Gone very quiet
Discussion
JZZ30 said:
Also in the Exhibition and Event industry and like HoHoHo, business has just disappeared! Yesterdays news that events will not be coming back for at least 6 months is just the latest blow and has tipped us over the edge. Now making all staff redundant and I'll need to see how it looks in May / June, but not overly hopeful. One of the guys has been working with me for over 20 years and another for 15 years. Dozens of freelancers too that will be missed.
Last proper job we built was back on the 6th March. Since then, been scratching away a few different things using the kit for 'social distancing' etc, a bit of transport, not really enough to cover costs but confident we could make it to the new year with reserves we had built up, now all early bookings in the new year have gone.
It's actually pretty f
king upsetting typing this out! Feel like weighing the lot in for scrap and trying to rent out the unit.
Expos are still going here in Poland like there's no tomorrow for now. (Know nothing about the industry at all apart from attending a few) I have got a decent sized garage and happy to cold call to drum up business? There's always a way out. Our healthcare recruitment industry has pretty much been asleep since march (odd really given the alleged need for frontline workers) if you need any help breaking into new markets always happy to give it a go.... Last proper job we built was back on the 6th March. Since then, been scratching away a few different things using the kit for 'social distancing' etc, a bit of transport, not really enough to cover costs but confident we could make it to the new year with reserves we had built up, now all early bookings in the new year have gone.
It's actually pretty f
king upsetting typing this out! Feel like weighing the lot in for scrap and trying to rent out the unit.My business as a structural engineer in aerospace has been at 0 since mid March.
Those on the outside of my industry are seemingly locked out with companies not able or willing to hire (either because we aren't allowed to work from home if we're not permi's, companies are in self preservation mode, or because we need security clearance to do jobs, and the vetting is taking months).
I am trying to organise my skills as an online design/engineering offering besides my unmanned vehicles work but its damn hard to actually focus considering the risk at stake.
Those on the outside of my industry are seemingly locked out with companies not able or willing to hire (either because we aren't allowed to work from home if we're not permi's, companies are in self preservation mode, or because we need security clearance to do jobs, and the vetting is taking months).
I am trying to organise my skills as an online design/engineering offering besides my unmanned vehicles work but its damn hard to actually focus considering the risk at stake.
Jan +26%
Feb -74%
Mar +7%
Apr -58%
May -53%
Jun -4%
Jul -5%
Aug -61%
Sep -29%
September worse than I expected.
I think trade is going to fall off a cliff the next 3 months. We already seen sales calls down about 50% (beyond normal) this week so far.
E commerce is still up but everything else is down, way, way down.
Feb -74%
Mar +7%
Apr -58%
May -53%
Jun -4%
Jul -5%
Aug -61%
Sep -29%
September worse than I expected.
I think trade is going to fall off a cliff the next 3 months. We already seen sales calls down about 50% (beyond normal) this week so far.
E commerce is still up but everything else is down, way, way down.
red_slr said:
Jan +26%
Feb -74%
Mar +7%
Apr -58%
May -53%
Jun -4%
Jul -5%
Aug -61%
Sep -29%
September worse than I expected.
I think trade is going to fall off a cliff the next 3 months. We already seen sales calls down about 50% (beyond normal) this week so far.
E commerce is still up but everything else is down, way, way down.
You’d better tell Andy Haldane, because that’s very different from what he said yesterday, and I am guessing he is pretty well informed.Feb -74%
Mar +7%
Apr -58%
May -53%
Jun -4%
Jul -5%
Aug -61%
Sep -29%
September worse than I expected.
I think trade is going to fall off a cliff the next 3 months. We already seen sales calls down about 50% (beyond normal) this week so far.
E commerce is still up but everything else is down, way, way down.
One thing I am noticing, is the huge increase in *ahole* customers. I just seem to get them more and more.
This morning "I want you to reduce your bill by £60 or I'm not paying it." He then followed up with "I've got cancer, so if you don't do it soon I'll probably die, and you'll never get paid".
His invoice was exactly as quoted, for reference.
hole* customers. I just seem to get them more and more. This morning "I want you to reduce your bill by £60 or I'm not paying it." He then followed up with "I've got cancer, so if you don't do it soon I'll probably die, and you'll never get paid".
His invoice was exactly as quoted, for reference.
Dr Interceptor said:
One thing I am noticing, is the huge increase in *ahole* customers. I just seem to get them more and more.
This morning "I want you to reduce your bill by £60 or I'm not paying it." He then followed up with "I've got cancer, so if you don't do it soon I'll probably die, and you'll never get paid".
His invoice was exactly as quoted, for reference.
Bizarre. If the cancer bit is true then cancer + covid pandemic has left him feeling angry with the world. I do feel like everyone is angry with everything at the moment.hole* customers. I just seem to get them more and more. This morning "I want you to reduce your bill by £60 or I'm not paying it." He then followed up with "I've got cancer, so if you don't do it soon I'll probably die, and you'll never get paid".
His invoice was exactly as quoted, for reference.
I think we need to give it another couple of weeks to see if this is a trend or just a blip but our phones have stopped ringing and the ecom has slowed right down too.
I think you are right though, a lot of people will stop spending this month as the uncertainty of the end of furlough kicks in then its Christmas and of course add into all that we are looking at some kind of second lock down.
I think you are right though, a lot of people will stop spending this month as the uncertainty of the end of furlough kicks in then its Christmas and of course add into all that we are looking at some kind of second lock down.
Undirection said:
Getting quieter and quieter.....
I spoke to a plumber the other day who said he was still busy but I suspect that's sue to building projects backed up from the lockdown still being on going.
Hi, Unidirection - what sector?I spoke to a plumber the other day who said he was still busy but I suspect that's sue to building projects backed up from the lockdown still being on going.
Like you, I see building trades very busy. Online retailer up ~120% yoy. Advisory business definitely getting quieter, but that may be half term.
Undirection said:
Getting quieter and quieter.....
I spoke to a plumber the other day who said he was still busy but I suspect that's sue to building projects backed up from the lockdown still being on going.
Remember the Green Home Grant thing requires the use of a local tradesman to qualify. I spoke to a plumber the other day who said he was still busy but I suspect that's sue to building projects backed up from the lockdown still being on going.
Once we get into October sales volumes fall so its hard to say exactly where we are but for now trade looks to be about normal for the time of year. We did however bank a couple of jobs from early Sept into Oct which we did because of how quiet August was and did not want to fall into the same trap.
Nov-Feb is dead for us anyway so once we get this month done we are basically done for the year.
I suspect Oct will be +/- 5% normal.
Nov-Feb is dead for us anyway so once we get this month done we are basically done for the year.
I suspect Oct will be +/- 5% normal.
Did nobody see this coming?
The sudden boom following the easing of lockdown in June was more of a shock than the fact things are st across the board now. I was amazed people were acting like a dog with 2 dicks spunking money that the "new normal" had generated in their bank accounts. It's not only delayed the inevitable but it's probably made it even worse. There is a prolonged period of belt tightening ahead. Can see it well into next year.
The sudden boom following the easing of lockdown in June was more of a shock than the fact things are s
t across the board now. I was amazed people were acting like a dog with 2 dicks spunking money that the "new normal" had generated in their bank accounts. It's not only delayed the inevitable but it's probably made it even worse. There is a prolonged period of belt tightening ahead. Can see it well into next year.Gassing Station | Business | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff