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Rozmataz

Rozmataz

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Joined
Jun 13, 2002
Posts
2,773
Loc
Fingerlakes Region of NYS
Is it me? Or is it the region I am in? Or is it everywhere in general?

I am slow. Painfully slow. August was going gang-busters... September hit and it just stopped dead in its tracks. October hasn't been alot better.

I have target marketed. I have advertised in every local newspaper I have. I have press releases in as many as will print them. I have sent my first release of my newsletter. All with an October is Custom Framing Month and a discount/sale.

Nothing has popped from this. I am getting very frustrated. And bored. I need to (want to) be busy... I want to make this business work but where are the customers?

Any ideas, suggestions or answers.

Thanks, and please be kind!!!

Roz
 
How refreshing to know that I am not the only one that has experienced a very, very, extremely slow September and October. We have found that we can expect two slow months per year and this year it has been Sept. and Oct. Sure hope it doesn't continue through November and December. If is wasn't for salespeople visiting us I would think that our door was closed and locked. I really got upset yesterday when a sales type awakened me from my afternoon dozzzzzzzze....... I have tried all of the tried and true remedies for slow time such as rearanging the gallery, doing personal projects, paying bills, building things and framing new art. Nothing has helped. So far we are meeting our expenses.

Jack Cee
 
Pity Party table for three. Move over guys let me join you. I am in such a panic right now because it is already the end of October. I am actually slower this month than I was in August. I have spent what I can on advertising and I have the added burden of being out of personal funds. I can't imagine how I am going to make enough to get me through the "lean" times next year. Time for a framers chant meckaleckahimeckahineyho...
 
We must be looking at slow times the wrong way. We should be thinking on the positive side. How else could all of us find time to spend on the Grumble. I must have destroyed a portion of my brain reading some of the "STUFF" on Warped Moulding. Cards anyone, bring the beer and lets have a party.

Jack Cee
 
September wasn't a bad month, not great, but not like October has been. Deathly slow. But I've cleaned out the mat bins and reorganized them. I've been tossing stuff out right and left. :rolleyes: I can even see the top of my desk again! The framing that is coming in is getting done in record time... and I don't have any of those project frame jobs that I tend to put off anymore!

So.. I'm ready for the busy season. :cool:
 
I had a very good August and then business plunged in September. October has not been good. I can only hope that business will pick up soon because like Kathy I am tapped out financially.
I have lots of people browsing, since I've had art shows in the shop but no one is buying, not even the litttle stuff. :(
Oh where, oh where can my customers be?
 
I had a really slow summer in my shop, and my part-time was even slower. It's still pretty slow, but is sort of starting to pick up a little. (Just talked to my Boss.) My shop is doing pretty well this month, but I'm selling to one of my own dr's who just moved into a new office. Don't know if that counts. What's scary is that when I bought groceries the other day, one of the butchers that I know, was telling me that it has been slow in the grocery store. When people aren't buying groceries, Folks, we're in deep, deep trouble. She told me that there had been a lot of people in the store, but they weren't buying anything. That's the way it's been at my part-time. It's a big chain. It's been full of people, but no one's buying. About a month ago, they had one of their marathon sales over a weekend, and this store didn't even make payroll. Now, that's scary. :(
 
Same sentiments here from mid-Sept on, slower every week, then a few days ago had my best one day ever in eight years, the one day surpassed any other October (usually my 2nd best month of the year)in my history, and too boot, it was an art sale, great margin, and no work other than packaging for shipping. Ya just never know. Nether-the-less we are about to put into action a contingency plan thru unique marketing strategy that we hope to generate free cash flow of $15/25,000 in the next four weeks, thanks in part to the wisdom/influence of Jay Abraham. If you haven't read his book or know about him, go to his web-site, lots of info, get his book, get marketing for the balance of your business career. Also recommend the 'E-Myth Revisited' book to keep reminding ourselves to manage the business of business, not be in the position of buying ourself a job.
 
My shop's business has sucked too. The powers that be keep running discounts and sales and wondering why we can't make margin. Payroll has been cut. This started about mid-September.

My website sales correlated with my meatspace job -- August was really good, but September was absolutely horrid and October hasn't been much better. The only sales I've made were to regular customers who tend to buy something every few months. Even though my web traffic is the best it's been since last spring for October, I haven't made any new sales because of it -- even after lowering a few of my prices. I'm getting lots of "I love your art/site/work" letters, but no one is buying.

Every day I hear the radio say the stock market went up, I come home and go to bed hoping for stuff to be better the next day. It sucks.

At least I just got a violin to distract me. :(
 
I too have been very slow in September and October has been probably one of my worst months of all time!

And I'm not even on the same continent as most of you!

Its got me buggered!
 
I guess misery loves company.........the last 2 weeks have been slow here also......I may do what I have done in the past when things get this way and send out some postcards to previous customers offering a 20% discount on custom framing if brought in by a certain date...I have recieved a 10 to 15 percent return rate on these mailings in the past and the cost to do so is minimal. I print the cards myself on my puter and mail to approx. 500 customers in my database. Hopefully the upcoming holidays will help us all too.
 
September and early October have been as quiet as any since I opened in 1988. And the late '80,s and early 90,s were'nt exactly boom years. Some time ago I was reading on this site about framers who offered in-house framing for companies etc. I am thinking of maybe offering this service to boost business. I would like to hear from framers who tried it and succeeded and framers who tried it and failed. What is the best way of going about it and any other tips.
By the way I too hail from a different continent (more or less)- west coast of Ireland.
 
From a distribution standpoint August was slow, September good and October is just OK. October so far has been streaky, good days and horrible days. No great days. From my sales people it seems that overall it's been pretty slow for almost everyone. There has been an occassional shop that has done well but they are far and few between. Many shop owners are concerned! After last years poor Christmas season they are really hoping for a boost this year considering rents are rising, heating costs are rising and now in the last 10 days, gas prices are sky rocketing.

Many of our customers are actively advertising and promoting their business but seeing very few customers as a result of their promotional efforts. The optomists at least are happy that here in the upper midwest we've had some cold weather and snow in the north and then tends to get people shopping.

We'll see how it goes but I'm concerned that we are still losing about 8 customers a month. Many are retiring but some are just giving up.
 
I guess I am not alone in this boat. That alone, makes me feel better even though it doesn't change the situation for any of us.

And, if I didn't get calls from sales reps, I too would be snoozzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzing.... but I have had a chance to redo my frame wall, organize, get ahead and do some personal work/designing - but that doesn't pay the bills as we know.

But makes me ready for the flood of customers due in... when, this week!? Next!?

Must think positive, act positive and pray alot.

:rolleyes:
 
September was a bit sluggish, I don't know why I bothered to show up in October! Freakily slow. Not at all what I expected. Good thing I did a mailing at the beginning of the month, or I probably wouldn't even have the trickle I have now. It is very weird. Not at all a part of the natural rhythm I am used to. I wonder what this bodes for the holiday?
 
Framing has been steady this year. It was a bit slow the first part of October but it picked up again. Our photography business is having it's best year ever though, which means I'm glad framing hasn't been too busy. I'm already putting in way to many hours removing acne, mounting photos and getting orders ready. Seeing an increase in the number of photos we frame too, which is good. We are both in serious need of a day off though. :eek:
 
I am concerned about the "holidays" for a different reason. For several years now the news media have jumped on Christmas sales like a duck on a junebug. They report nearly every night whether sales are up or down. Then the stores react with even more discounts, and the closer to Christmas it gets, the deeper the discount. I have stated on other threads that I know people who either give money so that after Christmas sales (really, really deep discounts) can be taken advantage of, or some folks even celebrate Christmas after Dec. 25th. And I have no reason to think that these are isolated cases.

I personally don't think the ecomony will improve until this "sale" mentality ceases. I've noticed for some time now that JC Pennys has a "this Saturday only" sale at least twice a month, and "Sears Days" are coming more and more often.

What's it gonna take to break the cycle? I don't know for sure, but I do know it's going to take all of us to do it. (Maybe we should read our own "cheap" thread. There's a difference between being "cheap" and being conservative and stewards of our resources.)

Whew! I'm through preaching now!

By the way NorthFramer, what is the website for Jay Abraham? (I think you gave it before, but I'm lazy today.) And did Mr. Abraham write "E-Myth Revisited"?

Betty
 
Betty, I think that you are right. At my part-time, we've always got some kind of %off. People have learned to wait for that 50% off sale. We'll do fairly well the week that's advertised, then not so doodly squat the following week when the special that's advertised is something else. This store is in direct competition with Michaels' in this town. All of the other framers here are home based, like me. We can't offer those big discounts, and I see more and more cases of sticker shock. The main way that I make my profits is by offering repairs and things like that the biggies can't/won't do. It really hurts. :(
 
It's so slow around here that I've been cleaning out the customer pick up racks. I'm hoping to find some "cash flow" but I'm finding a lot of old frames and mats and stuff that should have been returned to customers when their "reworked" work was picked up. I haven't got a clue who this stuff belongs to but they should have asked for it if they wanted it back, right? Should I have a yard sale?
 
Has anyone considered that someone who is REALLY busy probably isn't reading this thread - much less responding to it?

Oops.
 
Well every pity party has a pooper.
My October has been AWESOME! I am jammin.
Last night I was up until mid-night chopping frames and today, well....I am still here!
I've got rush orders, and more orders. and then I ve got customers who think I am a storage unit. They wont come and get their jobs and I am running out of places to put these things.

I did something right this month! cuz I am rock'n.
I just hope I dont get sick, because I dont have time.

I could use some help! Anyone want to come visit Texas!
 
October has been fairly slow for me but it has let me catch up with a five week backlog of work.I got it down to three weeks which is much better.September was ok but generally my year has been steady.I get regulars and they come at fairly predictable times so I know work is turning up in a few weeks or so if it gets really slack.

I am doing a really stupid thing just now and am in the process of buying a new house...probably moving in some time early December.Shoot me now.
 
Betty:

Jay's website address is abraham.com

Michael Gerber wrote "The E-Myth Revisited". It is a revised version of his original book "The E-Myth".

The title refers to the author's belief that entrepreneurs--typically brimming with good but distracting ideas--make poor businesspeople.
 
Ron - You are absolutely right. Those that are too busy aren't reading this... although - I do see alot of the familiar "faces" around...

Just getting a barometric reading on the industry I am totally new to.... and knowing our area is always late in feeling any economic change.. has always been a very strong area... but it is getting hit harder than in the past. And people are reacting by being very conservative and cautious. I just want them to help the economy. Spend. Spend. Spend!!! So I can Sell. Sell. Sell! and Work. Work. Work!
 
I'm with Peavy: record month, had to hire two other parttimers and limited editions are turning well.

maybe my Nine Koi that everyone snickered about is really working?????

I hate to sell them. maybe I won't
 
Originally posted by MAX:
Betty:

Michael Gerber wrote "The E-Myth Revisited". It is a revised version of his original book "The E-Myth".

The title refers to the author's belief that entrepreneurs--typically brimming with good but distracting ideas--make poor businesspeople.
Click to expand...
A good friend told me this weekend that I needed to read "The E-Myth Revisited". They are lending it to me. I can see by the synopsis why they think I should read it.
 
Well.....I've been telling my wife how slow it's been this October. But, I see that my cash sales have been the best month this year! So....I guess I'd better rethink this a little. :confused:
 
Ron has made a good pt. I am busy, but I still try to tuck in time to be part of this group. It reminds me of highschool, when one just does not feel like they have time to be part of something that has been of benefit to them. But if it were gone, would be missed terribly.
We are pretty busy here, with higher ticket sales. Fewer pieces, pay that is deserved.
Just a note. When I feel slow, I do get busy with showroom, workshop.......it can go on for years really. When I stop, and relax, I find I must be bringing better Karma my way, so I find the sales I need to exist. This may sound KORNY, but it have seen it over and over and over in my 11 years of doing this.
I am not saying superstition should run your mind, but try a newe way of thinking. It does affect your atmosphere....you all know this stuff. Back to basics.
 
My week has improved over last week. In fact my sales were double last weeks. I had no business M-T-W. Everything I took in was the last three days of the week. Two orders were $600. I love those. Hopefully this is a trend................ I hope so.
 
On top of moving to a new location this month, we've been really busy. The biggest difference that I'm seeing: my customers that never asked for the price of a job, are now saying they need to keep the price down. Many are using less matting (but I'm keeping those borders wide), and some are even opting for readymades (where I still make money doing the matting, mounting and glass upgrades and fitting.

Had one of our legislative representatives in yesterday and he told me that the outlook is grim for a change in the economy through the 3rd qtr of next yr. That's kinda scarey. NC has been hit pretty bad with alot of textile and furniture mfg. being closed and moved to foreign countries. Add to that the flood down in eastern NC that the gov't gave millions of dollars in relief to! Now the sales tax is being raised for the 2nd time in 13 months just to help local gov't stay afloat!

I'm thankful for every customer that walks through my door! Even the aggravating ones are welcomed!

Cheer up all! Remember that the first hundred years are always the hardest!
 
In the wee hours of Thursday this week, the "alleged" snipers were arrested. Our business shot up that day (after a 3-week terrible slow down.) Of course, in our area, EVERY retail business could have gone on vacation during the siege. :eek:
 
It's been a weird month for us. Kind of quiet. We havn't been getting a lot of new work in. I keep saying it's the calm before the storm. And our customers have been very slow in picking up their framing. If everyone came in to pick up their framing, we'd have a great month!

Michelle
 
Everything has changed as of last Wednesday; customers are now intruding upon my personal space(Thank You Framing Spirits!). I actually thought of washing my car in my spare tiame, but now it won't be necessary and can go another 6 months. Explanation in order: We live at the end of a one mile unimproved road and the dust is a thing to behold. Hope the trend continues because I can get into trouble when I am not busy; my wife hopes so also.

Jack Cee
 
The Goddess is happy again.
This past Saturday things got busy, and I mean bu-u-u-usy once again. Pretty much made up for the whole dang month. Not just one big spender, either.
Could it have been an attitude shift since the capture of the snipers?
 
We had the same thing Saturday, thankfully.

If it truly does SNOW Wednesday as they are suggesting, I think this will give the Christmas season a bit of a jump start. I never thought I'd WANT snow


Mike
 
Yeah, I'm starting to see the Christmas work. I had on client drop off 7pcs. It's nice when they come in early. I had one dropped off about a month ago. She said take your time. :D
 
I am slow, slow, slow. I have had my worst year and it is really bad. If I had not moved to a new location last year, I would not be able to pay my rent and would have been forced out of business. My June, July and August were truely great. Sept and Oct are worse that Jan and Feb. The outlook does not look good for me. I am looking at my options very seriously.
 
Geez- haven't been here for a while- don't know why,but I was able to negotiate my rent down $250.00 because I whined to my landlord about business being so bad.He had heard it from other tenants,I guess and agreed to lower it-Thank you very much!!! I guess now would be a good time to try because they don't like empty spaces in their centers>
 
I have to admit things have gotten better since I originally posted this.

My month end numbers wound up being "not bad" because I had some corporate work that came in and out without much workshop time required... AND, (drum roll) I have started upselling ALOT more! So fewer projects, higher sales!! I like this. Alot! Hope it continues to grow and flourish!

Have a great season! And thanks everyone for sharing - it sure is a good forum to have such support and interest.

Roz
 
You have confirmed my beliefs in the current economic condition...we are slow here too. Interestingly enough, I recently had a LJ sales rep come by and try to sell me on buying boxes of moulding which they have on sale. He tried to tell me that I was an aberration of the market here...because I told him business was very slow. He went on to say that everyone else was going great guns and why wouldn't I buy their framed samples to show clients this stuff...and I should buy boxes of moulding to make a better profit margin...just as he was telling me this, I had a friend of mine phone. She is in the TV advertising industry. She just wanted to let me know that I was not alone...her research indicated that our industry is depressed right now. she is telling me this as the LJ sales rep is spouting off the exact opposite. Suffice it to say - I believe her - I know what comes across our counter.
We are doing more corporate contract work which helps, but the individual clients with framing projects has really dropped.
 
Sept & Oct were down every where. 9-11 had a lot to do with it. I think people were spending their money on those collectable plates & figurines. I don't mean to be rude but I hate those things.

I am finding that people are still shopping but they are spending less. I haven't sold this many metal frames since the 80's. The economy is down and we don't know what to expect. Some say it is almost over & others say we ain't seen nuthin yet.

I haven't done the big discount thing yet. I don't feel that I should make less for the same work. If they don't want to spend as much they don't get as much and we can still make it look nice.

The building industry is one of the big markers in tracking the growth of the economy. I've always thought they should track the framing industry.

Hope I'm not too wordy. I am new here and I finally have people to talk to. Friends dont't understand the long hours, theirs is just a job from which they can't wait to retire . They don't understand that we don't just open a box, put it on a shelf and wait for someone to buy it. I love tools and they are mine... all mine!!! :D
 
I may be the exception in that I have had three record months for my 7 years here. Not to say that I'm 'rolling in it' since I am paying for the slow months I've shared with everybody.

I've got to say that the relocation of 2 1/2 years ago did the trick. When I ask the new people how they found me, it is location, yellow pages, and referral in that order. At the old place, the answer to the same question was referral and maybe yellow pages. This shop is almost 30 years old so referral is the life blood.

:D Welcome, Cobalt. Good to see you are enjoying The Grumble. Don't get too addicted, tho. :rolleyes:

Yes, you will notice we are from the same town. We are 'friendly competitors' and have been part of a mini-grumble that shares mats and sometimes gripes.
 
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