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A question for the group. Do you ever close the shop for a week? We both need a recharge and are probably going to close for a week. It isn't peak season anymore but the work is steady. We don't run a home shop either and have heard pros and cons for it. We haven't really taken any time off for quite a few years now. Any advice???
------------------ Kevin Landry KnL Signs Halifax NS knlsigns@hfx.eastlink.ca
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Hi Kevin I left employees in charge of the shop when I went on vacation. I discussed it with the one who would be in charge and set her up with all the help and support she would need including an ex sign shop owner, and a contact # for me. But in the end I found that she did not care enough to use the help supplied. Next time I will close the shop, because it will not cost me as much. She charged me for all kinds of overtime,and even came in on the stat holiday ( I close for all stats) just to work on "some stuff". Well I paid her well over a grand as well as having to pay the other support staff, for a grand total of $250. in sales. Nest time I come and visit you in Nova Scotia, my shop will be closed.
------------------ Glenn Thompson Tell-Tale Signs Williams Lake, BC digital@telltalesigns.bc.ca
Posts: 4 | From: Williams Lake, BC, Canada | Registered: Jun 2001
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Kevin...GO FOR IT! Life is too short to have your business running your life.
As you know, we close up for a whole month in the winter, and last january there were only 13 phone calls on Call Display for the month when we got back, and only 2 of them were from folks that we knew..the rest were "unknown name". Only one answering machine message in that time period, and it was from a friend who called a little too late to say Bon Voyage.
One thing we DO do though is get in touch with our regular customers a couple of months in advance and let them know that we will be closed and that is appreciated and usually stimulates some last minute work before we leave.
I also leave a message on the machine saying that I will be checking my e-mail daily from the laptop, so they can get an immediate response from me if they wish to.
Man if ya work all year and can't take a break for at least a week, you may as well be working for someone else...at least they HAVE to give you the manditory 2 weeks of vacation time each year.
------------------ Dave Grundy AKA "applicator" on mIRC "stickin' sticky stuff to valuable vessels and vehicles!" in Granton, Ontario, Canada 1-519-225-2634 dave.grundy@quadro.net www.quadro.net/~shirley
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I can ohly speak for our shop, of course, but our Architects and Generals don't stop ordering because we need a vacation. We have too broad a client base and the daily demand isn't going to wait for a week. My kids are old enough now to keep things going for a few days, but a week in any month other than January isn't going to happen for us.
------------------ St.Marie Graphics & Makin' Tracks Sound Studio Kalispell, Montana stmariegraphics@centurytel.net http://www.stmariegraphics.com 800 735-8026 We're chiseling every day of the week! :^)
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I happen to know that he's wanted a break for a long time. All while we were growing up he'd constantly tell me and my brother, "WILL YOU KIDS GIVE ME A BREAK?!?"
------------------ Girls carve too! Behind every good Woman, there's a man.............waiting.
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Kevin, By all means take a vacation! You will probably find that your customers are very understanding. I let my good customers know in advance that I will be closing, so if they have anything that HAS to be done, hopefully I can do it before closing. Last summer I closed for two weeks because I had the opportunity to visit your beautiful corner of the world-N.S. Usually I take a week in the summer and put a message on the machine as to when I will re-open. Surprise, no-one seems to have gone elsewhere. Believe me, you owe it to yourself. Actually, I think myself & hubby will come to N.S. next summer. Enjoy yourself!!! Heather Moodie Scott Signworks, Perth, Ontario, Canada
First, it should not hurt a one or two person business to shut down for a while if it is done right. You know your client base and have a pretty good idea when nothing is happening.
Second, always give your regulars advance notice. They will plan around you if they know what you are doing. Your vendors, for instance, give you notice when they are closing for inventory, and you plan around thrm. Giving notice tells your clients you are a dependable person, and that is the image you want to convey. Vic G
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Thanks for the advice everyone. I have informed my most important clients. We are going no matter what happens. (Of course, something or someone will try to interfere.) See ya in a couple of weeks.
------------------ Kevin Landry KnL Signs Halifax NS knlsigns@hfx.eastlink.ca
1. Inform you regular clients when you will be closed 2. put a message on your answering machine, that you are on vacation and will be back on XXXXXX 3. Paint a sign,to stick in your window, saying "on Vacation, back on XXXXX"
AND go out and enjoy yorself!
------------------ Si Allen #562 La Mirada, CA. USA (714) 521-4810 ICQ # 330407 "SignPainters do It with Longer Strokes!"
95% of all accidents occur immediately after the words "Hey...watch this."
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Posts: 8831 | From: La Mirada, CA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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But on that sign in the window of your shop announcing to every burglar in town that you will be gone for week... let them know that the Gaurd Dog is running the shop while you're gone! (But he's not very good at painting so they might want to come back when you return.)
...or the Candid Camera guys have taken up residence in the back while they shoot film of the idiots trying to break into the shop that's closed for a WEEK. (Video Cameras On)
The back home from the big city side of the Moon
------------------ The Moon aka: Stefenie Harris Moonlight Designs Pollock Pines, CA learnin' somethin' new every day!
Posts: 550 | From: Pollock Pines, CA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Heck, not only do I take a week off now and then...I took a whole MONTH off!!!!!! Not only that, but I encouraged other weary Letterheads to blow off and have a little fun too!!! Go for it Landry's!!!!! A
------------------ Adrienne Morgan Splash Signs "Wherever you go...there you are!" www.splashsigns.com "Rainkatt'on chat
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