Hugh-Candoit (ENG) Posted October 22, 2006 Report Share Posted October 22, 2006 Very seldom does inflation warrant 3 times ayear hike in prices even in your county, many years since it was even 5% in a full year. Of course you can put them up as much as you like or can get away with but most have to think rationally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironplanet uk900 Posted October 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2006 Very seldom does inflation warrant 3 times ayear hike in prices even in your county, many years since it was even 5% in a full year. Of course you can put them up as much as you like or can get away with but most have to think rationally. Whats irrational about a small price rise on some of your services up to 3 times a year. I didn't say put them up as much as you can get away with For instance the price of brass sheeting has gone through the roof, I'm paying almost double what I was 3 years ago... Someones got to pay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh-Candoit (ENG) Posted October 22, 2006 Report Share Posted October 22, 2006 Silly me, I thought you were talking of increases accross the board not just for engraving brass. Lets take an average ladies heel price of £6. inflation of 2% per annum. My cal gets this to 12p. Increase of 4p three times a year just aint worth the effort of new price lists and staff getting to memorise prises that change every quarter. Of course if you are using astonomical amounts of a particular commodity then if that commodity gets onto the desperately wanted list and the price of the raw material jumps up accordingly then it makes sense to follow those increases with your own so that the profitability stays status quo, but to have a general rise every 4 months does not fit into this catergory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironplanet uk900 Posted October 23, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2006 Silly me, I thought you were talking of increases accross the board not just for engraving brass. Lets take an average ladies heel price of £6. inflation of 2% per annum. My cal gets this to 12p. Increase of 4p three times a year just aint worth the effort of new price lists and staff getting to memorise prises that change every quarter. Of course if you are using astonomical amounts of a particular commodity then if that commodity gets onto the desperately wanted list and the price of the raw material jumps up accordingly then it makes sense to follow those increases with your own so that the profitability stays status quo, but to have a general rise every 4 months does not fit into this catergory. Here we go again,,, UK's put some posts up over the weekend, a Noddy's had a go at all of em Scoff all you want,, I'm still in business and expanding. I must be doing something right. Same old story, No comment on my "Back from the brink post" But gets all wound up cus others thought it was a good post. Same pattern every time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh-Candoit (ENG) Posted October 23, 2006 Report Share Posted October 23, 2006 Back to the brink post!!!!!!!! What was that then, dont delude yourself Superman, I for one dont follow your posts unless it is a topic that interests me. Back to the brink!!! what was that about then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironplanet uk900 Posted October 23, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2006 It's about an old bloke who retired, but tried to make a comeback. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh-Candoit (ENG) Posted October 23, 2006 Report Share Posted October 23, 2006 He's got no chance, too many cutthroats out there nowadays. I'd bet he would be useless at Engraving too. Probably just a Pipe dream. Old Cobblers never die, they stick to the last. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironplanet uk900 Posted October 23, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2006 Thought you were a good engraver Hugh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh-Candoit (ENG) Posted October 23, 2006 Report Share Posted October 23, 2006 Effing awful on the machine, hate the bastard things, I'm more on the artistic side of hand engraving, but I can appreciate a lpt of the work done on computer engavers. I only had the eperience (or lack of) of a Pantograph and its very many years since, and I would not like to think I had to go through sorting bloody dropped boxes of fonts again for all the tea in china. now a computer, thats a different kettle of fish, would not mind getting to grips with one of those. Would not do big plates though, just artwork on glass/gifts where skill is involved, could not be bothered with pet discs and trophies, though I enjoyed doing pet discs by freehand (not Freehand10). Would not mind having a go at using a Tablet to do my own artwork and fonts, did it for the computer a few years ago as I'm into fancy fonts for other projets, that's why I was after the copyright sign on another post. I envy those who have the time and facilities to arse about creating logos, monograms and illuminati.Only so many hobbies you can pursue even when retired. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironplanet uk900 Posted October 25, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 It is suprising how artistic you can be with just text Hughby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironplanet uk900 Posted August 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2008 F*** me Hugh, how long we been arguing.... lol How many times you upped your prices since this post Rick...Hope you aint slipping Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kobblers Posted August 18, 2008 Report Share Posted August 18, 2008 you don't wanna know you'll be pleased to hear we did the right thing though. this topic was a great debate, i remember it well and i glad you revisited it rick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh-Candoit (ENG) Posted August 19, 2008 Report Share Posted August 19, 2008 F*** me Hugh, how long we been arguing.... lol We never argue... just debating, you of course being the Master couldn't resist that one do you think that the hard times now and ahead will affect the engraving side of the business, and is there evidence of a slow down on all services, or are you getting busier as folk have things repaired rather than purchasing new to save cash? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kobblers Posted August 21, 2008 Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 not sure to be honest hugh as summer is generally quiet anyway, i think we'll see the downside to the economic slowdown (if there is one for us) when our busier period kicks in. rick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted August 21, 2008 Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 do you think that the hard times now and ahead will affect the engraving side of the business, and is there evidence of a slow down on all services, or are you getting busier as folk have things repaired rather than purchasing new to save cash? This time last year (figures uncompared) I seamed very slow, even taking a two week break & it took months to recover from closing. This year I seam as busy as I would in the run up to Christmas, took a week off and almost didn't notice it. I Seam to be consistent on all levels of trade, although this year I was quiter on Engraving during May & June than last. For the school holiday period, when Rhiannon spends a fortune ferrying the kids around to experiences all over the country (wish I had a Mum like her, when I was their ages) I'm faring up quite well. Lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironplanet uk900 Posted August 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 do you think that the hard times now and ahead will affect the engraving side of the business, and is there evidence of a slow down on all services, or are you getting busier as folk have things repaired rather than purchasing new to save cash? Aint noticed any difference in the repair side of things. The engraving side of things go from strength to strength especially with Gifts, as we are continually changing our stocks and window displays to give customers something to look at, instead of the same display week in week out. Its bloody hard work, but am fortunate that the missus has taken a healthy interest in the retail side of the business, always looking for new suppliers with unique products. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh-Candoit (ENG) Posted August 21, 2008 Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 do you think that the hard times now and ahead will affect the engraving side of the business, and is there evidence of a slow down on all services, or are you getting busier as folk have things repaired rather than purchasing new to save cash? Aint noticed any difference in the repair side of things. The engraving side of things go from strength to strength especially with Gifts, as we are continually changing our stocks and window displays to give customers something to look at, instead of the same display week in week out. Its bloody hard work, but am fortunate that the missus has taken a healthy interest in the retail side of the business, always looking for new suppliers with unique products. Now that's the way to do it, as Punch & Judy would say. Very hard work keeping all that silverware clean and changing on a weekly basis but it pays off, not many can afford the luxury of a partner with a female touch. (she is female isnt she planet ) So many sit back on their laurels and expect the customers to come flocking in with tarnished displays that are poorly lit. You are renouned for your tutorials on Repairs but I think you have an opportunity to do one for engraving displays and the follow up of weekly maintenance. It aint about doing a display and forgetting about it for a few months cos yer busy, is it. everyone is busy even us retired gits, but you have to make time to gain customer footfall. (All credit to you planet). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironplanet uk900 Posted August 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 Thanks Hugh We actually have potential customers coming in and saying how nice the window looks, even though they're not intending to buy that day. When the window is changed you can gaurentee that you'll have a few extra good sales for a few days after, even though you may have only moved things about. I am a fan of the Timpson company......But...If theres one thing that lets them down in my opinion its thier engravable gift displays. Alot of them have tarnished silverware, dust, and gaps were products have been sold but not replaced. I can only speak for the shops I have seen. Do they have professional window dressers these days or is it left to the manager. Also remember that it reflects on your business as a whole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh-Candoit (ENG) Posted August 21, 2008 Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 Yer got them in a nutshell, year round tarnished displays are an indication of either an ultra busy shop or an incometent manager, blame must fall on the shoulders of the area managers. I dont think that they have had display teams going around since I worked for them when they had Shoe Shops. Like all large companies there are brilliant guys and abominable guys. The brilliant ones go on ahead just like you have done, while the abominable ones just vegitate and eventually get weeded out to be replaced by others. Yer win some yer lose some and thats how its been for the past 60 years. Give them their due they have inspired many Independants to start on their own and been instrumental in carrying forth new services which many have copied. Saw a shop that had been refitted while out window shopping with the wife 2 years ago, brilliant example of how to do it right, but that same shop is now looking faded and in need of someone just like your missus to give it that extra sparkle and shine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironplanet uk900 Posted August 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 Everything has a price tag with discription, done on computer. It takes time and effort but well worth it. Whenever we sell anything from display, the ticket is kept to make sure it is replaced, either when theres a quiet spell or at the end or start of the day, and it helps when re-ordering. Its a good system that works for us. We try hard not to run the same lines all the time otherwise it gets stale and uninteresting, but sometimes we may re-introduce a previous good line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh-Candoit (ENG) Posted August 22, 2008 Report Share Posted August 22, 2008 Good tip with the keeping of the ticket for replace or re-order. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest downsarf Posted August 22, 2008 Report Share Posted August 22, 2008 Just curious but does anyone here use accounts software to track exactly where there income is coming from ? i started using Kashflow last year and the reports it provides are such an eye opener. Im not sure how effective it would be for high sales type shops as inputting the data would be tiresome but that data provides reall eye opening statistics. Now i know exactly if a sale is from a repeat customer,website etc. more importantly i now know exactly what earns me the most money regularly and it wasn't what i originally thought either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh-Candoit (ENG) Posted August 24, 2008 Report Share Posted August 24, 2008 Now that would be a very useful tool in the right hands, but do you not think that some services will be made unavailable due to the profit loss on that item? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithm Posted August 26, 2008 Report Share Posted August 26, 2008 Interesting post Downsarf. Many businesses allocate far too much space to product lines or services that make them no money. the major retailers spend an absolute fortune making sure that this does not happen in their stores. It should be something repairers think about on a regular basis, as UK900 is doing. =D> Tired, dusty looking displays are a turn off for customers. Keep it fresh and interesting and make sure every metre or centimetre contains profit making goods so that you end up getting paid for working Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh-Candoit (ENG) Posted August 26, 2008 Report Share Posted August 26, 2008 One of my old mentors, so old he is now dead, used to say "each square foot of display space has a given price,if it does not reach that price is sales, change the product and dont waste space, use it to put an article in that can bring in profit." He was good and you learned to look at your displays on a regular basis, many tend to do a display and forget about it for months. In the meantime it gets its fair share of dead wasps, moths and dust. Now then,, who will be stopping to look at those? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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