Has the gloom started?

[anonymous-user]

For the last few months we have had our best WEEKS ever, sales were well up and things were looking rosey. Over the last two weeks however things have really tailed off, we are still selling(which is good) but we're 50% DOWN which hurts. Is this the start or a blip? How are you finding things? Seems strange that is has happened all of a sudden? Although i guess with Christmas looming and money being tight people really are spending only when needed now.

[richardxjr]

What business are you in Dave?

My personal thoughts over the last year is that non-essential spending stopped a year ago, and that people can't spend any less. Travel didn't really suffer this summer: that will be different the hear ahead for sure.

In our barometer business of Printing (business forms) after a poor spring we actually had a better than forecasted summer and autumn.

As you might expect, motor industry forms (job cards, invoices etc) have dropped off a cliff, as have waste transfer tickets (skips/scrap etc) for some reason. Pawnbrokers' contracts etc have jumped some 400%. Phew. Employment agency (timesheets etc) have remained stable, as have pharmaceuticals. Most SME's are ordering less, but more frequently, to assist their cashflow.

[anonymous-user]

Networks & telecoms, serving corporate and home users. Corporate is dead as a dodo(understandable) but home was busy. Although i've just discovered we have an "issue" with Google which explains a lot! Last time this happened it was the same, i'm hoping that's all it is.........

[sleepezy]

I've looked at a few businesses recently including a pub chain (30% down last month, a further 20% down this month so far), consumer goods manufacturing (consistently depressed since April) and various construction businesses (don't even ask) - so I would say yes!

At the moment demand still exists so if you can fulfill at a competitive price then you can pick up new work - but I would query how long this continues and at what cost to the business as margins come under increasing pressure.

[Horse_Apple]

I don't think it has even begun yet.

By the time this blows over the highstreets will look very, very different.

[nigel79]

working in the engineering sector, it seems that different businesses are doing different things. The repair engineering sector, seems to be doing ok, as people want their stuff repaired instead of spending money buying new. The manufacturing sector seems to be the oppisite, with cuts being made all over.
One recruitment agency i am registered with had reported 20 odd welders walking through their doors the other week. i agree with the last post that things will look very different. What worries me the most is that at 29, i have never worked in a recession, as i have always been at school, so i am a bit conserned about what will happen and what are the best ways to survive it, or even profit from it,(if possible)

[Wheelrepairit]

We are down about 20% to normal.

I too have never been through a time like this, but feel that as ive had it good for the last 8 yrs ive been going in business i should be prepared.

And i am, so bring it on.

[anonymous-user]

We are well prepared(plenty of loot to go 12 months with nothing coming in) but i just hate not being busy! I remember the last recession and it was so depressing getting into work FINDING things to do. The plus side is it clears out the dead wood so once you are through it things usually go mental!!

[CHIEF]

We've been trading since 1965 and i'v ebeen there 15 years, i've never know it as quiet. we laid off some staff last week and if it doesn't pick up we could all be gone by Christmas. everywhere we look shops are boarding up, suppliers ring me everyday touting for work. it is really bad out there and i think its gonna get a whole lot worse

[ginettag27]

We've been trundling along, with New Clients coming onboard, but it has gone eerily quiet on the new clients front in the past month or two, or maybe it's just me! We're in Planning drawings and Building drawings, mainly residential (85%)... People still seemed to be extending, but of late new leads just don't seem to be happening... We've got a few ideas to get some new work onboard, but wasn't going to start that until the New Year.. Maybe people are battening down the hatches for Christmas and then re-assesing after New Year?

[sleep envy]

we've had the best October in the last 5 years, are winning commissions and yet are still making people redundant

I've a feeling the management board have made the decision to use this as an excuse to get rid of the dead wood in readiness if we were to head over a cliff

not looking forward to next ear though, can see the xmas figures being down and clients pulling budgets/schemes left, right and centre

[s,one]

We are not getting any positive feedback from all of our usual clients. That said some of the work (construction related)will have to be done eventually so thats a ray of hope. Beyond that it looks pretty grim.

[ChristianZS]

We seem to be still breaking UK Retail targets and the US Retail are storming too!

Already had the redundancies come and go the other week. I were saved from the cull as I could do a colleagues job ontop of my own and for less. I feel a bit st about it but hey,ho.

[Piglet]

Did anyone see the highlight of last night's TV - "how safe is your job"....that was a programme I gave a miss, how much doom and glood do we need.

[s,one]

Piglet said:

Did anyone see the highlight of last night's TV - "how safe is your job"....that was a programme I gave a miss, how much doom and glood do we need.

I think this is a good idea I wake up looking at the news and stock markets and listen to to sky news repeating gloom every 15 minutes.
witout doubt we are prophets of our own destiny.