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Business in really cold weather

Gregory K. Norris CPF

Gregory K. Norris CPF

RIP Past PPFA President 2016-2018
 

In Remembrance

Rest In Peace


Messages
3,916
Loc
Huntington, West Virginia
Company
Huntington Hall of Frames
We are in our third round of 3-4 day cycles of single digit highs. This is unusually cold for this part of the country. But this is the first day we have had no customers and no calls in many, many years, regardless of the weather. I was here by myself today so it was very lonely.
 
Isn't that a strange feeling? Just wait, the sun will shine and everybody will come out of hibernation and you will be busier than ever! The mood of the crowd will be pleasant and have a nice upbeat to it and keep you hopping.
 
Bummer!!! I know the feeling of being in the shop by ones self. And while you are having unusually cold weather we here in the Bay Area are having unusually warm and dry weather. In fact it rained some here this morning for the third time this winter. Normally we get lots of rain in the winter. Not days where the outside temp is in 70's. If you have some rain you want to send our way please do!!!!!!
 
Same here. Really cold and more of a slowdown than usual. I can't wait for the warmer weather. It is suppose to get to 40 here today, Woo Hoo!

But look on the bright side, time to do that cleaning we put off and cull some frame samples!!!!
 
We did not get above zero on Monday or most of Tuesday and it was very quiet. Yesterday it was in the teens and seemed like it was almost balmy and had a lot more customers. Wisconsin can be very strange for framing customers. On the day you think no one would bring in framing, 6 pieces can walk in the door. We think it just a weather challenge.
 
We have been dreadfully slow this month. If it isn't below zero, it is snowing, or going to snow, or just snowed and the roads are terrible. This moring it took my over an hour and a half to get to work in what normally takes me 25 minutes. WE are telling customers who are picking up that they need to go directly home and not make any stops in this really cold weather. I am hopeful February will be better, I already have had some calls for appointments.

Sue Davis, CPF
Master Framers
St. Paul, MN
 
Last year after Vegas I was nice and busy...I remember because I came home all gunho to clean the tarnation out of my back room and about the time I got it all disassembled and all over the front of the shop people just kept coming in.

This year...ghost town!

No customers much and the phone is usually Google or I qualified for a business loan!

Come on SPRING!
 
Jan is usually my biggest month. Sales were counted in the hundreds for the first time in a decade. When the weather clears we will almost certainly make up for it, but if it doesn't improve soon, I will be taking calls from those "your business qualifies for a big loan" guys!:shame:

Ice & snow today. Even Google contractors have forgotten me.:sour:
 
I was surprised, but January was busier than my normal January, and also included some out of state business.

So far this month, I finished a job on Saturday an that is it. And the appointment I had for today was cancelled because of snow and cold and has been rescheduled for Friday.

Looking for things to do. So I have finished the business portion of my taxes! Now working on our personal portion.

Also doing some new samples. Janet has a Christmas card of a Japanese silk painting with nice golds; I think I will do some 22k gold leaf bevels and use some old moulding I have had around for a few years. Need to keep busy.
 
January was quieter than usual but at least I got all the taxes done and all the college financial stuff (first one going to college in the Fall) is done. Have done some cleaning, re-arranging and am now about to get a bit bored! Well, I could do some more cleaning I guess but I hate cleaning.

February usually is the slowest month for me.
 
We have been rather slow also. Last Saturday was ok but the last few days have been very quiet. For us it seems to be all the bad weather. Around here it's not the cold that keeps em away, it's the snow/rain. Still have had a couple customers each day but not our usual. Looks like more weather this weekend so I'm hoping this month for sunshine and no more snow. Needless to say, i'm looking forward to spring.
 
Kai Vanuffelen said:
If Feb. is the slowest month for you, then why not have your holiday around this time of the year every year instead of straight after Christmas. Just put a sign up - Back in two weeks time.
Click to expand...

If only!

My schedule is dictated by the needs of my 5 children.......I do take a few days off because they have February vacation and I take days for doctor/dentist/hair cut and so on visits. Plus visiting colleges, open houses and so on.
 
I think you do!!!!! you have to provide all the entertaining, we have built in playmates. Oldest is 17, youngest is 11

Our schedule is completely crazy, but fun!
 
This cold weather is becoming an unwelcome guest. We've had 3 winter storms and another on the way, and the most single digit days I've ever seen. People don't want to get out; we are not used to this down here. School has been cancelled 13 days since Dec 10th; and many roads have been unpassable most of the winter. Our city and county do not have enough equipment to keep the roads clear and it is becoming a PROBLEM.

On the other hand, our store has never looked better.

I will, however, have to transfer some $$ over from another account for the first time in years. Sad to have to make that phone call....\

COME ON SPRING!!!!!!!!
 
It's been difficult everywhere, it has never been this cold for so long. We can handle the snow, but this extreme cold that won't let go is keeping people off the streets and out of the stores.

I do hope it is going to turn soon. I know people are waiting to come in but they are all waiting until the snow is gone a little and the temperature is up. Framing is not urgent, they can wait. I cannot!!!!!
 
It was -2 degrees f, this morning, with a 5 mile an hour wind. Much nicer than yesterday, when it was -10 with a 20 mile an hour wind.

And this afternoon, about 2:30 pm, I checked the temperature was +48. A 50 degree change, (upward), and the sun was out, ....
:smile-new:

And I had an existing customer finally make his appointment (we had cancelled the earlier ones because of weather), and he brought in 12 pieces. Mats only, no frames, but still, triple mats, painted bevels, so it is a great order! And not in a hurry. :smile-new::smile-new:
 
Crazy snow here in Central Oregon. After an almost spring like winter - Mother Nature let loose! It has been snowing for the last 2 days and we now have anywhere from 18 inches to 2 1/2 feet of the fluffy powdery stuff. Living in the country has its pluses and minuses, right now it is in the minus category. Front wheel drive can only go so far! We will wait and see how it affects the business climate.
 
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