[maxcarpets]

Hi all,

We have noticed a DRAMATIC drop in business over the last 14 days, is it only us or is this pretty general??

Cheers

Justin

[derek west]

every week is better than the last up here, or down here if your further north.
derek

[Mike Halliday]

I find the beginning of Oct always a little bit slow, people are now thinking 'we'll wait and have it done for Xmas'

mike

[CARPET KNIGHTS]

Yes Justin just as you have said screach...

Derek no offence mate but you are a new start every week is going to be better for you!

It seems to have just stopped had a good year though!

Goron

[John Kelly]

When I started in this game 15 years ago things were exactly the same. A lot of people down South didn't realise what a wasteland we had up here after Thatcher and her mob closed most of the industry. There were always periods where the phone stopped ringing, sometimes for 2-3 weeks then all hell would break loose and you'd be non stop for weeks than dead again. Most businesses run on cycles and you are very lucky if you have a steady stream of work. This is one reason why sensible pricing is so important. It means you can earn enough to even out the quiet periods and over the year enjoy an adequate return on your efforts.

[derek west]

no offence taken goron
derek

[Neil Grainger]

Justin

pretty busy at the moment, Sept never good but Oct has started well, I must of trod in something since I got that big one as it getting busier and busier at the moment.

Neil

[Neil Williams]

Also busy here.
Awaiting numerous answers on submitted quotes including a single 2000 sq/m of commercial carpet.
Numerous quotes on full house carpet cleans to be done this week
and several regular customers who are on the 'Do it when you can fit us in' types.

Compared to this I'd say September was quiet.

[jeff1966]

Feeling a bit better now just thought it was me that was slow.Not everyone is as honnest as you Justin.

[craigp]

When I started in this game 15 years ago things were exactly the same. A lot of people down South didn't realise what a wasteland we had up here after Thatcher and her mob closed most of the industry. There were always periods where the phone stopped ringing, sometimes for 2-3 weeks then all hell would break loose and you'd be non stop for weeks than dead again. Most businesses run on cycles and you are very lucky if you have a steady stream of work. This is one reason why sensible pricing is so important. It means you can earn enough to even out the quiet periods and over the year enjoy an adequate return on your efforts.

Wise words Indeed! there will always be peaks and troughs! they tend to go in 2 weeks cycles, ie. flat out for 2 weeks then slow for a couple. I could not agree more about pricing get that right and a slow week is still good!!

I have just made £598 from 5 jobs this week BUT last week I did £551 from 1 job alone, Its so much easier to do 1 big job than 5 little ones.

[Mike Osbourne]

Sometimes I do two big jobs in the morning, but that's because I'm nervous about the economy.

Just watched the news about winners and losers in the 'recession'.

Cobblers are doing a roaring trade because people are repairing instead of buying new. Now when you think how cheap shoes are compared to new carpets I think things are in our favour.

[clinton]

Got my regulars keeping me busy but am not getting much new buisness

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys

I had an excellent last week for new work but this is not looking so promising, but hey it's only Tuesday.

I've heard the govermenent has just bought half of RBS, who knows where it all ends.

Cheers

Doug

[Shaun_Ashmore]

I'm going to try to go bust and see if they will offer me any money!

Shaun

[John Kelly]

I heard you'd offered to lend them money.

[Jim_77]

New enquiries really slowed down for me through September but I find that normally anyway, just a little more exaggerated this year than others.  Due to other distractions I'm behind on my marketing to existing customers so I'm missing a few of them at the moment too

New enquiries starting to pick up again the last week or so, but not up to a level I'm happy about.  I'm doing more work this week than the same week last year, but I was lying on a beach in 40 degrees of sunshine at that point  

[markpowell]

We are very quiet, last week 3 jobs, went 5 days without 1 enquiry.
This week 2 jobs on Mon, 1 yesterday and nothing now until next Mon.
Just taking leaflets out 5 hours a day and getting xmas letters ready to send out to all our customers on November 6th. Looking back in the book last October was just the same, so hopefully things will pick up again soon.
Mark

[Doctor Carpet (Ret'd)]

Last week I thought I must have forgotten to pay the bill it was so quiet on the phones. I've put it down to just one of those things that once a year or so I will have a quiet week.

Having said that it suited me down to the ground as it was my financial year end so could work uninterrupted on completing my paperwork for submission to the accountant. I'm also organising a "black-tie" dinner for 310 people  this Saturday and believe me that takes time. So to some extent I'm relishing the quietness.

I firmly believe that it is the lack of certainty and confidence that is holding us back at present. Once people know what the worst holds then they will come back into the market, be it financial or purchasing carpet cleaning services.

Keep the faith guys and think positive!

[Joe H]

Septemeber was a very good month - best turnover yet!

October is much quieter 

but used the time to do my 06-07 accounts and got them to the accountant this morning.

Now starting on 07-08 which will bring me up to date (now thats rare).

[Jim_77]

The glass is half full