How are you doing...?

[Power Lunch Club]

I know that it's a tough time for some people right now in business, so here's a thread to just tell us how's it's going for you.

Hopefully get some advice or support...or even give it.

So, how is it going for you at the moment?

 

[Adventurelife]

Okay

I could give a very long and drawn out detailed brief and I will if anyone wants the detail.

However in summary we are running at a serious increase on enquires over 100% and a bit less on conversions.

Opening a new business, and haggling over the purchase of 2 other businesses.

You will no doubt gather that when times are tough I wake up:laugh: I have increased my risk taking by a huge amount due to current climate where as before I was very, very conservative.

Peter

 

[Power Lunch Club]

Okay

I could give a very long and drawn out detailed brief and I will if anyone wants the detail.

However in summary we are running at a serious increase on enquires over 100% and a bit less on conversions.

Opening a new business, and haggling over the purchase of 2 other businesses.

You will no doubt gather that when times are tough I wake up:laugh: I have increased my risk taking by a huge amount due to current climate where as before I was very, very conservative.

Peter

That's fantastic Peter....and I sure your risk taking attitude, you will be seeing major success through it all.

Brilliant!!

 

[Dizzydiza]

I have work, but hardly any wedding work......mainly gala day and fairs. I get a lot of interest at wedding fairs and I either take an order at them or just shortly after them, but nothing like last year. Last year I had girls come to see me nearly every week....ok maybe only one appointment a week but it was enough to keep me feeling busy. The orders I do have on, are quite big orders, as the brides are having larger bridal parties eg 4 or 5 bridemaids/flower girls. I have been chatting to a few others in the business and they are quiet also, but on saying that my sis in law has over 60 bookings already for next year. I am going to be doing my accounts shortly, but I am fairly certain that my turnover is down on last year

 

[findnetworkingevents]

We have seen traffic to our site double since November, seems that businesses are stepping up their networking in the current climate!

Stuart

 

[amestaper]

I seem to spend a lot more time pricing smaller jobs, meeting clients, and networking these days than on site working. The phone still rings but everyone wants the work done for nothing. It's not the goldrush of last year, you just have to be resourceful, be able to spot an opportunity, and put the hours and effort in to survive it seems.

Thanks for asking Gordon but business is really pants at the minute. :laugh:

 

[jimbairn]

I seem to spend a lot more time pricing smaller jobs, meeting clients, and networking these days than on site working. The phone still rings but everyone wants the work done for nothing. It's not the goldrush of last year, you just have to be resourceful, be able to spot an opportunity, and put the hours and effort in to survive it seems.

Thanks for asking Gordon but business is really pants at the minute. :laugh:

Took the words right out my mouth... :sad:

 

[Scottish Business Owner]

I have to say for every one person that seems quite positive there are three or four who aren't so optimistic and this is kind of typical of the clients I am working with at present. It's not easy out there

If anyone feels that the forums could do more to help and encourage during this period then I am happy to have a look at anything. I think it's also important that we all have each others businesses in mind and try and refer business to each other where we can

 

[Gutsy]

, that made me feel good, thank you. The recession is only reaching SA now and we're told won't last as long as the rest of the world, but I get a lot of my work internationally, so I have to stay on my toes. With transcription and typing I am not getting the queries (or conversions) for big jobs that I was getting last year. Luckily I have my regular clients and a large list of contacts who all help each other out with work, so I have not had a day without any work. I like what you said there about referrals, that is very important I think that we remember who our friends are, pass on referrals and try to help each other out wherever we can. I certainly appreciate that SBF is willing to try and help out - will think on this and see what I can come up with.

What about some reciprocal linking? I already have SBF linked on my site, and would be happy to put up links to anybody's site who sents their link and a brief description of their business to me.

 

[Dizzydiza]

I think it's also important that we all have each others businesses in mind and try and refer business to each other where we can

I certainly think in the current climate we need to try and help each other.

I seem to regularly mention Jim and your wedding portraits and keyrings as unusual ideas for wedding favours but I dont know if any of them have got back to you.

 

[Power Lunch Club]

I seem to spend a lot more time pricing smaller jobs, meeting clients, and networking these days than on site working. The phone still rings but everyone wants the work done for nothing. It's not the goldrush of last year, you just have to be resourceful, be able to spot an opportunity, and put the hours and effort in to survive it seems.

Thanks for asking Gordon but business is really pants at the minute. :laugh:

Well is there anything we on the forum can somehow help with?

 

[Power Lunch Club]

We have seen traffic to our site double since November, seems that businesses are stepping up their networking in the current climate!

Stuart

They certainly are...I myself don't get to many other networking events that I would like to go to...but we have our events with a 50% increase in attendance since last October....people realise makerting and networking to keep their profiles out thier is what keeps them in people faces....so they are there when they need them.

 

[Tirfuir]

We are doing well but then our industry is one that is having to turn away business due to our "limits". We can only sell so many hunts each year, but have been passing business to other estates and sporting agents to ensure that the money from abroad comes to Scotland in some form or another. It truely is a case of "you scratch me I'll scratch you".

I don't know if this will be of any use to any of you, but my sister works as a PA and is part of something called the PA-Xchange (I think that's how it's written but I'm not sure). SHe tells me it is basically a networking site for PAs/Secretarys to pick each others brains and get recommendations. She asked me to join it as a business but there is not a huge call for what I do by bosses, but it may be of use to you.

Lord I'm not explaining this well. I should probably just get her to come on and type this. Long and short - I think businesses can sign up and have their business promoted on the site - I've no idea of the charges. But I do know that since the turn of the year there have been requests for Stag weekend suggestions, wedding favours and the usual conference/networking hostings.

It may be something to consider

All the best...

 

[Adventurelife]

We are doing well but then our industry is one that is having to turn away business due to our "limits". We can only sell so many hunts each year, but have been passing business to other estates and sporting agents to ensure that the money from abroad comes to Scotland in some form or another. It truely is a case of "you scratch me I'll scratch you".

I don't know if this will be of any use to any of you, but my sister works as a PA and is part of something called the PA-Xchange (I think that's how it's written but I'm not sure). SHe tells me it is basically a networking site for PAs/Secretarys to pick each others brains and get recommendations. She asked me to join it as a business but there is not a huge call for what I do by bosses, but it may be of use to you.

Lord I'm not explaining this well. I should probably just get her to come on and type this. Long and short - I think businesses can sign up and have their business promoted on the site - I've no idea of the charges. But I do know that since the turn of the year there have been requests for Stag weekend suggestions, wedding favours and the usual conference/networking hostings.

It may be something to consider

All the best...

You mentioned " stag weekends" :laugh: I am always interested in any route to market that gets my businesses ion front of potential stag weekend clients

Can ou send me a web link

Welcome to the forum by the way

Regards

Peter