How's Buisness?????

[BradNaylor]

Funnily enough, I've never been busier!

There was a period back in June/July when it was looking a bit dodgy and new business was thin on the ground, but since then things have picked up again.

My order book is now full until April and I'm picking and choosing the clients who I decide to take on. My mate Phil and I joke that when we go out on an initial consultation that we are actually interviewing the client!

I know that I am very fortunate however, and am not complacent. I am sure that the coming recession is going to be as bad as any of us can remember - if not worse - and am preparing to work my balls off for the next few years and live cheaply.

Any plans I might have for a foray into making 'fine furniture' are on hold for a while while I concentrate on keeping my order book full with MDF alcove units for debt-free middle-aged or retired professionals.

i.e. recession-proof clients!

Boring but profitable and safe.

Cheers
Dan

 

[joiner_sim]

working in the bespoke constructional joinery area..... windows & doors etc... we don't seem to be quiet at all. Just in the middle of about 30 sash windows for a listed building. After that there's even more. I think householders aren't moving out anymore, and deciding to do up the property they have got.
>Last year we started a contract for a massive housing firm, 30 houses a year windows and external doors. We did the 30 last year. This year they cancelled the 30 and only wanted 6 to be done...... I think its the private customers who are going to be the customers at the moment. Not many big firms.

 

[busy builder]

Work up in the Highlands (25 miles north of Inverness) has really slowed down. I do small building works, sort of up to extensions, if you see what I mean.
New work has slowed and I've spoken to a few others in the building trades, they say the same with some joiners/painters working for freinds and family now to tide things over.
I have enough work for another few weeks, usually I have 1-2 months up front, and am only getting work from past customers now.

Its looking grim. But hey ! I'm off on holiday to Naples soon

 

[Smudger]

Discovery Real Time has a daily viewing figure of about 250,000. So our 3,000 won't make much of a difference.
What do you think the daily viewing figures would be for a dedicate woodworking channel?

 

[Grinding One]

Over on this side of the pond people are selling their tools to Eat and make rent,banks are being foreclosed on ...Washington Mututel went under.the second biggest bank in America.They say we have another 1600 in trouble bad loans....so its understandable that its all going wrong.
Most manufactoring jobs have left the states,heck even phone answering jobs have left.Its a good thing they can`t dig up the ground and move it off to somewhere else or we would all go hungery.It reminds me of Germany after the war all the manufactering machines were moved to Russia.We just had a Machinery Auction and Brazil was buying the equipment up...I know because me and a friend hauled it to shipping point.
Every week we lose more jobs,so I would say we are close to the bottom.

 

[BradNaylor]

Every week we lose more jobs,so I would say we are close to the bottom.

I admire your optimism.

Dan

 

[Grinding One]

Yep new president new world.

 

[skipdiver]

Im really busy at the moment.Everyone seems to be having extensions/conservatories/kitchens done instead of moving.Been so busy in fact that not been on this site for weeks.Had to book some time off to get my workshop moving again.Waiting for my mate to come and brick up the gables as i write.

 

[mailee]

Over on this side of the pond people are selling their tools to Eat and make rent,banks are being foreclosed on ...Washington Mututel went under.the second biggest bank in America.They say we have another 1600 in trouble bad loans....so its understandable that its all going wrong.
Most manufactoring jobs have left the states,heck even phone answering jobs have left.Its a good thing they can`t dig up the ground and move it off to somewhere else or we would all go hungery.It reminds me of Germany after the war all the manufactering machines were moved to Russia.We just had a Machinery Auction and Brazil was buying the equipment up...I know because me and a friend hauled it to shipping point.
Every week we lose more jobs,so I would say we are close to the bottom.

Hmm! this sounds vaguely farmiliar to me :roll:

 

[devonwoody]

I think there is a difference this time with workloads to come, INFLATION,

I have set how food budget up from £2000 p.a. to £3000,
Fuel up from £750 to £1200.

etc.etc.

 

[maltrout512]

I have not had so much work before. Having started building a kitchen for a customer, all hand made etc, in oak. Raized panels dovetailed draws etc etc. More work coming in on the back of that. So I am quite pleased. Do a really good job and there will be more.

 

[Grinding One]

America just tanked out...they did not pass the Bail Out Plan...oh woe is me. Bankers going broke again...

 

[devonwoody]

I have always thought the Americans were good borrowers, so get cracking and get the system going again please.

 

[Losos]

I read this today on another site, thought it was worth sharing :wink:

A driver is stuck in a traffic jam on the motorway. Nothing is moving. Suddenly a man knocks on the window.

The driver rolls down his window and asks, 'What's going on?'

'Terrorists down the road have kidnapped Gordon Brown, Alistair Darling, David Miliband and Jack Straw.

They're asking for a £10 million ransom.

Otherwise they're going to douse them with petrol and set them on fire.

We're going from car to car, taking up a collection.'

The driver asks, 'How much is everyone giving, on average?'

'Most people are giving about a gallon.'