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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!!!!!!!!!
-------------------- 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
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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.
-------------------- Chuck Churchill, It's A Good Sign Inc. 3245 Harvester Rd, U-12 Burlington, Ont. Phone: 905-681-8775 Fax: 905-681-8945 Posts: 633 | From: Burlington, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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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.
-------------------- Chris Welker Wildfire Signs Indiana, Pa Posts: 4254 | From: Indiana, PA | Registered: Mar 2001
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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.
-------------------- Laura Butler Vision Graphics & Sign 4479 Welch Rd Attica, Mi 48412 Posts: 2855 | From: Attica, Mi, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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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.
-------------------- James Donahue Donahue Sign Arts 1851 E. Union Valley Rd. Seymour TN. (865) 577-3365 brushman@nxs.net
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what's for lunch, Benjamin Franklin Posts: 2057 | From: 1033 W. Union Valley Rd. | Registered: Feb 2003
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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 ]
-------------------- 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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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.
-------------------- 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
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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!
-------------------- 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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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
-------------------- That is like a Mr. Potato Head with all the pieces in the wrong place. -Russ McMullin Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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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.
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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...
-------------------- :: Scooter Marriner :: :: Coyote Signs :: :: Oakland, CA :: :: still a beginner :: :: Posts: 1356 | From: Oakland (and San Francisco) | Registered: Mar 2001
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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!
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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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 ]
""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3486 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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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.
-------------------- Bill Diaz Diaz Sign Art Pontiac IL www.diazsignart.com Posts: 2107 | From: Pontiac, IL | Registered: Dec 2001
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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 ]
-------------------- 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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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!
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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.
-------------------- Kimberly Zanetti Purcell www.amethystProductivity.com Folsom, CA email: Kimberly@AmethystProductivity.com
“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” AA Milne Posts: 3722 | From: Folsom, CA | Registered: Dec 2001
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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.
-------------------- signs Posts: 535 | From: pa | Registered: Dec 1998
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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.
-------------------- "Are we having fun yet?" Peter Schuttinga DZines Sign Studio 1617 Millstream rd Victoria BC V9B-6G4 Posts: 521 | From: Victoria BC | Registered: Mar 2002
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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.
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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.
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