Business From Jan 1 til Now Up or Down?

[UzZx32QU]

Is your store front retail custom frame store up or down since the 1st of the year?


Please don't take the poll if you are mainly a gallery unless you track retail framing separate.

[Jim Miller]

Amazing. When I looked at the poll results just now, 100% of respondents answered the same way I did. The poll results might be more accurate after another person responds.

This is the strangest year yet. January might have been our worst month ever, but it's been up ever since. May and June have been almost like Christmas. I hope it keeps up.

Predictability is out the window. These days, it's a crapshoot. I don't know why January was so bad, and I don't know why business is so good now. Sometimes ads & promotions work wonders, sometimes not at all. It's a bit frightening to have so little real control.

[Cliff Wilson]

I wish there was some way to get an "aging" on the shops that answer.

growth in year 1 - 4 is different than growth after.

[Bill Henry-]

My Don Mar rep just left and he commented that most of the frame shops that he has visited recently have reported an increase.

We have just finished a ten week cable TV ad series, and compared to the same period last year, our sales are up over 40% (27% after subtracting the cost of the ads). So, we figure, that had a lot to do with it.

But, as Jim pointed out, some of it is a real puzzle. The mega stores like WalMart and Lowe’s reported a decrease in sales for the first quarter, and are estimating flat sales for this one. Even real economists can’t agree on why let alone someone like me.

[Mecianne]

Probably mid-March thru mid-April was our worst time this year for framing. I took a week off after Christmas & until that slow period in the spring, I had a hard time keeping up. Keep in mind that we also are a photography business...and it always seems to pick up when framing is slow. May was almost as busy as December & June is shaping up to be okay...not great, but we will be able to make rent & pay the mortgage.

As far as marketing & advertising, we haven't really changed the way we do anything. This is our second year in our retail storefront. January of 2006 was a better month than any month in 2005 (except for December). We have at least quadrupled our business since our first year. I am not getting rich by any means (we are really just paying the bills & buying groceries & that's about it), but the growth is almost scary at times. It's a far cry from those panic attacks I was having this time last year.

[Mr. T]

We have owned the business for just over a year now and we were very busy for that year, even right after Christmas! Then mid-may business dropped to a trickle for a few weeks but is picking up again. Sales reps were amazed at how busy we were and told us that others were not! Doesn't seem to be any rhymn or reason.

[wpfay]

My numbers are down from '05, but up from '04. Discounting a windfall job (sadly, not an ongoing project) my income from '05 would have shown some growth, from '04, and the '06 would be up from '05.
The numbers can be deceiving.

[JbNormandog]

We have 2 Christmas seasons behind us and this month we have easily passed them both as our best month ever.

I have had a great dealing with a neighboring store that gave us big jobs but even without them we would have had a good month.

It was a nice rush after a slugish time or three over the last few months.

[Bob Carter]

Perhaps an interesting wrinkle might be to gauge increases/decreases to two variables: actual dollar increases and perentages above/below plan (budget)

Someone that had a lousy year in '05 an is having a mediocre year '06 might reflect a great increase just as much as if someone had an all-time great year '05 and even with a pretty good sales year was running a decrease

If you are taking home a lot of money, then it's a good year, regardless of percents

[Cliff Wilson]

Bob,

my sales are level, my margin is up, but my bottom line is down a little. I haven't quite recovered from my "buying right" binge at the Vegas show! ;)

Sales are a bit behind budget, but from talking to some nearby retailers, I'm way ahead of the norm in the area. What does that tell us?!?!

I do expect my Vegas buying to improve the end-of-the-year numbers, and I think I would have actually been down in sales if it wasn't for the promos.

Good thing I could afford to carry a heavier inventory.

[Jerry Ervin]

Originally posted by Bob Carter:

If you are taking home a lot of money, then it's a good year, regardless of percents Amen Bob! Isn't that all that really matters.

[trapper]

I have found that one thing and one thing only makes any sense in this bussiness.
You just have to be there and it is what it is..
One time one thing will work and the next time it doesn't.
Our best days have always been when we are int the rain and the weather is lousy and cold and damp..go figure. Warm sunny days and people don't want to go inside. Yet when we wroked out in a parking lot as a vendor and there was no inside people would not bother on those warm days. cold and mioserable out and people would stand in the rain to buy Art. Beats me! Out in the middle of the mountains..the only one there and 150 miles from anything and people would buy more than they do in town at a gallery. More tourist orientated!
I have tried just about everything there is at one time or another and the only thing that makes any sense tp me is " You just have to be there " and to learn that it " is what it is "

[trapper]

sorry for all the typo's and mis-spellings and grammar and just about everything else wrong with that last msg...It's only 6 am in the morning...
Can't sleep!

[Jim Miller]

Originally posted by Bob Carter:
Perhaps an interesting wrinkle might be to gauge increases/decreases to two variables: actual dollar increases and perentages above/below plan (budget)...Good point, Bob. In my business, it used to be all about growing revenue. Today it's about making the most of what we have. Our revenue growth this year is what I would call unimpressive compared to some previous years, but profits continue to climb -- gross & net, dollars & percentages. Net before taxes is up this YTD more than 35% over last YTD. All the signals are good.

I attribute that happy circumstance to our new & improved crystal ball. And maybe our continuing effort to operate smarter has something to do with it, too.

[Bob Carter]

Jim-In our PV store (23 yrs old) we have seen spectacular, we have seen so-so and we have seen times that have made us question why we show up. All of which, we can "justify" to our hearts content

But, as you suggest, it's that "continuing effort to operate smarter" that has kept us where we are

Right now, we are experiencing unbelieveably easy sales-about 30% higher than LY. Price resistance is less, we seem to "Have" just what people are looking for and we just keep ringing 'em up

I have attributed to it all to one of three things (and I am metaphysically certain of at least one of them)

1) We are simply geniuses and know the "pulse of the market" better than anyone

2) Long term spectacular customer service ("Our customers like us, they really like us") is reaping rewards

or 3) Prints Plus closed up May 31 and these customers have to go somewhere

Personally, I am leaning to Nos. 1 and 2

As to the survey, 77% are doing equal to or better

Does that mean 77% of us will be visiting our Lexus dealers soon or that those without positive numbers are just not reporting. Maybe it's like asking someone if they have been arrested; those that haven't can't wait to tell you and those that have just might skip that question?

[J Phipps TN]

This nest month starts my 7th year in business,and we seem to be leveling out. I have seen an increase in Corporate jobs and alot more repeat customers who just come in and say "what ever you thinks looks best".

I think Cliff has a good point, because in the first 3 years of business, my growth was significant, now I am happy to stay the same.

[Cliff Wilson]

Bob, It HAS TO BE #2! I've been told by experts!

[framah]

This year was way down until my season started to kick in and now it is well above previous years. I figure the winter was slow because that is when the fuel prices skyrocketed up here and customers were not sure if they would have enough to pay the heat and gas for their vehicles. Then we ended up having a warm winter and they seemed to breath a sigh of relief and continued on their never ending quest to shop and spend.

Now that the summer season is here, the rich "from away" people are up to their summer "cottage" and they spend no matter the cost.

Whatever is happening, it is paying for my medical insurance and my Mercedes so life is good!

[Elaine]

I wish I could say numbers were up. This has been the strangest year in the last 4 years. I'm not sure what's going on and what to do about it. I used to be able to say that things were consistent, this year has blown that all to H*ll.

[Lance E]

Bob, you recently posted something about having done something spectacular to the ceiling in your store, would this possibly have had an influence with the "trend" followers who all read the "Da Vinci" code?

Keep in mind for #1, there is a fine line between genius and insanity...