Gone very quiet
Discussion
a311 said:
The latest round of TSB closures included my local branch. Problem is there are only two building societies left the next closest TSB is a 50 min round trip away.
Still need to make cash deposits but more so get cash for a float for the till. Going to have to look at what alternatives are available and ask around.
In the last 4 years We've had a Natwest, HSBC, and recently Halifax beaches close all nice old Georgian buildings. One became a weed farm, one a bar. Go back a decade and there's another 3 that have closed.
We have faced this issue over the past few years as still take a lot of cash from customers. Still need to make cash deposits but more so get cash for a float for the till. Going to have to look at what alternatives are available and ask around.
In the last 4 years We've had a Natwest, HSBC, and recently Halifax beaches close all nice old Georgian buildings. One became a weed farm, one a bar. Go back a decade and there's another 3 that have closed.
The only solution has been to employ G4S in conjunction with our bank to collect cash twice a week and they bring with them the float money I think too.
SuperCarrera said:
Happy to recommend some. Would need to know what sector and rough monthly budget you have.
For the sake of transparency I have a digital marketing agency that has quite a big SEO team but we're at capacity, so happy to recommend the other agencies we know and trust and sometimes refer work to when there are conflicts, etc.
Are there any agencies that work on a results basis?For the sake of transparency I have a digital marketing agency that has quite a big SEO team but we're at capacity, so happy to recommend the other agencies we know and trust and sometimes refer work to when there are conflicts, etc.
I.e. they get paid a share of sales rather than a monthly budget?
Hi All
FYI ocean freight increasing rapidly once again
(Red Sea Crisis saw a bump at Christmas - now it seems tjose lovely shipping companies are laying off capacity to increase prices?)
1x Forty Foot High Cube Container China-Felixstowe
Today's price $5220 inclusive
Post Red Sea Crisis $3500
Pre-crisis, $1450
So that's a 360% cost increase since November 2023
Seems pretty outrageous, then again I feel remarkably zen about this compared to the $20,000 per container cost we were paying just recently.
(Sept 20 to April 22 freight crisis)
Now that was an existential threat!!!!!!
FYI ocean freight increasing rapidly once again
(Red Sea Crisis saw a bump at Christmas - now it seems tjose lovely shipping companies are laying off capacity to increase prices?)
1x Forty Foot High Cube Container China-Felixstowe
Today's price $5220 inclusive
Post Red Sea Crisis $3500
Pre-crisis, $1450
So that's a 360% cost increase since November 2023
Seems pretty outrageous, then again I feel remarkably zen about this compared to the $20,000 per container cost we were paying just recently.
(Sept 20 to April 22 freight crisis)
Now that was an existential threat!!!!!!
MisanoPayments said:
There look to be a couple of posters on here in the gardening trade. I'm looking to add a battery Stihl chainsaw to my other tools in the AK range. It's not much I know, but happy to help a PHer first, if anyone stocks them!
Stihl used to have a very archaic system of only selling to the public face to face.So it meant that you couldn't buy Stihl stuff online (not sure if that's changed.)
They wanted the customer to be shown how to use the machine rather than hand them a box.
To the chaps answering my SEO question.
Webflow - it's what our site is built in
What I'm really after is an entity/person that we could quite happily pay to review all the content in the site with us. And set things up better than they are now / explain it to us.
Monthly spend we could do, but we've not done it yet and tbh I judged at the start that for what we do it was a fools errand that could only become a bidding war with no correlating increase in profit.
It has worked for the last fifteen years for us. Again though, happy to be re-educated if the results are there.
What I've noticed is that the site we had built three years ago (actually two sites) do not perform as well in the organic listings as certain competitors. This is annoying.
The previous wordpress website we had for the decade before did way better.
We need an expert, we can pay, Moreover that we can trust, because the previous bunch were Muppets.
We have recently taken the site away from them and now pay webflow the monthly fee. We are trying to get educated ourselves but time is an issue.
Webflow - it's what our site is built in
What I'm really after is an entity/person that we could quite happily pay to review all the content in the site with us. And set things up better than they are now / explain it to us.
Monthly spend we could do, but we've not done it yet and tbh I judged at the start that for what we do it was a fools errand that could only become a bidding war with no correlating increase in profit.
It has worked for the last fifteen years for us. Again though, happy to be re-educated if the results are there.
What I've noticed is that the site we had built three years ago (actually two sites) do not perform as well in the organic listings as certain competitors. This is annoying.
The previous wordpress website we had for the decade before did way better.
We need an expert, we can pay, Moreover that we can trust, because the previous bunch were Muppets.
We have recently taken the site away from them and now pay webflow the monthly fee. We are trying to get educated ourselves but time is an issue.
TownIdiot said:
Are there any agencies that work on a results basis?
I.e. they get paid a share of sales rather than a monthly budget?
Not amongst the people I know. Likely because most have enough work on being paid their day rate so don't have to work in this way. It's also not that attractive to an SEO as it takes a while to see results if you are in a competitive sector, so could be weeks or months before they get any kind of a return. And all that work then has made your business a lot stronger, not theirs, if you part ways.I.e. they get paid a share of sales rather than a monthly budget?
LuckyThirteen said:
To the chaps answering my SEO question.
Webflow - it's what our site is built in
What I'm really after is an entity/person that we could quite happily pay to review all the content in the site with us. And set things up better than they are now / explain it to us.
Monthly spend we could do, but we've not done it yet and tbh I judged at the start that for what we do it was a fools errand that could only become a bidding war with no correlating increase in profit.
It has worked for the last fifteen years for us. Again though, happy to be re-educated if the results are there.
What I've noticed is that the site we had built three years ago (actually two sites) do not perform as well in the organic listings as certain competitors. This is annoying.
The previous wordpress website we had for the decade before did way better.
We need an expert, we can pay, Moreover that we can trust, because the previous bunch were Muppets.
We have recently taken the site away from them and now pay webflow the monthly fee. We are trying to get educated ourselves but time is an issue.
Sounds to me like you need a decent freelancer or a small agency, one that can be quite flexible with their offering and mix in strategy, training and delivery. I know a couple. I'll just check with the Account Mgmt team here that they are still decent.Webflow - it's what our site is built in
What I'm really after is an entity/person that we could quite happily pay to review all the content in the site with us. And set things up better than they are now / explain it to us.
Monthly spend we could do, but we've not done it yet and tbh I judged at the start that for what we do it was a fools errand that could only become a bidding war with no correlating increase in profit.
It has worked for the last fifteen years for us. Again though, happy to be re-educated if the results are there.
What I've noticed is that the site we had built three years ago (actually two sites) do not perform as well in the organic listings as certain competitors. This is annoying.
The previous wordpress website we had for the decade before did way better.
We need an expert, we can pay, Moreover that we can trust, because the previous bunch were Muppets.
We have recently taken the site away from them and now pay webflow the monthly fee. We are trying to get educated ourselves but time is an issue.
Zoon said:
Stihl used to have a very archaic system of only selling to the public face to face.
So it meant that you couldn't buy Stihl stuff online (not sure if that's changed.)
They wanted the customer to be shown how to use the machine rather than hand them a box.
That's interesting, thanks.So it meant that you couldn't buy Stihl stuff online (not sure if that's changed.)
They wanted the customer to be shown how to use the machine rather than hand them a box.
I bought my strimmer, hedge trimmer and blower all online late last year, from a place in Worcester if I remember correctly.
MisanoPayments said:
Zoon said:
Stihl used to have a very archaic system of only selling to the public face to face.
So it meant that you couldn't buy Stihl stuff online (not sure if that's changed.)
They wanted the customer to be shown how to use the machine rather than hand them a box.
That's interesting, thanks.So it meant that you couldn't buy Stihl stuff online (not sure if that's changed.)
They wanted the customer to be shown how to use the machine rather than hand them a box.
I bought my strimmer, hedge trimmer and blower all online late last year, from a place in Worcester if I remember correctly.
ecommerce isn't always in the public's interest just because it results in lower prices!
skwdenyer said:
MisanoPayments said:
Zoon said:
Stihl used to have a very archaic system of only selling to the public face to face.
So it meant that you couldn't buy Stihl stuff online (not sure if that's changed.)
They wanted the customer to be shown how to use the machine rather than hand them a box.
That's interesting, thanks.So it meant that you couldn't buy Stihl stuff online (not sure if that's changed.)
They wanted the customer to be shown how to use the machine rather than hand them a box.
I bought my strimmer, hedge trimmer and blower all online late last year, from a place in Worcester if I remember correctly.
ecommerce isn't always in the public's interest just because it results in lower prices!
This is good for our bricks and mortar, but not online. Somewhat ironic that we went more online because we were constantly being undercut before this 5% rule...
The thing with Sithl is that they will sell out of anywhere and appoint dealers right on top of each other, sell direct, etc etc
Still good product but Husqvarna often seems better for us now in terms of quality and margin potential.
The Auto Mowers are the best in the business and are most definitely not an online purchase as require the proper setup.
a311 said:
The latest round of TSB closures included my local branch. Problem is there are only two building societies left the next closest TSB is a 50 min round trip away.
Still need to make cash deposits but more so get cash for a float for the till. Going to have to look at what alternatives are available and ask around.
In the last 4 years We've had a Natwest, HSBC, and recently Halifax beaches close all nice old Georgian buildings. One became a weed farm, one a bar. Go back a decade and there's another 3 that have closed.
Our shop / house is a former bank from the Georgian era (1795). This closed as Bank of Scotland in 2016, across the road closed as TSB before 2008. We have to do a run into Fraserburgh to pay cash into one of the few remaining BoS branches planned to be left open.Still need to make cash deposits but more so get cash for a float for the till. Going to have to look at what alternatives are available and ask around.
In the last 4 years We've had a Natwest, HSBC, and recently Halifax beaches close all nice old Georgian buildings. One became a weed farm, one a bar. Go back a decade and there's another 3 that have closed.
a311 said:
The latest round of TSB closures included my local branch. Problem is there are only two building societies left the next closest TSB is a 50 min round trip away.
Still need to make cash deposits but more so get cash for a float for the till. Going to have to look at what alternatives are available and ask around.
In the last 4 years We've had a Natwest, HSBC, and recently Halifax beaches close all nice old Georgian buildings. One became a weed farm, one a bar. Go back a decade and there's another 3 that have closed.
I can't remember the last time I used cash, here or abroad, is your business based on a demographic that are wary of electronic transactions?, if not why don't you opt to just take card payments, lots are doing that now IME. I guess there are costs to that, but dealng with all the implications of cash every day must mean these costs make life much more bearable?Still need to make cash deposits but more so get cash for a float for the till. Going to have to look at what alternatives are available and ask around.
In the last 4 years We've had a Natwest, HSBC, and recently Halifax beaches close all nice old Georgian buildings. One became a weed farm, one a bar. Go back a decade and there's another 3 that have closed.
GardeningEcomm said:
Hi All
FYI ocean freight increasing rapidly once again
(Red Sea Crisis saw a bump at Christmas - now it seems tjose lovely shipping companies are laying off capacity to increase prices?)
1x Forty Foot High Cube Container China-Felixstowe
Today's price $5220 inclusive
Post Red Sea Crisis $3500
Pre-crisis, $1450
So that's a 360% cost increase since November 2023
Seems pretty outrageous, then again I feel remarkably zen about this compared to the $20,000 per container cost we were paying just recently.
(Sept 20 to April 22 freight crisis)
Now that was an existential threat!!!!!!
Yep, had a crazy price in for the latest container.FYI ocean freight increasing rapidly once again
(Red Sea Crisis saw a bump at Christmas - now it seems tjose lovely shipping companies are laying off capacity to increase prices?)
1x Forty Foot High Cube Container China-Felixstowe
Today's price $5220 inclusive
Post Red Sea Crisis $3500
Pre-crisis, $1450
So that's a 360% cost increase since November 2023
Seems pretty outrageous, then again I feel remarkably zen about this compared to the $20,000 per container cost we were paying just recently.
(Sept 20 to April 22 freight crisis)
Now that was an existential threat!!!!!!
Meanwhile, the bank governor on the radio saying he expects inflation to keep going down, blah blah blah. Do they have any idea whats goes on in the real world?
ninepoint2 said:
a311 said:
The latest round of TSB closures included my local branch. Problem is there are only two building societies left the next closest TSB is a 50 min round trip away.
Still need to make cash deposits but more so get cash for a float for the till. Going to have to look at what alternatives are available and ask around.
In the last 4 years We've had a Natwest, HSBC, and recently Halifax beaches close all nice old Georgian buildings. One became a weed farm, one a bar. Go back a decade and there's another 3 that have closed.
I can't remember the last time I used cash, here or abroad, is your business based on a demographic that are wary of electronic transactions?, if not why don't you opt to just take card payments, lots are doing that now IME. I guess there are costs to that, but dealng with all the implications of cash every day must mean these costs make life much more bearable?Still need to make cash deposits but more so get cash for a float for the till. Going to have to look at what alternatives are available and ask around.
In the last 4 years We've had a Natwest, HSBC, and recently Halifax beaches close all nice old Georgian buildings. One became a weed farm, one a bar. Go back a decade and there's another 3 that have closed.
More seriously, increasing numbers of businesses around me are now saying cash *only* and no cards. My son had this in a curry house in town last night; I've had it with a local takeway. The latter is pretty open (too open?) with me that it is about simply not declaring the takings for VAT, etc. When I was in London last week, there were endless takeaways saying precisely the same.
Some genuinely don't want to pay the card fees (especially those who buy from the cash-and-carry - they've no need to bank the cash); but still more are doing what has always been said about cash businesses.
Frankly, the sooner we mandate all businesses take cards the better. It really is a big drag on the tax take.
skwdenyer said:
The big cash takers that I know of are expensive coat / puffa jacket / outdoors stores. The cynic in me says the drug dealers need *somewhere* to spend their money
More seriously, increasing numbers of businesses around me are now saying cash *only* and no cards. My son had this in a curry house in town last night; I've had it with a local takeway. The latter is pretty open (too open?) with me that it is about simply not declaring the takings for VAT, etc. When I was in London last week, there were endless takeaways saying precisely the same.
Some genuinely don't want to pay the card fees (especially those who buy from the cash-and-carry - they've no need to bank the cash); but still more are doing what has always been said about cash businesses.
Frankly, the sooner we mandate all businesses take cards the better. It really is a big drag on the tax take.
We should also allow for businesses to pass on the card charges. More seriously, increasing numbers of businesses around me are now saying cash *only* and no cards. My son had this in a curry house in town last night; I've had it with a local takeway. The latter is pretty open (too open?) with me that it is about simply not declaring the takings for VAT, etc. When I was in London last week, there were endless takeaways saying precisely the same.
Some genuinely don't want to pay the card fees (especially those who buy from the cash-and-carry - they've no need to bank the cash); but still more are doing what has always been said about cash businesses.
Frankly, the sooner we mandate all businesses take cards the better. It really is a big drag on the tax take.
We sell insurance so have to pay the card percentage on the whole premium and in some instances only received 10% commission.
So the card fee is a hefty percentage of the margin. We are trying to get people to pay by sending a bank transfer link but take up rate is low.
skwdenyer said:
The big cash takers that I know of are expensive coat / puffa jacket / outdoors stores. The cynic in me says the drug dealers need *somewhere* to spend their money
More seriously, increasing numbers of businesses around me are now saying cash *only* and no cards. My son had this in a curry house in town last night; I've had it with a local takeway. The latter is pretty open (too open?) with me that it is about simply not declaring the takings for VAT, etc. When I was in London last week, there were endless takeaways saying precisely the same.
Some genuinely don't want to pay the card fees (especially those who buy from the cash-and-carry - they've no need to bank the cash); but still more are doing what has always been said about cash businesses.
Frankly, the sooner we mandate all businesses take cards the better. It really is a big drag on the tax take.
I don't take card payments, but I'm happy to take bank transfer, cheque, or cash.More seriously, increasing numbers of businesses around me are now saying cash *only* and no cards. My son had this in a curry house in town last night; I've had it with a local takeway. The latter is pretty open (too open?) with me that it is about simply not declaring the takings for VAT, etc. When I was in London last week, there were endless takeaways saying precisely the same.
Some genuinely don't want to pay the card fees (especially those who buy from the cash-and-carry - they've no need to bank the cash); but still more are doing what has always been said about cash businesses.
Frankly, the sooner we mandate all businesses take cards the better. It really is a big drag on the tax take.
I've looked into getting a card machine, but the costs don't make sense when I'm only taking 2 or 3 payments a week on average.
Having to pay to buy a card machine, then pay a percentage in commission puts me off.
I'd rather let the customer do the bank transfer when they get home after collecting their clock.
TownIdiot said:
We should also allow for businesses to pass on the card charges.
We sell insurance so have to pay the card percentage on the whole premium and in some instances only received 10% commission.
So the card fee is a hefty percentage of the margin. We are trying to get people to pay by sending a bank transfer link but take up rate is low.
But if you did that, the commission would drop still further We sell insurance so have to pay the card percentage on the whole premium and in some instances only received 10% commission.
So the card fee is a hefty percentage of the margin. We are trying to get people to pay by sending a bank transfer link but take up rate is low.
The insurance companies are only going to pay you just enough to keep you hungry to sell more policies The card rules are the same for everyone, and fair for everyone. Card fees are a tiny fraction of what they once were. Your competition are also paying them. Moving people off cash is an important social good IMHO.
skwdenyer said:
But if you did that, the commission would drop still further The insurance companies are only going to pay you just enough to keep you hungry to sell more policies
The card rules are the same for everyone, and fair for everyone. Card fees are a tiny fraction of what they once were. Your competition are also paying them. Moving people off cash is an important social good IMHO.
If we used round numbers as an illustration The insurance companies are only going to pay you just enough to keep you hungry to sell more policies The card rules are the same for everyone, and fair for everyone. Card fees are a tiny fraction of what they once were. Your competition are also paying them. Moving people off cash is an important social good IMHO.
Gross 100
Margin 10
Card fee 1
10% of the margin in card fees alone
If we could say
It's 11 by card but click this link and it's a tenner the client is no worse off, we are 10% better off and no cash has been utilised.
TownIdiot said:
skwdenyer said:
But if you did that, the commission would drop still further The insurance companies are only going to pay you just enough to keep you hungry to sell more policies
The card rules are the same for everyone, and fair for everyone. Card fees are a tiny fraction of what they once were. Your competition are also paying them. Moving people off cash is an important social good IMHO.
If we used round numbers as an illustration The insurance companies are only going to pay you just enough to keep you hungry to sell more policies The card rules are the same for everyone, and fair for everyone. Card fees are a tiny fraction of what they once were. Your competition are also paying them. Moving people off cash is an important social good IMHO.
Gross 100
Margin 10
Card fee 1
10% of the margin in card fees alone
If we could say
It's 11 by card but click this link and it's a tenner the client is no worse off, we are 10% better off and no cash has been utilised.
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