How's Buisness?????

[the_g_ster]

In lieu of some doom and gloom in the news I am curious (being an economist) to see what people are seeing on the ground in wood land?

What are you seeing with your business and trade?

 

[Oryxdesign]

Seems good so far but I don't think people will cut back until their pockets have been hit, there doesn't seem to be much of a slow down yet?

 

[BradNaylor]

Well,

I've been anticipating a severe downturn in the housing market for a couple of years now, followed by an inevitable recession as people stop spending money. In my view the 'credit crunch' has merely been the trigger for the events we now see unfolding, but which were going to happen sooner or later anyway.

I have done what I can to make my business recession-proof. I have shed most of my overheads and all my staff; I now share a small workshop with another self-employed cabinetmaker and only need a low turnover to make a good living. I am also helped by being under the threshold for VAT registration.

And...

...business is booming!

My order book is full until the end of September with really good quality profitable work.

My feeling is that the full reality of the looming economic calamity has just not sunk in yet with most people. I am hearing however, anecdotal evidence from others in the trade and sales reps etc that many slightly larger companies with big overheads are really feeling the pinch. When you have to sell 3 kitchens a week and suddenly are only selling 2 then bankruptcy looms.

I am glad to be out of all that.

And hey, if Gordon works a miracle and we avoid financial meltdown I'll be quids in anyway!

I'm not holding my breath, though!

Cheers
Dan

 

[Digit]

The last time this sort of thing happened, I won't mention which government I promise, there was a boom in DIY and pro house work.
The reason was that people couldn't afford to move so they improved.

Roy.

 

[BradNaylor]

The last time this sort of thing happened, I won't mention which government I promise, there was a boom in DIY and pro house work.
The reason was that people couldn't afford to move so they improved.

Roy.

You're quite right, Roy.

The home improvement business tends to do well when the housing market collapses. In the recession of the early 1990's everyone started adding conservatories onto the back of their houses to give them more room without having to move.

Now that was a good business to be in! :wink:

I would suggest that currently we are at around the same point in the economic cycle as we were shortly before Mrs Thatcher was forced out in 1990 after going mad.

An omen?

:lol:

Dan

 

[Digit]

An omen?

Why? Do you think Gordon's going mad? :lol:

Roy.

 

[chunkolini]

As sculptor I have never been busier, I wonder if this a 'how the other half live' effect. The man in the street is tightening his purse strings, while more affluent folk, the type who buy bespoke are not noticing it, yet....

Chunko'.

 

[davegw]

The 90's recession and housing slump also bought us programs like changing rooms - my god - does that mean Handy Andy will make a come back!

 

[woodbloke]

davegw wrote:

my god - does that mean Handy Andy will make a come back!

Please...nooooo [-o< On a slightly different note, but related, why isn't there a decent programme or series on something like the Beeb to do with proper woodworking and not the utter DIY cr*p that HA dished up a decade ago? - Rob

 

[wizer]

I really hope that this doesn't get as bad as the early 90's rescession, that nearly wiped my Dad out. Scarey times.

 

[wizer]

davegw wrote:

my god - does that mean Handy Andy will make a come back!

Please...nooooo [-o< On a slightly different note, but related, why isn't there a decent programme or series on something like the Beeb to do with proper woodworking and not the utter DIY cr*p that HA dished up a decade ago? - Rob

Because you can't make a 'zingy', dumbed down, Woodworking shows with integrity. If Discovery ain't doing it, the BBC never will -sadly.

Take for instance that show on the 'Artful Codgers' Ch4 last night. The actual interesting technical details of how he went about so many 'genius' forgeries, was largely ignored. The enthasis was telling us an 'amazing' story.

 

[woodbloke]

davegw wrote:

my god - does that mean Handy Andy will make a come back!

Please...nooooo [-o< On a slightly different note, but related, why isn't there a decent programme or series on something like the Beeb to do with proper woodworking and not the utter DIY cr*p that HA dished up a decade ago? - Rob

Because you can't make a 'zingy', dumbed down, Woodworking shows with integrity. If Discovery ain't doing it, the BBC never will -sadly.

- Rob

 

[davegw]

The only woodworking show on the TV I can find recently is cutting edge woodwork on Discovery Real time - Even Norm seems to have disappeared!

 

[Anonymous]

_____

 

[Digit]

We've got the same problem, yet there must be a lot of woodies locally as Smiths stock, and presumably sell, lots of mags.
Try a copy of the Building Regs, might give the info you're after and libraries normally have a copy.
People here may well have made some, I have, so we might be able to help.

Roy.

 

[Rich]

Would'nt it be good if Charley and the head honchos of the other woodworking forums could get together and put some pressure on the progamme editors to actually listen to peoples views, if there is THAT much interest in fishing, then create a channel dedicated to it, tonight on the leisure channel they were showing, you are what you eat, for goodness sake there are numerous cookery programmes on other channels, on the other channel was hospital jobs, woodwork, nowhere in sight, surely a case for discrimination , c'mon Charley, you've got the clout, use it and speak up for us please, there's a good few members on here who are NOT watching sky because of it's content.

What does the panel think?

regards,
Rich.

PS, perhaps you could enlist the help of Alan Holtham, I see he's looking in tonight?

 

[Digit]

At different times Rich I've seen fishing listed as the UK's most popular pastime, other times gardening,
I think it depends on a number of factors, like have you got a garden?
Locally gardening isn't that popular as so many house holders are either retired or are farmers and probably have seen enough of the soil.
Then of course we have easy acess to coarse fishing, game fishing and sea fishing.
The fact that practical skills, such as woodwork or gardening, seem no longer to be taught at schools may also have some bearing on it.

Roy.

 

[Rich]

Okay Roy, but I bet there are at least 3,167 people who would like to see more woodworking programmes, and that's just this forum, for my money I'd like to see a metal lathe turning channel too, but that's just wishful thinking, there are so many tripe channels that are NOT watched, but sky won't invest in the ones that are wanted I Love fishing and a passion for angling, but they are not giving a balanced view.

 

[Digit]

I don't think a metal turning channel would be that well supported, but if they combined lessons on the basics with finished model steam lorries, locos, farm engines etc then I think it would encourage a few.
Trouble is the commercial interests wish to concentrate on known markets rather than creating them.

Roy.

 

[the_g_ster]

Good time re-address this one.

Everybody busy?