monday after our Lone Star Letterhead meeting the phone started ringing and the gates seemed to have opened up. Certainly, it's not going to be enough to make up for the past year, but it seems that December will be the best month in 2003.
Mark Yearwood (in Oklahoma) and I had an agreement to pray for each other after we spent several phone calls crying on each other's shoulder. I guess it worked because his business started to pick up at the same time. Hey, maybe there is something to that praying!
Posted by Donna in BC (Member # 130) on :
There's no shortage of work for me. I can't keep up with the workload as is. I really do need to work more to get caught up soon. One day. Posted by Rick Beisiegel (Member # 3723) on :
Our November was like everybody elses...it sucked pond water, (no offense Cam). But December ROCKS so far. December 1, we landed the largest contract ever for us. Yesterday, a good client called me to say we are doing his 25 new trailers over the next 3 weeks. December is traditionally slow for us, but it's already looking up.
Hey Dave, thanks for askin'
Regards!
[ December 05, 2003, 12:53 PM: Message edited by: Rick Beisiegel ]
Posted by Bill Diaz (Member # 2549) on :
We're always busy, Dave. Almost 25 years of non-stop work. It took me a few years to get that way, but we've been on a roll ever since. I've tried to stay diverse and regional. When I'm under 2 weeks worth of work, I tell people I have no work. We've been extremely lucky . I keep thinking it's going to end soon. I'm probably too busy to be on this bb, but I think it's fun and I gravitate towards what's fun.
Posted by John Martin Robson (Member # 1686) on :
Dave
December is shaping up to be a pretty good month for sales....$1600.00 to date & another $4600.00 on the board....and that doesn't include a bunch of stuff I have to do for one of the Diamond Mines or anything else that might come down the pipe this month.
Last year my December sales were $80.00......I was pretty messed up though.
I think I'm even going to take at least a week off and finish the downstair bathroom.
[ December 05, 2003, 11:07 PM: Message edited by: John Martin Robson ]
Posted by Joe Endicott (Member # 628) on :
Just busy enough. Makin' the weekly goals, and going home on time. Posted by Jon Butterworth (Member # 227) on :
The year as a whole is way way up on last years figures. Down a bit in March (trip to USA) and again in October (Cairns Letterheads with an extra week sightseeing). But when yer gotta go, yer gotta go and unfortunately I don't collect holiday pay
"Silly Season" ... Xmas cutouts, although down on last year, are still worthwhile. The regular work has kept us busy enough. I just like doing them.
But the cream on the cake is two big Mural projects due to start anyday this month. By 'start', I mean fat deposit checks before I start final drawings and full on planning. One is a whole town. Stage one involves a major mural on a brick wall and 25 "sepia" historical panels to go in windows down the main street. The other biggie are 3 concrete water tanks (3200 sq ft). My friend RT is booked to come down from USA to help me out next month with that one.
AND, it's been raining solidly for two days now. Liquid gold!!!! Farming region. Been in a drought all year. Rain means growth ... money ... spending ... economy booms!
Next year is going to be awsome!!!
Posted by Kimberly Zanetti (Member # 2546) on :
I just wanted to let all of you know that this post made me smile. After seeing my dad suffer through a lifetime of the ups and downs of owning your own sign biz, I know how nerve-wracking it can be. You all seem to be having a GREAT December.
Happy Holidays to you all.
Posted by Camille Norvaisas (Member # 501) on :
For me this year keeps getting better as it goes along. In Nov. I got one big account and 2 big trucks to letter - it seems I've been busy since. I think it's because I'm spending more time in the shop - glad to see most of you are doing well too.
Posted by Peter Schuttinga (Member # 2821) on :
October was a real slow month, nose picking time. November I got a big project to work on, which I just finished this weekend. One of my other customers had his van re-arranged and once it's out of the body shop I'll be re-doing it next weekend. (I did this one less than a year ago). Also have a website to get going on. Helped my folks move into their new house, and have offered my brother a hand in building his house (foundation is in already). December is going to be nuts, and I'm loving it.
Posted by AdrienneMorgan (Member # 1046) on :
December is always my biggest time of the year, of course.
This year, with my van being down and having to work out of a Dodge Neon and with my Mom being so ill...it's been the smallest amount of windows I've ever done in 16 years.
I'm in California and was hoping to get some calls off my windows, but so far nothing.
Maybe next year I'll be able to put more effort into getting more work lined up.
A:)
Posted by DONALD THOMPSON (Member # 3726) on :
I have been really busy the last couple of months which has been great. I just got back from USSC and had a fantastic time. I got to meet some new friends and hangout with some old ones. What a way to start a month.
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
) Business has been booming around here!!! ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Had the contractor working on the shop asking me about truck lettering today. Only 4 days into the month, it's looking to be a pretty good one.