Gone very quiet
Discussion
Phooey said:
The online-selling game has been injected with steroids this year - we've had little choice than to mostly buy online so easy to see why. I do hope though that in the future proper bricks and mortar shops have some kind of comeback. It'll take a lot of hard work, and mostly from the gov / councils to bring the love back to the high street. I grew up from market trading to shop-on-the-high-street to online selling so can see the change as much as anyone. Buying anything you want online and getting it next day with zero risk (guarantees) is the future no doubt, but it's sadly destroying the freedom and enjoyment of "going shopping". I'm fully involved in it, but I hate what online selling has brought with it. Just my 2p.
We really need the overtaxation of retail to be sorted, combined with a crackdown on their online competitors that for taxation purposes are Irish or Luxembourgian. Grrbang said:
Phooey said:
The online-selling game has been injected with steroids this year - we've had little choice than to mostly buy online so easy to see why. I do hope though that in the future proper bricks and mortar shops have some kind of comeback. It'll take a lot of hard work, and mostly from the gov / councils to bring the love back to the high street. I grew up from market trading to shop-on-the-high-street to online selling so can see the change as much as anyone. Buying anything you want online and getting it next day with zero risk (guarantees) is the future no doubt, but it's sadly destroying the freedom and enjoyment of "going shopping". I'm fully involved in it, but I hate what online selling has brought with it. Just my 2p.
We really need the overtaxation of retail to be sorted, combined with a crackdown on their online competitors that for taxation purposes are Irish or Luxembourgian. Referring to my post above, when I say online sales, I should add that we have a physical showroom and sales office open to visitors. But you won't find any of our products in the high street or on a retail park. We engage with many of our prospects and customers in great detail.
However the hub of everything is the website that attracts 10,000 unique visitors a month. We've put a huge amount of effort into SEO and getting the right products on there. So that's why I regard the business as being largely ecommerce.
However the hub of everything is the website that attracts 10,000 unique visitors a month. We've put a huge amount of effort into SEO and getting the right products on there. So that's why I regard the business as being largely ecommerce.
Canute said:
Retail has been a woeful experience before C19. Frumpy girls not interested in even making eye contact with customers, poor stock and messy sales floors. Total PIA if you want to get something exchanged or returned. I'm very sorry, but the high street has had its chance and C19 was the final nail in the coffin from what I can see in most towns. It's sad, but I struggle to see how things will return like they were.
Long running thread on this subject here (as we're having a bit of a thread drift here)...https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I actually see the high street evolving significantly, especially in higher value items.
I see show rooms for either brands or a genre / product groups appearing but with a drop ship method of delivery direct to customer.
In effect this is already how the smaller independent luxury retailers work as they can not afford to hold all ranges in any sort of stock levels.
I am certainly keeping an eye on my local high street costs, especially as my ideal store front style has become vacant.
V.
I see show rooms for either brands or a genre / product groups appearing but with a drop ship method of delivery direct to customer.
In effect this is already how the smaller independent luxury retailers work as they can not afford to hold all ranges in any sort of stock levels.
I am certainly keeping an eye on my local high street costs, especially as my ideal store front style has become vacant.
V.
High streets will become the domain mainly just for clothes and eating. Everything else will move to retail parks on the outskirts.
Commuting into the office will pick up again after the pandemic, as will hot-desking/co-working, but nowhere near the levels pre-COVID. Plenty of retail and office space in towns and cities will be converted to much needed residential space.
I doubt business rates will go down, even though they should, since councils are going to need all the funds they can get their hands on.
Commuting into the office will pick up again after the pandemic, as will hot-desking/co-working, but nowhere near the levels pre-COVID. Plenty of retail and office space in towns and cities will be converted to much needed residential space.
I doubt business rates will go down, even though they should, since councils are going to need all the funds they can get their hands on.
Well closing in on the end of our first month of 2021 and its not great news.
We are 90% down on our average turn over for January.
Even with it being our quietest month of the year due to the seasonal variation in the business the last time we turned over this little was 2010 when we had -18c and 3 feet of snow on the ground.
We have not had the best weather which is fair enough but one thing we have noticed is our big trade customers have not returned after the November lock down.
Speaking to other businesses in the local area who are in the same ish line of work as us and they are reporting similar.
Another big negative we have seen this month is prices, we have seen suppliers creep their prices up.
We are 90% down on our average turn over for January.
Even with it being our quietest month of the year due to the seasonal variation in the business the last time we turned over this little was 2010 when we had -18c and 3 feet of snow on the ground.
We have not had the best weather which is fair enough but one thing we have noticed is our big trade customers have not returned after the November lock down.
Speaking to other businesses in the local area who are in the same ish line of work as us and they are reporting similar.
Another big negative we have seen this month is prices, we have seen suppliers creep their prices up.
Was speaking to my plasterer last week and asking him how it’s going, he’s a switched on lad so trust his insights.
He reckons it’s really starting to drop off now. He’s always going to be ok as he’s an old timer with work booked in to match but he says he’s really started to see the contractors stopping their spending and cutting back to essential projects.
There seems to be a sense that while the work is there now it very much won’t be in about four months time.
He reckons it’s really starting to drop off now. He’s always going to be ok as he’s an old timer with work booked in to match but he says he’s really started to see the contractors stopping their spending and cutting back to essential projects.
There seems to be a sense that while the work is there now it very much won’t be in about four months time.
We're flying this month but are in one of the better sectors (EV charging). The first lockdown stopped everything almost for 3 months and then our phones rang off the hook, they slowed in Autumn but have picked up since then and this month has been a bit manic.
Business customers seem to be contacting us more (4-6 chargers, intelligence etc.) but car showrooms are more switched on to digital sales and test drives. They can also do handovers and that is helping but it may slow as many new customers bought before this lockdown. We'll see. Incidentally installation in office blocks are a whole lot easier when there aren't any staff there! It's amazing going to building that can hold hundreds of employees and see them empty, barring a handful of people
Electricians have been very busy since the first lockdown and I've not seen this slowing but, as above may be...
Business customers seem to be contacting us more (4-6 chargers, intelligence etc.) but car showrooms are more switched on to digital sales and test drives. They can also do handovers and that is helping but it may slow as many new customers bought before this lockdown. We'll see. Incidentally installation in office blocks are a whole lot easier when there aren't any staff there! It's amazing going to building that can hold hundreds of employees and see them empty, barring a handful of people
Electricians have been very busy since the first lockdown and I've not seen this slowing but, as above may be...
We've gone the opposite way, very busy in our part of the world (email marketing).
Started trading July 2019. Forecasting to finish Y2 around 400% up. Client base has tripled which is great. We've also been very fortunate to be able to provide jobs to three people since the summer.
Looking across the client base, a couple of the smaller niche (UK based) fashion brands we work with are having a tough time (still growing but slower than they would like).
Email success stories - one brand we've taken from $100k of sales to $1.9m in 12 months, another from £650k to £1.3m (including a 3 week shut down of their website at the start of lockdown one), an EU based business from €2.6 to €6.3m. Another has already had more sales in January 2021 from email than they did in all of 2020).
Basket values range from £45 up to £250 typically.
We've also been able to help out a couple of smaller more local businesses including a local brewery and men's clothes shop. Great to be able to give a little back
Started trading July 2019. Forecasting to finish Y2 around 400% up. Client base has tripled which is great. We've also been very fortunate to be able to provide jobs to three people since the summer.
Looking across the client base, a couple of the smaller niche (UK based) fashion brands we work with are having a tough time (still growing but slower than they would like).
Email success stories - one brand we've taken from $100k of sales to $1.9m in 12 months, another from £650k to £1.3m (including a 3 week shut down of their website at the start of lockdown one), an EU based business from €2.6 to €6.3m. Another has already had more sales in January 2021 from email than they did in all of 2020).
Basket values range from £45 up to £250 typically.
We've also been able to help out a couple of smaller more local businesses including a local brewery and men's clothes shop. Great to be able to give a little back
LaurasOtherHalf said:
Was speaking to my plasterer last week and asking him how it’s going, he’s a switched on lad so trust his insights.
He reckons it’s really starting to drop off now. He’s always going to be ok as he’s an old timer with work booked in to match but he says he’s really started to see the contractors stopping their spending and cutting back to essential projects.
There seems to be a sense that while the work is there now it very much won’t be in about four months time.
In what sort of end customer - builders / developers?He reckons it’s really starting to drop off now. He’s always going to be ok as he’s an old timer with work booked in to match but he says he’s really started to see the contractors stopping their spending and cutting back to essential projects.
There seems to be a sense that while the work is there now it very much won’t be in about four months time.
Based on how the housing market has been there must be tons of domestic work either from people who've just moved or people who wanted to, but can't find anything suitable.
Two of my neighbours are having hefty extensions and both sets of builders worked through the weekend, even on Sunday in the snow (and the one who usually wears shorts still did!). One had an electrician here too and he worked long hours both days - we assumed he was doing a foreigner but he was back today.
pmanson said:
Email success stories - one brand we've taken from $100k of sales to $1.9m in 12 months, another from £650k to £1.3m (including a 3 week shut down of their website at the start of lockdown one), an EU based business from €2.6 to €6.3m. Another has already had more sales in January 2021 from email than they did in all of 2020).
Basket values range from £45 up to £250 typically.
We've also been able to help out a couple of smaller more local businesses including a local brewery and men's clothes shop. Great to be able to give a little back
They're fantastic results, and well done for helping the local guys.Basket values range from £45 up to £250 typically.
We've also been able to help out a couple of smaller more local businesses including a local brewery and men's clothes shop. Great to be able to give a little back
Sheepshanks said:
LaurasOtherHalf said:
Was speaking to my plasterer last week and asking him how it’s going, he’s a switched on lad so trust his insights.
He reckons it’s really starting to drop off now. He’s always going to be ok as he’s an old timer with work booked in to match but he says he’s really started to see the contractors stopping their spending and cutting back to essential projects.
There seems to be a sense that while the work is there now it very much won’t be in about four months time.
In what sort of end customer - builders / developers?He reckons it’s really starting to drop off now. He’s always going to be ok as he’s an old timer with work booked in to match but he says he’s really started to see the contractors stopping their spending and cutting back to essential projects.
There seems to be a sense that while the work is there now it very much won’t be in about four months time.
Based on how the housing market has been there must be tons of domestic work either from people who've just moved or people who wanted to, but can't find anything suitable.
Two of my neighbours are having hefty extensions and both sets of builders worked through the weekend, even on Sunday in the snow (and the one who usually wears shorts still did!). One had an electrician here too and he worked long hours both days - we assumed he was doing a foreigner but he was back today.
Frimley111R said:
Yep, big extension going on across the road from me and the guys are there 7 days. However this started pre covid and as these come to an end i wonder how many people are wanting to/are risking such big outlays...
I know what's putting some people off is insane pricing being quoted - supposedly because builders are so busy. So there's still scope for more work with a bit of softening of prices.Must say it’s grim in the two sectors we’re involved in.
Our Motorsport retail business is 80% down on last January, despite what people may think the Autosport show actually creates a huge level of business. Looking ahead to Feb/ March I’d say they’ll be 90% down, the conversations we traditionally see just aren’t happening.
Our events company (which is both Motorsport and to a degree consultancy) is 100% down year on year. Normally our first big Motorsport event is February, that’s now postponed to October.
We’re now as a company firmly set up from home cutting the overhead of rented office space etc.
I genuinely think this year will be harder than last, at least in 2020 we got Jan/Feb and early March in before all hell broke loose. Tough times but I’m determined we’ll still be here come 2022
Our Motorsport retail business is 80% down on last January, despite what people may think the Autosport show actually creates a huge level of business. Looking ahead to Feb/ March I’d say they’ll be 90% down, the conversations we traditionally see just aren’t happening.
Our events company (which is both Motorsport and to a degree consultancy) is 100% down year on year. Normally our first big Motorsport event is February, that’s now postponed to October.
We’re now as a company firmly set up from home cutting the overhead of rented office space etc.
I genuinely think this year will be harder than last, at least in 2020 we got Jan/Feb and early March in before all hell broke loose. Tough times but I’m determined we’ll still be here come 2022
Frimley111R said:
Sheepshanks said:
LaurasOtherHalf said:
Was speaking to my plasterer last week and asking him how it’s going, he’s a switched on lad so trust his insights.
He reckons it’s really starting to drop off now. He’s always going to be ok as he’s an old timer with work booked in to match but he says he’s really started to see the contractors stopping their spending and cutting back to essential projects.
There seems to be a sense that while the work is there now it very much won’t be in about four months time.
In what sort of end customer - builders / developers?He reckons it’s really starting to drop off now. He’s always going to be ok as he’s an old timer with work booked in to match but he says he’s really started to see the contractors stopping their spending and cutting back to essential projects.
There seems to be a sense that while the work is there now it very much won’t be in about four months time.
Based on how the housing market has been there must be tons of domestic work either from people who've just moved or people who wanted to, but can't find anything suitable.
Two of my neighbours are having hefty extensions and both sets of builders worked through the weekend, even on Sunday in the snow (and the one who usually wears shorts still did!). One had an electrician here too and he worked long hours both days - we assumed he was doing a foreigner but he was back today.
Everyone I know is working as close to 7 days a week as they can (hard with home schooling hence why some lads are working weekends), everyone wants to make hay now as they're expecting after easter it isn't going to be easy.
Put it this way, I'm normally chasing my subbies, now they're ringing me to see when I'm starting.
BEP said:
Must say it’s grim in the two sectors we’re involved in.
Our Motorsport retail business is 80% down on last January, despite what people may think the Autosport show actually creates a huge level of business. Looking ahead to Feb/ March I’d say they’ll be 90% down, the conversations we traditionally see just aren’t happening.
Our events company (which is both Motorsport and to a degree consultancy) is 100% down year on year. Normally our first big Motorsport event is February, that’s now postponed to October.
We’re now as a company firmly set up from home cutting the overhead of rented office space etc.
I genuinely think this year will be harder than last, at least in 2020 we got Jan/Feb and early March in before all hell broke loose. Tough times but I’m determined we’ll still be here come 2022
I’m really sorry to read this. I hope it bounces back quickly for you.Our Motorsport retail business is 80% down on last January, despite what people may think the Autosport show actually creates a huge level of business. Looking ahead to Feb/ March I’d say they’ll be 90% down, the conversations we traditionally see just aren’t happening.
Our events company (which is both Motorsport and to a degree consultancy) is 100% down year on year. Normally our first big Motorsport event is February, that’s now postponed to October.
We’re now as a company firmly set up from home cutting the overhead of rented office space etc.
I genuinely think this year will be harder than last, at least in 2020 we got Jan/Feb and early March in before all hell broke loose. Tough times but I’m determined we’ll still be here come 2022
Hopefully you'll see an uplift BEP when things get going again cars and motorsoort can be pretty covid safe hobbies.
I'm totally confused what's going on we are busy to the point its completely ludicrous I'm working 7 days at the moment and fighting customers off with a big stick this is in Sportscars retail specifically Lotus cars. No idea where demand has come from but January we've just done 2 to 3 months worth of trade in 3 weeks. When will it end? I suspect when late spring comes we will be quiet but godly it will be a chance for some extended time off for us.
I'm totally confused what's going on we are busy to the point its completely ludicrous I'm working 7 days at the moment and fighting customers off with a big stick this is in Sportscars retail specifically Lotus cars. No idea where demand has come from but January we've just done 2 to 3 months worth of trade in 3 weeks. When will it end? I suspect when late spring comes we will be quiet but godly it will be a chance for some extended time off for us.
Mirrors my experience exactly. We were screwed in the brexit build up it was not a fun time for me as we were also trying to buy our unit at the same time as having glacial turnover.
I think later this year/ next year will be a time for sitting back and having a bit of time to enjoy the fruits of your labour from these busy times.
I think later this year/ next year will be a time for sitting back and having a bit of time to enjoy the fruits of your labour from these busy times.
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