Michael Posted December 7, 2015 Report Share Posted December 7, 2015 Doesn't seem like 3 weeks till xmas, trade is absolutely appalling!! I've just compared last week to same week last year and over £700 down!!! Not holding holding out much future for mine or many other high streets, all retail types seem to be saying the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simes Posted December 7, 2015 Report Share Posted December 7, 2015 A bit quieter hear this last couple of weeks and Carlisle is totally flooded out so that won't help, but I'm up about 13% over last year. I've found the key is to change what I'm doing to respond to the changing demands and that seems to be working...so far. Facebook has been a real help this year using paid boosts. Sure I could do it better though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x minit uk Posted December 12, 2015 Report Share Posted December 12, 2015 Shoe repairs are poor so far this winter, might be the mild weather, Leather sole repairs are down, doing lots more rubber stuff. Key cutting is up and down. Retail sales about the same as last year. Overall a disappointing 3 month period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted December 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2015 Normlly when the kids go back to school in September things pick up and build to a busy December, but it really hasn't got going. Really good days offset with really bad days to make each week just about average! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John P Posted December 12, 2015 Report Share Posted December 12, 2015 Echo your sentiments exactly,shoe repairs down and keys so so.Some people I speak to say their are doing well,but I suspect they don't like to admit the are going through a bad spell. Broms Cobb 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted December 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2015 Last week exactly the same as week before....Mon, Tue, Wed above average....Thur, Fri, Sat below average ends up about £700 down on same week last year!!! ABSOLUTELY CRAZY!! Not much in the town centre now, I think everyones shopping online or I,ve got a large town 17 miles one way or large city 15 milkes the other way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted December 14, 2015 Report Share Posted December 14, 2015 Bucking the trend here, had our best year ever last year, and so far we have had an excellent year this year. I have been exceptionally lucky with some big padlock engraving jobs for a well known Wholesaler and we also did one engraving job for Abus UK. Shoe repairs are static at about 10-15 pair a week mainly heels but key cutting is always increasing but i have had to lower my prices substantially to compete with local opposition. Sold 500 x 50mm padlocks and 80 Latch locks to one customer last week. So quite optimistic about the new year, as we have really struggled over the last 5 years as a whole but sales are now increasing again. x minit uk and Simes 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simes Posted December 14, 2015 Report Share Posted December 14, 2015 Well we were doing ok, but I've now ended up in hospital so that's kind of put a dampener on things, what with that and the fact that half our customer base has been cut off by the bridge across the Eden being closed for inspection post flood! not the best way to end the year! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x minit uk Posted December 14, 2015 Report Share Posted December 14, 2015 Sorry to hear that your in hospital , hope you get well soon and things pick up again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simes Posted December 15, 2015 Report Share Posted December 15, 2015 Thanks mate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike at Vauxhall Posted December 16, 2015 Report Share Posted December 16, 2015 Well we were doing ok, but I've now ended up in hospital so that's kind of put a dampener on things, what with that and the fact that half our customer base has been cut off by the bridge across the Eden being closed for inspection post flood! not the best way to end the year! Sorry to hear that. Hope you get well soon and your other predicament resolves itself. Business wise, this year has been good up until this week. Terrible week, next week will be even worse. foot fall very low. They said it would be a cold winter. So bought 200 pairs of thinsulate gloves. Now they are saying it's going to be a mild winter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simes Posted December 16, 2015 Report Share Posted December 16, 2015 Sorry to hear that. Hope you get well soon and your other predicament resolves itself. Business wise, this year has been good up until this week. Terrible week, next week will be even worse. foot fall very low. They said it would be a cold winter. So bought 200 pairs of thinsulate gloves. Now they are saying it's going to be a mild winter. Thanks mate. Out of hospital now. Going to try shorter days back at work from tomorrow until we finish for the year. Start 2016 a fresh. Hopefully, I'll be sorted by then x minit uk and windycity 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted December 17, 2015 Report Share Posted December 17, 2015 Flat out this week, not breathed. this is the first time I've looked at the forum properly for a couple of days& even then I should be doing other things. I'm having a bumper year. Although I have had 3 years in the doldrums so its not been plain sailing. windycity 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simes Posted December 17, 2015 Report Share Posted December 17, 2015 Have to say I'm back in today to do 4 hours (10am-2pm) and I've done a full days money! Lee and Mike at Vauxhall 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike at Vauxhall Posted December 17, 2015 Report Share Posted December 17, 2015 You obviously know your peak trading hours. After my appendix burst I worked 8am - 1pm instead of 7am - 5pm, ( for the six weeks the doctor told me to completely take off) with no real affect on trade. windycity 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simes Posted December 17, 2015 Report Share Posted December 17, 2015 You obviously know your peak trading hours. After my appendix burst I worked 8am - 1pm instead of 7am - 5pm, ( for the six weeks the doctor told me to completely take off) with no real affect on trade. Yeah, it almost makes me wonder why I bother with the extra hours which are generally pretty quiet. But you do get runs of customers at both ends of the day so I guess it probably does make sense. could get used to a 4 hour day though windycity and Mike at Vauxhall 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted December 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2015 Started to pick up the last couple of days...AND MY LAPTOP HAS DECIDED TO CHUCK A WOBBLY!!!! Keeps freezing and I have to restart it, engraving taking twice as long....I honestly give up now....roll on christmas and new year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike at Vauxhall Posted December 19, 2015 Report Share Posted December 19, 2015 Yeah, it almost makes me wonder why I bother with the extra hours which are generally pretty quiet. But you do get runs of customers at both ends of the day so I guess it probably does make sense. could get used to a 4 hour day though Yes, a 4 hour day sounds great , but is not realistic long term. If I won the lottery I would just work peak hours as a hobby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simes Posted December 19, 2015 Report Share Posted December 19, 2015 Funny though, I haven't noticed any change in takings levels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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