I have a question for the few business owners on the site,How is business going and are you still running the same as 6 months ago(Hours-employees etc

[charlie (ky)]

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[Vernon in Virginia~Formerly Alaska]

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[Brian(upstateNY)]

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[Brian(upstateNY)]

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[Fred (S. Indiana)]

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[Ed SW Fla]

.... but fortunately we made the decision years ago to put all our profits and any excess cash flow into reducing our debt. Today we don't owe nobody nothing. Yep, we did without a lot others would have instantly spent "cause it was there and the bills were paid" ... thank God we didn't spend those hard earned $.

I'm not taking a salary and the "bidness" is paying me and the perky Nancy less than half of what we would be leasing our building to someone else were we not operating our store there.

I've not had to lay off or fire anyone or reduce hours .... yet. We may have to reduce hours for part timers, or may not.

One of our competitors just had a full page ad in the local newspaper (VERY EXPENSIVE) announcing a 30% off sale for everything in their 2 stores ... one of which has opened less than 6 months ago. That tells me they have cash flow problems .... there ain't that much profit margin in the hardware "bidness" to have a 30% off sale on everything uless you are in real trouble and need to raise cash fast. Historically, in my industry, that means we will soon have two less stores as competitors.

Hate to wish anyone bad luck but these stores are owned by an out of state investor. None of the profit he would make would be spent in our community.

All of you need to support your local businesses. 45% or more of their sales dollars are reinvested into your community as compared to less than 20% of the various big box stores ..... keep your friends and neighbors employed, spend locally!

 

[Ed SW Fla]

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[Ed SW Fla]

...... his application for rental property:

#1 How many donkey's do you make each week?

#2 How many donkey's do you spend each week?

#3 If the answer to #2 exceeds #1 by 50% or more ... let me reccomend you talk to my friend Bubba in Alabama.

#4 If you spent less than 50% of what you earned, why are you wanting to rent from me? Hell, I don't even own or run a company store. Are you an ex pallet manufacturer or hardware store owner? My rent is based on a secret donkey to square foot to height above sea level ratio.

#5 Do you like Jambayala?

#6 Do you mind if I sing as I'm making jambayala .... ?

 

[Jigflipper]

I see it slowing down a bit, we've been slow before and had 4 real good years. We service manufacturing industries with industrial ventalation, heat and air systems and custom metal fabrications such as guards, platforms, conveyors and pretty much if you can think of it and it's metal we can do it. We are fortunate to be a family owned company ( not my family) that has their head screwed on straight, you kind of have to, to be in business for 50 years. We operate debt free, all building, machinery, trucks and tools are paid for. They try to adapt to the changing times and so far have been sucessfull but as our customers business goes, so does ours. Luckly we haven't laid anyone off in over 20 years ( not too bad for construction. I really can't say we're hurting yet but from what I see it could turn bad in a hurry. I don't know really have high hopes for at least 4 to 5 years and hope we are able to survive this. I feel if we can with the other companies like ours folding around us, we will come out of the back end of this like a fat rat...But who knows, sure hope I don't have to start over at 47 years old....Flipper out

 

[Craig in Alabama]

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[Craig in Alabama]

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[Craig in Alabama]

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[Ed SW Fla]

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[Ed SW Fla]

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[charlie (ky)]

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[charlie (ky)]

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[charlie (ky)]

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[Craig in Alabama]

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[Ed SW Fla]

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