posted
It seems like I've been hearing a lot of people seeing the blues these days in our economy. At least around my area.
Personally, it's been a rough year for me as well. While I've been blessed with a good amount of work coming in, I've had my share of unexpected expense outlays lately that have me reeling.
I'm keeping my sense of humour and an upbeat attitude about things, but as I look around I wonder how other people are fairing with things out there.
I think it's becoming increasingly difficult to stay caught up with all the rising costs. (and yes, I do raise my prices ... within reason)
This month alone has been a doosey for me. I've been feeling abit like a hamster in a wheel here. haha A couple weeks ago, I had my hard drive crash, and found out my motherboard was toast too. I had to buy a new computer system and am going thru the long tedious task of reloading programs, attaching equipment, re-setting stuff, and well, all that good stuff. arg!
To make matters worse, I had not backed up my files for a year. Yikes! I will be sending out my damaged hard drive to a data retrieval lab to see if anything can be salvaged. Another chunk of change to add to the expense of all this for me. (any insight is invited from those of you who have walked in my shoes here)
I've been clobbered this month with homeowner's insurance, which of course has increased significantly since last year. Next month will be liability insurance, and next up will be Property taxes. Whah! (Thanks for letting me whine here)
I know things will get better, especially when I'm up and running in full force again. But this has been a challenging month for me, which has also provided me with some valuable lessons. (backup, backup, backup. hahaa.... among other things.)
On the flip side, I've had some time to regroup here, reorganize my office, and clean house abit.
In all of this I must stop to count my blessings thatbusiness is steadily coming in. It seems that money is going out lots faster than it's coming in right now though, and although it's got me alittle nervous, I'm confident things will all work out in the wash, as they usually do .....right? haha
How's business for all of you out there? Are any of you feeling overwhelmed too?
~nettie
-------------------- "When Love and Skill Work Together ... Expect a Masterpiece"
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Nettie, I am sorry to hear of your misfortunes. I hope things will soon be on the sunny side again. And hey, you look Mahvelous...so that's always a good thing! Two years ago I was in the worst financial shape of my life. I was panic-stricken, sleepless, couldn't stop worrying about money. I did get a "real" job for about 8 months, which was humiliating but neccessary. And somehow, sign work came back. I am not tooting my own horn because I have no idea why it happened, but the last two years I have doubled my previous year's income. I had to get a new mandatory public sewer tap-in which is $6K, but I applied for a grant, and they used my 2004 income ($19K) so I got it. I traded lettering for the tap-in ditch. Signs have not died off since January, fingers crossed. Our economy is much better in this area now. I have paid down my credit debt to $4K from $17K and paid off my house in the past 6 months. So I hope something good comes your way, too. like it did for me. Chin up! Love.....Jill
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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We're hurting here because of the construction dropping like flies. Half the places they build around here are not getting leased out and stand empty.
We are so far the highest ever in sales but we've barely had any work the last two months. I hope it picks up soon. This seems to be the consensus around here for a lot of shops.
Hang in there. At least we haven't had a hurricane yet!!
-------------------- Amy Brown Life Skills 101 Private Address Posts: 3502 | From: Lake Helen, FL, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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Just posted on the news that Michigan and Nevada have the highest foreclosure rates. A lot of my business is Real Estate agents and builders. June was unbelieviably busy. I couldn't keep up. Business is slow but steady again.
-------------------- Laura Butler Vision Graphics & Sign 4479 Welch Rd Attica, Mi 48412 Posts: 2855 | From: Attica, Mi, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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Janette, you might want to look in to an online backup service. They have gotten very secure and pretty cheap, and they keep your data backed up almost up to the minute.
quote:Originally posted by Laura Butler: Just posted on the news that Michigan and Nevada have the highest foreclosure rates. A lot of my business is Real Estate agents and builders. June was unbelieviably busy. I couldn't keep up. Business is slow but steady again.
I saw something just the other day on top ten cites in regards to forclosures. Memphis made the list at #10.
-------------------- George Perkins Millington,TN. goatwell@bigriver.net
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left"
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well that sucks that your hard drive crashed! i know that all too well. i bet you'll be able to recover your files if you sent it out. you'd be amazed what they can retrieve...it just might cost ya a little $$...but well spent for sure!
i was insanely busy in may, june and july. i haven't taken a whole day off since may, but i make sure i give myself a few hrs a day for hiking and mtn biking though. august has calmed down enough to almost be caught up but then the phone rings and my plans for a few days off seems to disappear. i know i'll be taking 2 weeks off in sept so i'm focused on that. my slower months are august & sept....then march & april. of course my router will be paid off by the end of year so i can only hope it continues to run after i write that last payment! aint it the way though!
[ August 23, 2007, 12:45 PM: Message edited by: KARYN BUSH ]
-------------------- Karyn Bush Simply Not Ordinary, LLC Bartlett, NH 603-383-9955 www.snosigns.com info@snosigns.com Posts: 3516 | From: Bartlett, NH USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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posted
We've been staying rather busy. We've also just expanded into the ASI stuff and should have our Logomall and website set up by the first of next week.
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Absolutly great, almost too good. Best few years yet. Turning away certain jobs, and only taking the ones I want. (a nice position to be in, I guess)
I have to admit though, it is getting a bit much, but like Karen said, I try to make some time to bike, hike, and walk the dog.
So sorry to hear about the computer problems. I am not a computer guy at all. I could barely operate software, let alone hardware. ha ha I back-up to a $100 external hard drive weekly, (daily if need be).
Time to take a deep breath, go for a quiet walk and have a cup of tea. Life is still good.
Keeping up the exercise?
Peace, Bob
-------------------- "The 3-4 minute mark of "Freewill" by Rush.
Bob Kaschak Artisan Sign And Design Peru New York Posts: 1874 | From: Upstate NY | Registered: Jul 2002
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Heck yes I'm keeping up the exercise Bob! Whaddaya think keeps me going? I figured I've been listening to people whine on here for 7 years now. So I thought I'd take my turn. haha
I'm really not all that down, ... just got thrown for a loop here with the computer thing.
Took the kayak out the other day. That was a nice retreat. Biking tonight if it doesn't rain.
posted
I sent this to nette but thought the rest might benefit from it.
I lost mine (HD) on July 3rd, still reeling from that ordeal. I got some software www.recovermyfiles.com and it worked! Best $70 or so I've spent in a long time. The best part is you can try it out before you buy so you aren't out anything. I recovered my photos, and regular work files. You can see (preview) most files to see if it is correct instead of gobledegookmumbojumbo like I had with some other recovery apps.
Best of luck,
-------------------- Brian Diver PDQ Signs Everett, Wa
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Never been busier. About time. Hit last years gross by May. Stumbled into a nice ongoing contract that should double soon. I had to hire a 2nd employee, and may have to look for a third one when the new contract comes in.
Lots of 3D work being booked for the new router. Yesterday got 3 new truck jobs and 2 more sign jobs.
Whew. Keep it coming.
-------------------- Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 sherwoodsign@sbcglobal.net Posts: 5397 | From: Crystal Falls, MI USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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posted
This is the first year I did not slow down after spring time hit. It is wonderful! No, I am not near as big as many of you, but I am so very happy.
Just this week, it slowed a bit & it is ok with me, I am trying to paint a personal panel for my brother, a cartoon of his 68 Ford truck he restored.
-------------------- The Word in Signs Bobbie Rochow Jamestown, PA 16134
724-927-6471
thewordinsigns@alltel.net Posts: 3485 | From: Jamestown, PA 16134 | Registered: Oct 2002
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posted
It's been pretty quiet the past month here but now I'm going out of town for the weekend, planning to leave Friday.. some time.. and we all know what happens when you plan a trip out of town!
It's even doubly-worse for me because I'm going to a jetski race, and that's where most of these "outta the woodwork" customers are heading too! There's also another race the following weekend over in Nashville so I've had last minute orders to get done for that one as well.
Then the first week of October is the World Finals jetski races so the whole month of September is usually busy. Then I spend October handling event photo sales.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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posted
This "year", if you can call 6 months a year , has been normal here.
Traditionally I was always twiddling my thumbs in the winter. Spring was busy (new trucks were arriving). Summer was so-so. Fall was always busy (budgets had to be spent before year end so that the following year's budget alottment was secure).
This year has been no different.
Unfortunately, someone else will be getting the easy pickings from the fall rush!
Fortunately, I will be working on my tan.
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
posted
I ride the roller coaster so many of us in this trade ride. I guess it's more of an emotional roller coaster. One day you are flying high because you make a 5 figure sale, then all the work gets too overwhelming and drags you down. One day last week I was laying in bed at 3am and could not sleep because I was thinking about everything that needed to be done at the shop. I got up and went to work. I figured if I was awake thinking about it, I may as well go in and do something. We have made some changes in how we go after sales this year and beat our best year ever in the first 6 months.
-------------------- Jerry VanHorn, Pres. Pure Sports Designs, LLC Pro Sign Design / United Wholesale Signs www.prosigndesign.comwww.unitedwholesalesigns.com West Liberty, OH 937-465-0595 866-942-3990 Since 1990 Posts: 925 | From: West :Liberty, OH | Registered: May 2004
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posted
Best year to date. It usually runs in streaks around here, but the slower months/weeks have been filling up nicely.
The work's becoming larger in scale and it looks like it's time for a bigger shop. Looking into the costs and contractors the last few weeks and hoping to break ground in the spring.
Rapid
-------------------- Ray Rheaume Rapidfire Design 543 Brushwood Road North Haverhill, NH 03774 rapidfiredesign@hotmail.com 603-787-6803
I like my paint shaken, not stirred. Posts: 5648 | From: North Haverhill, New Hampshire | Registered: Apr 2003
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quote:One day last week I was laying in bed at 3am and could not sleep because I was thinking about everything that needed to be done at the shop. I got up and went to work. I figured if I was awake thinking about it, I may as well go in and do something.
I have done that lots! Love....Jill
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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posted
This has been a bad year here for us. Lots of busy work, but I don't appreciate busy work like I did when I was younger. I'm more interested in making money than being busy, and we're running about 12% behind last year in the profit margin. 2005 was my best year ever, and I'm about 18% behind that pace.
I had a hard drive crash a while back. I sent it off to a place called Hard Drive 911 in Minneapolis. They are also located in LA and San Francisco. They did a pretty good job. About 90% of the drive was recoverable. Cost was just under $600......D'oh!!
The business I am working for is closely tied to new housing starts so everything is FINE! Peachy......even Ducky!
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I was starting to really get into this site but have gotten too busy to even lurk. Seems these business ups and downs are common to most everyone here. All we can do is seize the opportunities when they come along. And of course seize the summer vacations and fairs.
-------------------- Frank Smith Frank Smith Signs Albany, NY www.franksmithsigns.com Posts: 807 | From: Albany, NY USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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