down to the wire

[artist]

OK sports fans - 2 weeks left till x day and how are we doin'. With all the rope jumpin' smiley faces goin' on,I guess that has to tell me somthing. It really sucks here too!!!

[TADPORTER]

Wouldn't even know its near Christmas around here. Sales are VERY good but customer counts are no different than the middle of July. I am even slightly ahead of schedule on production. 4 out of last 5 jobs are for January.

[sumik]

You mean it's almost Christmas?! I wouldn't have guessed. Driver says I am not the only one saying that.

[silentpix]

[accent]

Where is the xmas rush???? It is slower than last year for frames done, but the average job is much better. Hope that there will be a last minute surge.
Perhaps people are glued to their TV sets to watch episode # 999999 to see if BORE OR GUSH will win. Than maybe people will feel good enough to spend some of their money in our stores again. Think positive!!!!

Accent

[ArtLady]

Don's dispare folks. I think Michael's has been giving the store away to make their numbers. 50% off the total job!! But ratio wise if we are off, then so are they. They have a bigger monthly nut to crack. Or maybe their nut will crack. Should be intersting. The Michael's near us is always listed as behind in their payroll taxes. Some creative financing I think. Should be interesting. We will have to watch their stock.

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Timberwoman
AL
I cut the mat, I pet the =^..^= cat.

[MerpsMom]

Has anyone else been glued to the tv set in the workshop? I've gotten more administrivia and moulding cleaning done in the last month than in the last three years.

In addition, we're hanging out our shingle--with deference to Mel's mate, we now know more legalese than most third year law students.

Wish I had mastered how to add those dancing smilies: maybe after the rush, or the Gush, when we're so Bored we'll need an antidote.

[Ruth Yheulon]

The Michaels closest to us had their Christmas deadline back in November. They have a 6 week turnaround right now, so if customers want their stuff by Christmas hopefully they will come our way. Actually, I sent the framing department at that particular store a letter letting them know that we are still framing for the holidays and if they had any customers in need of holiday framing to send them our way (may not work as I hoped but won't know if I don't try) As you can tell it is slow here as well and with a snowstorm predicted for the next couple of days we can expect next to nothing, but it is a good time to catch up on those things that have been put off.
Ruth

[cody]

Think everybody tripped over the wire and never made it out to shop. Just having an average month, no rush, much less orders than normal for the xmas season. Had planned on closing the entire week of xmas, but now not so sure. How many days is everyone else closing for the holiday?

[Ruth]

I was thinking I was the only slow place, as were some of the local framers I've talked to. Last week we did finally pick up quite a few jobs, more in line with Christmas, but nothing like last year. Luckily, the average ticket sale is way up... and I so glad I raised my prices last month! I'm back to building frames at home at night to keep up, so I'm happy.