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Business around here until recently has been next to dead.
How is market doing in your neck of the woods?
We just hired an outside saleperson on the hopes bringing in more profitable jobs.
The local franchise shops have been at each other with one price war after another. It has really destroyed what used to be bread'n'butter jobs.
Many of the land developers around here have begun to order their signs from "wholesalers". It seems that one of the franchise shops let the cat out of the bag (so to speak) and now a lot of the sandblasted and specialty signs we used to do in-house are gone.
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Glenn I have been slower than a turtle going uphill.
picking up a bit but not enough, we had a local shop close up and move out of town. I'm sure most are giving stuff away, I have given deals too, but they are made aware of it. I'm just focusing on my mission trip now and when I get back, I'll be in high gear.
-------------------- Bob Rochon Creative Signworks Millbury, MA 508-865-7330
"Life is Like an Echo, what you put out, comes back to you." Posts: 5149 | From: Millbury, Mass. U.S. | Registered: Nov 1998
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Finishing up a sandblasted job this week then I'm dead again.
Glenn, how did you find the sales person? I've been considering trying to offer someone commision or something to help me out. I can't pay a salary though.
Hope it picks up soon. My husband got his layoff letter last week. Worked at the company 16 years and they are closing up. We've got until March 31 then we'll be very poor!!
-------------------- Amy Brown Life Skills 101 Private Address Posts: 3502 | From: Lake Helen, FL, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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Busy as hell here.. but lots of small stuff.. Keepin the staff busy weeding..
Got one repair job but its too dam cold to get to it. its down to 30's today and 27 tomorrow... How do the yankees live like this?????
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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Last December was the worst month since 1978. November wasn't much better.
We contacted the Employment Security Commission late November. A lot of companies in the surrounding area are closing up or moving, so the labor pool has been getting bigger (thankfully in a warped sort of way). I just found out yesterday that our town's second largest employer is moving because of our towns new storm water fee. The fee is in response to the demand about the recent flood situations. The problem is that the fee is so high that some companies just can't afford to pay it and stay in business. Standard Commercial was being charged in excess of $100,000 per year. They packed up and moved to another town 15 miles away. We also got word that the Firestone plant is going to be laying off a bunch of workers.
After about a dozen applications, we found someone who had been in sales for several years. We started her at $450 per week for the first month as training pay. At the end of four weeks, her pay is cut down to about $100 per week plus a 15% commission on the "net profit".
The first two weeks, we've had her do nothing but work with the production staff so that she could get an understanding of what we do and how we function.
Last Thursday, we had her start making cold calls. The idea we hit upon was to call and ask if we could send an information packet to them and then later call back to make an appointment to meet with them to see what we could do to help build their business. On her fourth call, she got her first sale. It was only a $1200 order, but it was a start.
The information packet that we are putting together includes the two flyers I posted several months ago, some sample decals, a catalog, and (in some cases) a free t-shirt or cap.
It will be interesting to see how things work out.
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We are near dead. I had my designer only work 14 hours this week and that was too many. In Dec the phone was absolutely dead and so far Jan. is almost like it. A few calls coming in for quotes but the vinyl is getting dusty. I have had bronchitis and was going to leave early today. I told my husband that I could leave and not miss a call. Ha Ha.
-------------------- Laura Butler Vision Graphics & Sign 4479 Welch Rd Attica, Mi 48412 Posts: 2855 | From: Attica, Mi, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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We are buried in work...and we do all custom work. The people are willing to spend the extra for our type of work. The economy is good here. All the vinyl shops are busy also.
-------------------- Jackson Smart Jackson's Signs Port Angeles, WA ...."The Straits of Juan De Fuca in my front yard and Olympic National Park in my backyard...
"Living on Earth is expensive...but it does include a free trip around the Sun" Posts: 1000 | From: Port Angeles, Washington | Registered: Jan 1999
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December was zip. I was waiting on a 250 piece custom home sign project that never came until (you guessed it) Jan 3rd.
Then the flood gates opened:
11 transit busses & 6 lanscaping trucks added to the normal work flow. I was so slammed I took on 2 part timers for the week (one with her own sign business who has no work due to the weather for dealer striping and boat lettering) to get me out of the jam.
The cold snap is on it's 3rd week here with another one on the way, so there are 10 boxes full of truck lettering to do. I have been able to use the weather as an excuse to get caught up.
When I do, I'll call and borrow a heated garage and finish them.
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Hi Glenn.....nice to see you around again. Last summer was the slowest summer I have ever had in 27 years. However it has gone crazy since October and I love it! I will get my mojo working for you ....hope things pick up soon!
Posts: 3729 | From: Seattle | Registered: Sep 1999
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i had the busiest month i ever had in december...january is pretty good so far...alot better than last year this time...we didn't have much snow last year...i'm sure it will be slow next month..which will give me some time to learn artcampro software and the cnc router more. i have some decent projects to look forward to come april. gosh, it's so hard to predict...i'm just incredibly grateful when i'm busy...being only one person helps...one good project can bog me down for days! no complaints...but hey in this business you never should get over confident.
[ January 24, 2003, 08:46 AM: 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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I'm completely buried here. I do wholesale for several other shops in the area and with them selling for me it helps. I've been turning away smaller jobs because there just isn't enough time in a day.
-------------------- Dennis Goddard
Gibsonton Fl Posts: 1050 | From: Tampa Fl USA | Registered: Apr 2000
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Here in Northern Mich things have been slow !! Frist part of Jan. of this yr I quoted as much as I had made last yr. hope this is a good SIGN of things to come !!! living here in tourist world things are tight yr. round but i think the slow econ. had sunk the lowballer shop in town !! every thing he has quoted he can't come through on now and they are calling me . when you go by his store front he is never open anymore !! I have heard that he had give up the house he was renting and is living at the shop ! couple of his customer that have come to me and told me his plan was to lowball me right of biz . sorry for his luck ! here is his idea of pricing an 18 x 24 allum. four lines of copy (vinyl ) 15.00 bucks !!
My plan was to stick by my guns and listen to all the you great letterheads advice! and it worked !!
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I've discovered that if I work slower, it always can look and feel busy! I can psych myself into this frantic scenario and create emergencies to divert myself from getting things done or discovering what I'm doing. This works very well until the payments are due.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6724 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Last year as a whole was down from usual. The last 2 weeks have turned around completely. I am swamped ! I am going to try and put out aprox. $2500 worth of warehouse & parking lot signage for Monday and get in at least 6 hours of snowmobiling tommorow ! ya know, all work and no play....
-------------------- Dan Vanderknaap Atlantic Autographics Scoudouc NB Posts: 43 | From: Moncton,New Brunswick, Canada | Registered: Dec 1998
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We are very busy, most here ae working 50-60 hours, we hired two freelance designers, even the intern works late, gonna stay this way till near the end of the year, unless something catastrophic happens.
Rick
-------------------- Rick Chavez Hemet, CA Posts: 1539 | From: Hemet,CA U.S.A. | Registered: Jun 2001
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GLENN, YOUOUGHT TO CHECK OUT ALL THE DIRT TRACK RACERS DOWN THERE IN CAROLINA,THERE BUILDING NEW CARS NOW AND NEED DECALS.I DO A TON OF EN UP HERE IN MARYLAND. MOST CUSTOMERS ARE MAIL ORDER,WHICH MEANS THEY APPLY THEM.I HAVE CUSTOMERS IN OHIO, IOWA,PENN..ALSO YOU CAN SELL EM A 2 PACKAGE DEAL[there going to crash} and you can layout your cuts and save time and vynle.my jobs are 650.00 up.then there is there rigs and pit equipment. its worth looking into if you need work.
Y/Y = +12% If sales remain the same this year I'll be more than happy, although I fear I've reached market saturation. My focus now will be to maintain sales (we've gone through 4 years of rapid growth) while lowering costs.
-------------------- Mike O'Neill
It has yet to be proven that intelligence has any survival value. - Arthur C. Clarke
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Business here has been very slow. Not much on the big jobs. Lost 3 big trucking companies in the last 9 months because they went under. A local packing plant filed chapter 11 and stuck 3 of my last big trucking outfits with 500k of unpaid loads...so you know where I sit. But I have a meeting with the Highway Dept. Monday. So you never know what is going to fall into your lap next....
-------------------- 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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I've been ridiculously busy, and am finding people are spending a lot more than usual on the full packages that I'm offering - logo, web, print, brochureware and some lettering thrown in as well. The landscaopers, especially.
Most of the Jersey crew out here is rocking as well.
"Some are born to move the world, to live their fantasies. But most of us just dream about the things we'd like to be." - Rush Posts: 1192 | From: Washington, NJ | Registered: Feb 1999
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I've been steady here, and every time I think it might be getting slow, more jobs come in. Slow is less than 10 jobs backed up. Lately, a few semis, a couple of pick-ups, some racecars scheduled, a firetruck, and numerous signs. Oct. was a bad month for me, but it has picked up since then. I'm still payin' the bills on time! And the kids are still gettin' supper! lol I think the fact that all my work is custom helps me here. Not to mention the fact that I am very determined and "keep the faith!"
Be Humble, for you are made of the Earth. Be Noble, for you are made of the Stars!
-------------------- Kristie Byrnes Paintbrush Graphics 6126 Big Cut Rd. Mt. Carroll, IL 61053 rugbyrnes@hotmail.com (563) 357-7614 Posts: 90 | From: Thomson,IL | Registered: Dec 2002
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I have been unusually slow for the past 2 months. I think I have figured out why, or at least I hope I have.
I spent 3-4 months project managing a house renovation from July to September, and caring for my daughter every weekday morning. In addition, I went to Mars this year, right in the height of my busy season…………….so.
Coupled with the fact that December & January tend to be the slow months, I’m just now feeling the fallout from my own business neglect, due to the fact that I was busy tending to other matters………..Essentially what I have done, is distanced myself from my existing clients, who in turn tend to bring me new clients. When you add all this up………….its no wonder that I am slow.
I figured this out after a lengthy discussion with our friend “ScooterX” who helped me come to this conclusion………Its not always the Economy or the Season or some external reason for these slow periods. Often its what we are doing or not doing in ways that we cant see ourselves that create these pitfalls………………….”Just take a good look at yourself” ( sing this part )
So…….. I’m doing some creative marketing to reconnect with my clients and bring in some new ones.
Things will pick up because I have faith that they will and because I am doing something about it.
AND……….I always have you people & Letterville to help me along the way……….so thanks Lettervile.
-------------------- John Martin Robson Pendragon Signs & Graphics Yellowknife,NT,Canada
if it's not one thing.....it's two things Posts: 261 | From: Yellowknife, NT, Canada | Registered: Aug 2000
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We expected a down turn, due to the new facility and moving from a 13 year location of the old shop.
As it turns out all our customers were driving by to see how our new building was going and they automatically familiarized themselves with where we were going to be.
Everyday we hear "how do you like your new building"? (from people we don't even now sometimes). Had I suspected such recognition I would have saved the money we put into our new yellow pages ad.
We were slow during the holidays but always are...that gave me the chance to fabricate our new sign for the biz.
Janury 1 everything cut loose again and although we are not "snowed under" there is a backload to suffice.
We are making an effort to change our program here and introduce more vehicle and fleet graphics into the mix (high profit less matrials).
Life is good and looking better...the worse case scenario is if it all quits, it gives us the opportunity to contact new people and promote new work. what could be better than that?
For those of you that are slow...I know it's scary but load yer butt down with business cards and make some cold calls. You never know where the work is going to come from if you don't.
Happy as a clam here and lookng forward to the new year.
"Werks fer me it'll werk fer you"
-------------------- "Werks fer me...it'll werk fer you"
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Rick says: I've discovered that if I work slower, it always can look and feel busy! I can psych myself into this frantic scenario and create emergencies to divert myself from getting things done or discovering what I'm doing. This works very well until the payments are due.
Yea! That's how I do it. Then when the phone rings I can tell em how busy I am. Work expands to fill the time allotted!
Have actually been pretty busy.
John, I tell all customers about the letterhead meets I attend, let em know I'm continuing my education, and hanging out with the finest sign talent in the world!!! Maybe some of that talent will eventually rub off!
-------------------- Bill Dirkes Cornhole Art LLC Bellevue, Ky. Goodnight Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are. Posts: 591 | From: Bellevue,Ky. US | Registered: Aug 1999
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Starting last July, it was slow here. By November, it was almost DEAD. I was catching up on 'experimental" projects (the stuff everybody says, "Just do it in your spare time") However, it seems that when New Year's was over, the gates opened.
The commercial work has picked up, although I lost one or two accounts to price-cutters. The motorcycle business is way down from last year, but I brought that on myself. I've raised prices considerably, but I've got four sitting here now. I've also jumped back into the sign business. I'm limiting what I take in according to my experience and abilities (which are very limited right now), but when I'm not sure or don't know, I look through Signcraft or come here.
Anyhow, business is good, not great. I'm just glad to be able to do it.
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I'm by myself and a bit on the lazy side, so when I say that last year was my best since the early '80s, you can take it with a grain of salt. I guess I'm as busy as I want to be. Actually, I'm a bit busier than THAT!
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