Have The Poles Reversed?

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Shayla

Shayla

WOW Framer
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Joined
Apr 5, 2008
Posts
35,841
Loc
Washington State
For the past 18 years, April and August are
traditionally the s-l-o-w times of year here.
But guess what? Suddenly, this month, we
are INSANELY BUSY. So busy, I don't know
how we'll get it all done! :eek:

Go figure.

I should check the tub and see if the water's
swirling backward down the drain.
 
This June and July have been unusually busy for us, too.

My theory is that everyone want to get their framing done before the End of The World event in 2012.
 
Thanks for the chuckle, guys.

I would stick around, but I'd better
start knitting the devil those mittens
I promised him. :icon21:
 
we're in the same boat here. summer is usually slow but business has either stayed on par or exceeded our usual monthly sales.
 
Send some this way, July was the worst month I have had in years.
 
I used to track sales on a chart for years until a pattern emerged, that there was no pattern....
 
Just wondering

Are the people with the better then normal summer from a heavy tourist destination or from a "normal" city.
And of course are the ones that are slower the opposite?
We live in a moderate tourist destination, our normal heavy month July the last two year have been down but the June & August have held steady.
Are people staying home and spending at local shops instead of taking trips?
 
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I have been seeing an upsurge in business as well and I think it has to do with pent up spending. People are finally starting to let go of some of their money...which is the one thing that will help to get the economy back on track faster than anything. One can only hope that it is a sign of better times ahead.
 
Pat Kotnour said:
I have been seeing an upsurge in business as well and I think it has to do with pent up spending. People are finally starting to let go of some of their money...which is the one thing that will help to get the economy back on track faster than anything. One can only hope that it is a sign of better times ahead.
Click to expand...

Pat
I saw that upswing here in prior months to June and July, then the bottom fell out. We are down for the two months prior 50% from last year. How can you figure? So enjoy the ride while you can and frame on!
Francisco :nuts:
 
August is currently up! We solicited a large order and got it, and also now have a lot of jobs coming thru the doors too, and art sales. I'll take it. :)
 
July up 11%..too early to gauge Aug, but it's starting out slooooow.
 
Crazy busy for weeks now, people coming from up to 1/4 of the way across the state. It's crazy how far. All kinds of people. I don't feel like the gallery is my personal domain anymore, it's more like a public space. Our website was valdalized. And this weekend I'm living in the back of the shop, staying up all night, with a shotgun becuase we're going to get robbed. We started getting weird calls "Do you have an alarm system? Cuz we can quote you!" then getting cased. The whole shopping center knows it's coming, everyone else got cased too. The police know it's coming but they are playing it cool. They know I'm going to be here with firepower.

So ya we're getting more activity!
 
Stats....interesting numbers...

I agree with many observations here but caution everyone that is trying to read a pattern...
  • Custom Framers reporting and sharing might be in business 1-2 years or 10-14 years which really skews that stats.
  • Although I've looked at monthly numbers, I can usually interpret a better read when examining quarters. Most of our (framer's collectively) numbers on a monthly basis can be altered by a week of bad weather, or a really big customer padding the income.

Having stated the above, I agree with Pat Kotnour in that we're seeing a surge in the middle class (that does have disposable income) to move on...

I think we're also seeing a few people sick of a poor weather Summer and ready to head indoors and decorate.

John
 
Had such a busy July that I need another vacation.I am worn out , been working 10 and 12 hour days.I am in a small town and this is very unusual for summer.
 
RParrish said:
I used to track sales on a chart for years until a pattern emerged, that there was no pattern....
Click to expand...

Good one, Randy - and I could say the exact same thing.

Up one day, the next you're down,
half an inch of water and you think you're gonna drown:
that's the way that the world goes 'round!
 
People buying framing. Wow! What a great concept.

Now if we can just figure out a way to get framers buying moulding & fabric.....

:D

(sorry.. the wife made me post it..)
 
We were running flat-out... crazy busy, "Who says July is slow?".

Then about two weeks ago, it was as though someone shut off the tap... I was starting to worry that I'd have to bust my sous-chef back to part-time.

Today was crazy-busy again and it looks like she's safe for another pay period :)

Who knows what tomorrow will bring?
 
It's been quite busy for me the past few months. I've had a lot of shadow boxes to do, which I enjoy, but are time consuming (for me anyways). It would be nice to get a few straight-forward, quick & easy framing jobs for a change; but I guess I shouldn't complain :D
 
Just switched from Brinks to Wells Fargo cuz of the larger trucks.
 
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