Christmas Rush

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Twisted Stick

Twisted Stick

Grumbler
Joined
Apr 5, 2003
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42
Loc
Melbourne, Australia
Do my fellow framers around the world experience a Christmas rush?

This year the rush started much later than usual. We normally start getting busier late October but this year it started last week of Nov. So far I have over 200 jobs to complete in 2 weeks (normally we do 60-70 jobs). I've been working 12-14 hours 7days for the last 3 weeks, and feel that I'm about to collapse from exhaustion.

Any tips on how to cope with the workload. When I'm working back I don't stop to eat because I find it hard to get my rhythm back. I get home at about 10pm then have to unwind so I don't sleep until after midnight then I'm back up again at 7am. Are there any budding chemists out there who suggest any vitamins or supplements that would help keep my energy levels up.

Bring on 6pm on the 24th December.

Dazza
 
Dazza--
Ginko Biloba or Ginsing--or just plain old multi-vitamins help! We just finished a Super Rush job of ONE HUNDRED AND TWO CUSTOM frame kits in basically two days. And we are still in the deep throes of the Christmas rush here...it's all good for the bank account, especially in these difficult times, but not so good for our health.
Walk a lot, and eat your vitamins!

Wendy
The Art Corner
Salem, MA
artcornersalem@verizon.net
 
Offer a discount for order finished after Christmas.

I'm always surprised at the number of people who will wait.

Instead of an after Christmas let-down we have work that carries into January.

Doug
 
How ironic DVieau2. I had a guy come in on Saturday with a rugby jumper with 15 photos and 3 medals. He wanted it before Christmas if possible, but I said that I would have to express courier the materials being this close to X-mas which would add extra $50 to the job (all lies... I could have the materials in 3 days). So I suggested that if he could wait until the new year he would make a saving, so he obliged.

Offering an after X-mas discount sounds like I'm loading the prices during the X-mas period, so I made this subtle suggestion on how to save money.
 
We do have long hours and long weeks too, but I survive by asking alot of questions. "Is this a gift?' 'Will this need to be mailed?' 'Do you have a gift budget?' "are you leaving town with it?' 'Can you pick this up in January?'

I have had my shop for 20 year and there is a team spirit with my clients. They have seen us near tears in December and they have learned to bring us Xmas gifts all year long. They are well trained and we love them for it. Most people are team players if they see your face fall when they ask when the art will be finished. Ask ever so nicely if it is ok with them to let you triage orders that are going under the tree ahead of them. We framers think clients are waiting impatiently for their projects, most want you to take the time you need and they feel good to grant you the grace of time. The situation creates shop camaraderie with the client.

I think some of your clients would feel terrible if they knew how ragged you were running yourself. If all of the things you have produced in overtime are not picked up by Xmas eve you are just going to want to spit! Some people really need to have it spelled out to them that there is a ton of work in your back room, it is an idea they can hardly believe ...the load of work we all have. be informative and frank, and they will give you more time if they can, it adds up, that little extra time. For sanity's sake!
 
Nancy W said:
We do have long hours and long weeks too, but I survive by asking alot of questions. "Is this a gift?' 'Will this need to be mailed?' 'Do you have a gift budget?' "are you leaving town with it?' 'Can you pick this up in January?'

I have had my shop for 20 year and there is a team spirit with my clients. They have seen us near tears in December and they have learned to bring us Xmas gifts all year long.
Click to expand...

Exactly, Nancy. After several nights without enough sleep I was in that state yesterday. I put my head on my desk and thought that I could not go downstairs to help one more customer. This morning my husband did his best and worked for me so I could sleep in. I am wearing two several hats right now as my husband broke his right hand and can't even hold a pen and I have two employees away. The rest of us are on overdrive and paperwork is getting done late at night and early in the morning. After 33 years, somehow it doesn't get easier. But I am NOT complaining. We are having an excellent December with the rush starting about two weeks ago instead of it all the week before Christmas. With DIY we frame until the last minute.

Our break table is groaning with customer food gifts and our reps are bringing flowers and one is bringing pizza for the whole staff on Saturday. My Larson rep drove at least an hour and a half round trip this morning just to get me 60' of a black moulding that a commercial client needed for a job we had to deliver today, not tomorrow when the normal delivery arrives. Then she hauled it down from the parking lot singlehandedly. I only had time to give her a quick hug in thanks and I was back at it.

We have had very little Christmas impatience, and mostly good cheer with understanding from our customers if they have to wait for service or if orders are delayed a few days.

But Dazza, I hear you. I wish I could say it gets easier over time. It sounds like you have staff to help as we do, but I know that asking people to work overtime or more hours than they usually do is sometimes difficult. But ask anyway. The holidays are just plain hard in this business. Try to pace yourself, sleep if you can and eat well. Eat breakfast. I have been eating the same packaged lunch from Starbucks for a week because it is fast high protein that I can pick up early in the morning on my way to work. A hot mocha also gets me through the morning so I can take a late lunch after my staff eat. And remember to keep hydrated. Just a week to go. We are closing for an unprecedented two days this year--Dec 25 and 26--we just need the rest.
 
There actually IS a rush this year, busier than the last several Decembers. We already beat last December's total, mid month.

Gift items pretty much sat mostly dormant, but this year they are a hot item - perhaps due to a mailing we did a month ago.

Andy Finished his 11th framed sports Jersey last night, for this month. Why are so many people coming in with Jerseys all of a sudden?!? hehe

We will continue taking Christmas orders until Wednesday, without a rush fee.

It was also encouraging to call suppliers yesterday and have 5-10 minute hold times to place orders. The delivery drivers are saying that things have been much busier for all.

I'm encouraged and hope the momentum continues into the new year!
 
Nancy W said:
Some people really need to have it spelled out to them that there is a ton of work in your back room, it is an idea they can hardly believe ...the load of work we all have. be informative and frank, and they will give you more time if they can,
Click to expand...

Plus, I've found that it gives the customer reassurance that they are patronizing the right place and gives your store instant street cred.
 
Yes, yes and more yes

We do see an increase at Christmas. This Christmas rush has been very strong started in Oct and is still going strong. We have come up with a Christmas deal this year. Since January, February, March are our slowest months we are offering this deal. Any print you purchase in Dec you qualify for a 20% discount on framing in Jan & Feb also any gift cert purchased in Dec is worth 10% more in 2011. These offers can be combined yes I know 30% off framing but if you only knew how slow Jan & Feb can be here in AK. We have the money up front and print sales are up the last month so I hope this work and makes a few customers happy. A side note we have had husband frame prints for their wives before with a few Husbands not knowing the framing style their spouses prefer. The offer gives them a way out because here most husbands are more concerned at the dollar figure then the presentation and quality of the framing
 
Mike Labbe @ GTP said:
There actually IS a rush this year, busier than the last several Decembers. We already beat last December's total, mid month.
Click to expand...

Mike, we are also ahead of last December now at mid month. Very encouraging.
Our gift sales are very small because we don't carry much, but I did send a newsletter mentioning some boxed cards which I have just had to reorder. Our best selling artisit is also selling well framed and unframed.

So far a great December!
 
We are very busy. Well over twice last Dec sales as of the 15th. We are also fully booked for Jan including several shadowboxes and time-consuming special mounting projects. I start blocking out my time as if we were a dental office right before Thanksgiving, leaving one block a day for the unexpected and the "emergency" holiday jobs.

After Dec 1st, all holiday orders are promised the 23rd, and we make exceptions for those traveling or shipping. I save the 23rd & 24th, and there is usually one or two jobs I get that I wouldn't otherwise. So far, I have never turned anyone away without meeting their needs. I get a lot of orders after Dec 10th because the BBs around me stop taking orders then.

It is still a trying time, with missed meals and late nights, but much more sane than it used to be. Most years, I have been able to give some young person that is new to custom framing a great deal and a special gift. While I tell folks that I do this to bring young people into the fold, the truth is, I do it because I really enjoy it, and it brings some joy to a challenging time.
 
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