posted
No "paying" work being done here either Ray.
But I am happy to be doing a few projects for charity's that we believe in here.
-------------------- 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
Everything is slow right now.The Art business is all but deceased. But now is a good time to build a stash of things valuable to the future. I do a lot of charity work here in my neck of the woods with churches needing auction items and such. As well as local museums, the city and schools.
Jack
-------------------- Jack Wills Studio Design Works 1465 E.Hidalgo Circle Nye Beach / Newport, OR Posts: 2914 | From: Rocklin, CA. USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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posted
So the stimulus is not really working as they told us it was?
-------------------- Len Mort Signmaker1.com 11 Juniper Drive Millbury, MA 508-865-2382 "A Good Business Sign, is A Sign of Good Business"(1957) Posts: 811 | From: Millbury, Ma | Registered: Dec 2006
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posted
The good news is that I heard on the news that the government officially declared the recession over in Canada. A recessions is officially when there are negative figures for two quarters in a row... and we've turned the corner here by a whisker apparently.
I'm sure ready in Yarrow...
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
It's quiet at my shop and for the first time in I can't remember when, I don't have any looming deadlines. Still lots to do though and if I do run out of work I have a "wanna do list" that dates back about ten years. I'm enjoying the lull!
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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posted
Last weekend was the Artisan's Festival here in Nevada City. Several of those I talked to said that they were doing surprisingly well, and that they also sold a lot of work at the Open Studio Tour which was over two weekends last month.
I am very grateful that I am fairly busy due to the fact that I do things other than pinstriping and lettering..... computer graphics and photography for printed materials.... and also fabrication and machine work for hot rods, motorcycles and homebuilt airplanes....It really helps to be versatile these days !
-------------------- Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to dance in the rain ! Jim Moser Design 13342 C Grass Valley Ave. Grass Valley, Ca. 95945 530-273-7615 jwmoser@att.net Posts: 488 | From: Grass Valley, Ca. | Registered: May 2006
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posted
Actually busier than heck here. No doubt it will slow down after the first of the year, it did last year really bad, but since about April or so of this year, Ive been constantly busy. Im so very thankful for it too, as I know for other parts of the country it has been slow. Its not just me either. I have some friends that run a tshirt shop, and they are smothered with work.
-------------------- Maker of fine signs and other creative stuff. Located at 109 N. Cumberland ave. Harlan, Ky. 40831 606-837-0242 Posts: 4172 | From: Ages-Brookside, Ky. Up the Holler... | Registered: Jul 1999
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posted
Life is what you make of it as well as money comes to those who make money come to them.
The above are two of my favorite sayings in my reality and can honestly believe this to be the truth.
Or lets all have a pity party for those who truly believe that todays government is at fault for our business slump and everything that has gone wrong are from todays leaders and not yesterdays. Oh yes, lets put all blame on someone other than ourselves and not accept our responsibilities as it easier this way. Surely our prices do not have to be adjusted for todays economy but our talents should be.
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
posted
Sometimes I wish I was back a decade in time when I was much slower and more methodical.
These days where everything is second nature, I knock most jobs out in as much time as it takes to load, cut, weed, stick... or mark prime, coat and finish.
Time goes much slower when you get faster and the work is done - out of the way and nothing behind it to start.
-------------------- Gregg Sydney Signworks (02) 9837 1198 Schofields NSW Australia Posts: 368 | From: Schofields | Registered: May 2007
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posted
Well, true to form, I'm outta step. We're not exactly real busy but our work flow has been better than it has in years. We are up at least 25% over last year. I have to credit a lot of that to working weekend events and bike night...getting the name out there. Got a guy bringing a set of BMW tins to stripe today who got our card at a bike night. Lettered two hot rod trucks last week, one of the guys got a card at a mc event.
I feel for those that are slow...I know all too well what it's like when the phone doesn't ring.
-------------------- George Perkins Millington,TN. goatwell@bigriver.net
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left"
quote:Originally posted by Joey Madden: Oh yes, lets put all blame on someone other than ourselves and not accept our responsibilities as it easier this way.
Its the American way anymore. I feel like my generation has been raised (for the most part) that nothing is our fault as long as there is someone with more money we can sue. That its not my parents fault if I become a deranged criminal, its video games and society's fault.
It saddens me personally. This country would be so much greater if people simply took responsibility for the things that happen to them.
-------------------- Dan Beach Cylinder 9 Designs 1650 Glassboro Rd Sewell, NJ 08080 Posts: 625 | From: South Jersey | Registered: Sep 2008
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posted
Its an odd phenomenon for sure. We're well aware that we could go down too. I found out yesterday that yet another shop will fold in our AO as a number of them already have. Community Organizer Obama has set a series in motion that will eventually affect us all, and though Si and I view our surroundings from our lofty Ivory Towers........... the Towers are getting ever shorter.
At the moment we're facing another series of rather large projects, and I hope another few we've bid on will materialize in the spring.... but......... the CO might kill the new ones anyway. One of our bigger ones (for us) is a Hospital project that went dead in the water after Gov't funds were withdrawn. $85,000.00 ADA Int and Ext signs gone in a CO penstroke.
Here's hoping that the Community Organizer doesn't bring any of Letterville's best to their knees. If it happens, we'll probably eventually be kneeling right there beside you. And reading a few of the above, if you think that you can generate business from good thoughts about a rapidly emptying bucket...... I hope you can live on your postitive thoughts.
P
PS...... My Granddaughter Scarlett Lyn won this year's Costume Contest and $100 at the County Fairgrounds. Latigo did the graphics and Rosemary did the costume. She and Paul dressed as chefs wtih the tall hats et al.
[ December 01, 2009, 10:10 AM: Message edited by: Pierre St.Marie ]
-------------------- Pierre St.Marie Stmariegraphics Kalispell,Mt www.stmariegraphics.com ------------------ Plan on knowing everything before I die and time's running out! Posts: 4223 | From: Kalispell,Mt 59903 | Registered: Mar 2000
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posted
Scrolling down the board and reading posts it became apparent that there are far fewer enquiries on "how to", or "how do you" than I ever remember seeing. This seems to be one of a few things. Either there aren't enough jobs, newcomers seeking help, or the entire collection of sign makers became magically well educated in all aspects of structural signs, mounting and methodolgy. Somehow I doubt that its the latter.
P
And somehow I feel better after reading your comment, Raymond. heh.........
[ December 01, 2009, 11:02 AM: Message edited by: Pierre St.Marie ]
-------------------- Pierre St.Marie Stmariegraphics Kalispell,Mt www.stmariegraphics.com ------------------ Plan on knowing everything before I die and time's running out! Posts: 4223 | From: Kalispell,Mt 59903 | Registered: Mar 2000
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posted
The government has a funny way of consoling us with figures.
I look at it like this:
My business is down 50% for past year.
I heard on the news that business is up 3%.
So now my business is doing 53% of what it was doing?
That ain't helping!!! HAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!
-------------------- Michael Gene Adkins The Fontry 1576 S Hwy 59 Watts OK 74964 Posts: 845 | From: Watts, OK USA | Registered: Jun 1999
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posted
Well Michael, you are too negative a person to be in this business. If your sales are down it has nothing to do with the economy or the government, it is what you make of it.
Try starting to think good positive thoughts and take the sage advice of those here that have achieved so much.
How's that, did I parrot the pollyanna, rose colored glasses, can do spirit good enough?
-------------------- Wright Signs Wyandotte, Michigan Posts: 2785 | From: Wyandotte, MI USA | Registered: Jan 1999
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posted
My summer was better than last year, still not up to average, but things died for me about 2-3 months ago.
I don't completely buy into it being all my/our fault that work is not there. Just look at how many postings in this thread are showing slowdowns, it can't be all of our faults for no work.
I often wonder when those with "Rosey Glasses" say we are to blame ourselves for not having enough work, do they have the same competition in their area, are they in an area not hit as hard when the economy tanks, etc.?
I'm not saying I am not at fault for the lack of jobs, but I know it's not all my fault things are slow.
-------------------- David Thompson Pro-Line Graphics Martinsville, NJ
I'm not this dumb, it's just the paint fumes talkin' Posts: 397 | From: Martinsville, NJ | Registered: Oct 2001
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posted
If your MO hasn't changed then how could it be your/our fault? Look at the huge numbers of retail stores closing nationwide. As soon as I get back to Lost Prairie I'm going to post an interesting link in the thread. Its a simple progressive map showing stats Nationwide.
How can anyone think that the CO having given away so much of our money on completely wasted bailouts, the banking industry would have either confidence or money for small businesses? The majority of sign shops here and otherwise depend on small business growth. Without that continual growth we have no projects.
No, its not our fault directly, but we're the ones who put these people into power and the failure of the small business sector is the result. Noramlly I'd say "go find unusual projects to do until it turns around". Not this time, gang. We haven't even seen the beginning of this one. I feel very badly for my kids and you younger folks that are either at the beginning or were in your golden time for sign development and production before the CO, the banks and the special agenda people brought it all to a halt.
If nothing else, maybe this is the time to retrain yourselves into signmaking and related areas that you'd never considered. Expand your options........ just in case I'm wrong...... and I hope I am.
P
-------------------- Pierre St.Marie Stmariegraphics Kalispell,Mt www.stmariegraphics.com ------------------ Plan on knowing everything before I die and time's running out! Posts: 4223 | From: Kalispell,Mt 59903 | Registered: Mar 2000
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During the Great Depression ( in the 1930s) sign shops were always doing well!
It is true that there is much more competition in this business now...but there is plenty of work for us out there. It is a matter of going out and finding it.
When was the last time that you saw a new business about to open, or saw a sing that needed repair or refurbishing... and went in and introduced yourself?
Unless you have a unique specialty or are famous...time to get out and hustle.
-------------------- Si Allen #562 La Mirada, CA. USA
(714) 521-4810
si.allen on Skype
siallen@dslextreme.com
"SignPainters do It with Longer Strokes!"
Never mess with your profile while in a drunken stupor!!!
Brushasaurus on Chat Posts: 8831 | From: La Mirada, CA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
"When was the last time that you saw a new business about to open,"..........
Good question, Si.
P
-------------------- Pierre St.Marie Stmariegraphics Kalispell,Mt www.stmariegraphics.com ------------------ Plan on knowing everything before I die and time's running out! Posts: 4223 | From: Kalispell,Mt 59903 | Registered: Mar 2000
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posted
Not sure what this recession thing is, yesterday, I striped a car, 200% over last month, I'm doing good according to stats...
-------------------- Frank Magoo, Magoo's-Las Vegas; fmagoo@netzero.com "the only easy day was yesterday" Posts: 2365 | From: Las Vegas, Nv. | Registered: Jun 2003
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posted
Si, truth be told our (not particularly wanted) real estate sign orders are temporarily booming, but they've all said the same thing. This is a short lived hoorah for real estate signs. If none of the properties or businesses sell we won't be seeing any new sign orders by early in the year.
P
-------------------- Pierre St.Marie Stmariegraphics Kalispell,Mt www.stmariegraphics.com ------------------ Plan on knowing everything before I die and time's running out! Posts: 4223 | From: Kalispell,Mt 59903 | Registered: Mar 2000
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posted
the biggest problem i see, is the wholsale diminishing VALUE of produced sign work. in the great depression.........SIGNS HAD TO BE PAINTED....now, some dumb kid with a $23k printer his daddy or grandparents PAID FOR.......is selling the work produced at $2-3 a sq ft!!!!!!!!!!!! and in tough economical times......WE ALL WANT TO PAY LESS........ and the buying public.....HAS NO LOYALTY to anyone. you can try all you want to put this economic failure on the now administration, but you are so wrong. this downward spiral was in motion, 10-20 years ago..........IT JUST NOW HAS HIT BOTTOM!!!! do you remember when everyday you checked your mail and had 15 CREDIT CARD COMPANIES wanting to give you a card?? and now how many of those cards you got have jumped INTEREST RATES TO 29.99%? even after GEO BUSH IN 2007.......started the BAILOUT MONEY. PLANT YOUR GARDENS, GO KILL SOME MEAT.......GET A WOOD STOVE.......BUY A 4 CYL CROSLEY.....and you can weather the storm.
[ December 01, 2009, 02:38 PM: Message edited by: old paint ]
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Am I hallucinating, or did OP just make sense? Took me a few readings to translate, but there's a lot of truth there. All the time spent learning to do whatever the hell it is I do just doesn't seem to count for much anymore. That said, it might not be so far-fetched to put on a pair of Dan's rose-colored glasses and make some lemonade.
Don't get me wrong - I don't want to lose all my well-earned skepticism, but if the glass is half full/empty, it's still the same so why not just choose to view it positively?
Easier said than done, but I'm trying. Anybody want another beer?
-------------------- www.signcreations.net Sonny Franks Lilburn, GA 770-923-9933 Posts: 4115 | From: Lilburn, GA USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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As in: I'm pretty much positive my business is down 50%!!! The figures don't lie.
(and would a negative person type this: HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!)
-------------------- Michael Gene Adkins The Fontry 1576 S Hwy 59 Watts OK 74964 Posts: 845 | From: Watts, OK USA | Registered: Jun 1999
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posted
When politics and religion are spoken, all commonsense goes out the window.
Michael Gene Adkins, WHO NEEDS MORE FONTS? you're not the only font business in a slump or down the tubes from what I've heard.
Just brushing 3/8" high Script, Black text or Block letters doing monograms have made me more money letter for letter than most anyone I've ever heard from on this BB in all the years I've been here.
Now that I am retired I can look back at the good times and visit with people who understand true values of life and not just look towards the false economy we've experience in the past ten years. I hear complaints of persons who cannot pay their bills while driving newer vehicles they are still paying for plus all their credit card debt. Living and not knowing how to live are two different things and maybe I would be in the same boat if I hadn't seen this coming years back and I mean years. You want to run politics by me than that's your trip but life is truly what you make of it
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
posted
I don't think that there are many (if any) who actually think it is the individual's fault. That being said you can cry in your soup or figure out how to get as far out of the hole as you can. I think if you read the positive posts without a "poor me" predjudice you'd find that most of them are made in the spirit of encouragement and contain some darn good advice. People's opinions are just their opinions. Take what you need and leave the rest.
So here is my little blast of sunshine, for those of you who are allergic, get out your umbrellas. We live in parts of the world where we have everything we need and a whole lot extra that we don't. Life could be a WHOLE lot worse!
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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posted
About twenty five years ago, I was all stressed out about not being able to pay my bills until I read of two fourteen year olds in El Salvador who were kidnapped from their village and then brutally murdered because they wouldn't take up arms for some rebel movement. I thought, "I'm worried about money and how I'll pay the bills. Others are wondering if they'll be alive tomorrow. Compared to them, I don't have any problems at all."
Life is tough for many right now but we all need to keep things in perspective.
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5084 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
I'm always Positive and happy, and out doin' things.. and not ****in and moanin'... I been to hell and back in my life... so now every days a good day! Life is what you make of it. Joey puts it in a good perspective.. Life is coming at you... so look and plan ahead.. don't look back, just get busy..get crafty and live within your means
-------------------- Gonzalo Curiel Peewee Signs & designs Oroville Ca 95965
Go outside, yell at the top of your voice " Man, it's great to be alive". Then, just in case you aren't laughing at yourself... do it again only louder. Laugh at yourself and tell yourself what a fool you are, yelling out like that.
Listen to the wind blow, watch the surf roll in or simply watch the clouds pass from one side of the sky to the other.
When you have done this, consider the enormity of this great world of ours, and how insignificant we mere humans are. Whether we are here or not, the wind will still blow, the surf still roll in, and the clouds continue on their merry way.
Happiness comes from within. Too many focus on what they do not have rather than what they do have.
I have seen MANY MANY happy people who have absolutely nothing but their happiness.
What a joy they are.
Cheers.
-------------------- Gregg Sydney Signworks (02) 9837 1198 Schofields NSW Australia Posts: 368 | From: Schofields | Registered: May 2007
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posted
I was thinking about replying to this for a while and I'm glad others stepped in to put a positive spin in it. Sure things are bad. But they could be a lot worse. And guess what, there's a plenty of blame to go around too.
As I get older, I'm learning more and more that money isn't everything. Although business is slower than usual, I'm actually thankful for it - especially around this time of year.
Since business is slow, we managed to "sneak away" for a short trip to go visit with family. Although we didn't stay in fancy hotels or spend lots of money, we got to visit with those who are most important than us.
Think positive and be thankful for what we have. And, not just during the "holidays", you should do it every day.
Havin' fun,
Checkers
-------------------- a.k.a. Brian Born www.CheckersCustom.com Harrisburg, Pa Work Smart, Play Hard Posts: 3775 | From: Harrisburg, Pa. U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
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