It must be very busy, Because I'm not seeing much lately on site Great Job! everybody!
curious on all your task lately Rock On and post up when ya get the break.
Good Days there
Yep, we've been busier than a mosquito at a nudist colony. Its been 3 months and counting to close on our house. Everything was done, the papers were all filled out and sent to the underwriter. Should have closed last week but the underwriter said one crucial paper was missing. Proof the buyer is qualified for a VA loan. The bank neglected to order it. It should have been the very first thing they did because it takes 30 days to get one.
Originally we were going to lease the house back for one year while the new owner sells his house in NC. But now he wants to move in right away. Yikes. We asked for an extra month after closing seeing his bank keeps screwing up.
In the mean time we have our eye on several pieces of commercial property and hoping for a smooth transition from one shop to another.
We have plenty of upholstery jobs and I spend every spare minute keeping this house maintained and getting our new house ready to move into.
No dull moments around here. I sure have been sleeping good.
When holidays are close customers tend to shy away from business. After labor day it's going to be crazy -
SA
Quote from: SteveA on August 25, 2015, 12:21:20 pm
When holidays are close customers tend to shy away from business. After labor day it's going to be crazy -
SA
I think brmax is referring to how slow the postings are on this forum. Implying that we must all be too busy to post.
I am, and always have been "busy as I want to be". 40 hrs. a week is enough for me. I turn down the rest.
I think the main reason why this forum has been slow, is that more and more have gravitated over to FB upholstery group forums. Myself included. This forum is technically still my favorite. I still am not a huge FB fan, but "If you can't beat 'em........join 'em". Facebook is where all the activity is at.
Seems like there are only a handful keeping this forum going. And we keep re-hashing the same topics. How many times have we beat that interior decorator topic into the ground?
I know that many are anti-FB for privacy reasons. And I certainly understand. But if you like chatting about upholstery-related topics, FB will give you a ton more options than the old fashioned discussion board format. It's becoming a dinosaur. I wish there was something we could do to pump new life back in to it.
Face Book is just too easy. People just don't want to do the extra clicks it takes to get here. I personally like the professional atmosphere and experience behind this forum.
Now that's to dang funny Kodydog, don't care what anybody says.
I am trying to understand why even so many of my much older friends say FB is the cats az, makes me feel older than them. Hard headed I guess, and shhhhhh no comments on that you all.
Doc it seems many very qualified members here I don't see/or hear anything on the site as much, makes me wonder in a care kinda way sometimes, as even my brother said I had a feeling maybe 2, he's nice huh.
OMG Kodydog that house signing paperwork drives me crazy, though sounds like your ahead of the game. Sorry drawing a blank here, are you all staying in the present local or close.
Exciting looking for commercial property I can imagine, du to du ya yep hey take a right. hahaha!
SteveA as I recall it gets busy busy in the Florida areas also after all the summer fun is done up here, what brings a lot of the business your way east in the fall times. Crazy! nice weather here for august in Missouri I have always considered this month to be the hottest of all, something weird suppose to be in the 50s tonight?
Just to throw this out for info,
Doc do you see ( as I don't have a clue )the other online or medias use much photo storage other than their own.
Reason I ask is this has always boggled me and I have not pursued any, and my youngsters do not mention and factually don't use anything except FB, Pinterest or whatever, as I have ask.
At the present I have data on my cell but only to send a pic or two as I cannot see them on my small screen.
Hey sorry to ramble and I'm dam glad I found this site several years ago and was let in, Thanks
I don't like FB for the privacy reasons. However, I am considering starting a business page as a cheaper advertising method. Told Dex where they could get off this year. Never got that much business from them. Get most from: A) referrals; B) yard sign; C) car but I always feel like I should do something more.
I have also noticed that the forum is much quieter than when I first joined. Figured that people were just busy, you know working on upholstery, etc.
I'm just about to dive into the Royal Indian Cuisine project full tilt. Contractor brought over the fabric this morning. I went over to the job site this afternoon to double check measurements (they are adding a vestibule which takes part of one window and needed to see exactly how much window I am losing) and to pick up my retainer check. Love this contractor. He found me late in the game. Had talked to someone else (don't know who) and the price they quoted him was almost twice what it is costing him to install a bar in the restaurant. I've checked and double checked my estimates and I feel like I'm being handsomely paid for my work. Contractor is paying me a bonus if I meet opening day. Sooooo, if you don't see much of me for a while, I'm working fast and furiously on these window treatments.
As far as work goes, I've not had much of a shortage since I started. I could be busier if I wanted to be. I keep trying to slow down just a tad and then I get called like this contractor for the Royal Indian Cuisine and I jump in and go full throttle.
Virginia
Facebook business page is all about getting likes. Most people think it's really impressive when they click on your page and see 200 likes. Another thing people like to see is recent post. Nothing turns me off more than clicking on a business page and the latest post was over a year ago.
When I first started my fb business page my goal was to create more business. But after 1-1/2 years it has evolved more to just keeping in touch with current customers. I can't remember ever getting any new customers from fb. But I always try to follow up when someone comments on one of my posts. I try to thank everyone who "like" my page and I post a picture of almost every piece I finish. Posting often is important. Most of your followers will not see every post. I would post once a day if I could think of that much interesting stuff. The best posts that generate page clicks are the ones that tell a story.
A couple weeks ago I watched a webinar on getting more traffic to your FB business page. It was interesting and worth the time. But I don't see changing my strategy anytime soon. The leader spoke very fast and related a lot of information in 1-1/4 hours.
She starts out explaining that in 2014 (Just about the time I created my business page) fb redesigned their logarithms. They said people wanted to see more stories from "friends" and less promotional content. Business that post overly promotional content should expect their organic distribution to fall significantly over time and reach 0.
What are considered promotion posts?
1. Posts that have the sole purpose of pushing people to buy product and call to action.
2. Posts that push people to enter promotions, giveaways or contests.
3. Posts that reuse the same ad content over and over.
So far I'm doing good because I don't do any of that stuff. But if you are one that does there's good news. You can now BUY ads.
So this is where she starts promoting her business. She is after all a sales person. She helps businesses connect with customers and build relationships. She goes on to say that simply boosting your post doesn't work. People are too distracted and often miss it. She says you need to do something to grab their attention. Create high impact ads. She then goes on to percentages. How spending a little money can boost sales 40% to 60%.
That's where she lost me. In a labor-intensive business a 40% increase in business would mean hiring employees. Something I'm not ready to do. Yet. But if you are ready this program may be just what you need. In the end she promoted her business and that is when I turned it off. I did glean useful information from her Webinar and would recommend anyone who is interested in boosting his or her fb presence spend an hour and listen to this lady.
http://www.onlinemeetingnow.com/register/?id=up4noriwt6
Kody were is the new home ? still central or st agustie?
I do have FB and have a business page but I don't really have much interaction like a forum. I was late getting on FB and still don't understand tritter linked in ect. I have to admit ive been doing a lot more at a new forum last year directly for marine work.
I have been busy and now has been unusually busy when September is tradionally the slowest month looks to be very busy this year.
Still here but don't have much to say these days...
I really hope this forum doesn't go away!
Sorry brmax to try and take your post in another direction - sometimes I don't process what I read - smelling too much lacquer here.
Anyway now that you mention it - maybe a little lite on chatter here but not terrible. Like Dede said and all imply " I'd hate to see this site go away."
Maybe something that can help is answering topics that you wouldn't ordinarily reply to. Just to show that you're out there , involved, and the forum is alive. What happened over at Fine Wood Working was a shame. Posters left for the Burl and that never took off. If I had to rate this site against the 3 others I visit - this one is the best because of the contributors here. So put down that coffee and start typing.
SA
I'm always looking for that dadgum like button.
Quote from: Mike on August 25, 2015, 08:59:53 pm
Kody were is the new home ? still central or st agustie?
It took us 1-1/2 years to fix up our St Augustine house and get it ready for resale. We then bought a house in Gainesville where Rose found a accounting job working for the state. When we put our country house on the market it took us a long time to decide where we wanted to move. St Augustine on the coast and start our business from scratch or Gainesville where most of our customers live. We kept going back and fourth on this but finally decided on Gainesville.
It seems like once we made a decision things started to happen fast. Now our Realtor is telling us we may close on our country house next week. Our business continues to grow and soon Rose will rejoin me at our new location and take over the day to day running the business. We will implement our marketing plan and continue to grow our business.
Hi everyone! good to see ya!
Hey Congrats on the news Kody, and I'm hitting the like button on all the talk.
Great perspective on the FB biz, Id like ads more if they were all mine but that's not all the strategy I kinda understand.
I find the photo storage sites to be a dilema as the ads are not mine nor interesting in most cases and I think they bother most folks. In this what bugs me is I am more than willing to pay for a service but would like my money to keep ads from bothering others, that's a pita.
SteveA its just a big coffee table here and have many reasons to want to listen with everyone, so no worries its a circle for any interest shop talk is good anywhere, I'm not sure if it was the same but did have a subscription to Fine woodworking ages ago somewhere in the early 90s so I'm sure a great crowd no matter as the interest are alike, its a bummer on the site news. Rock on
Virginia good news on the job, sounds like a contractor that is great to work with.
Mike your a busy man and keeping all the sites alive, good days to ya there.
Morning All
I am very deficient in social media. I spoke with Miami's media consultant and we devised a piggy back method where they are going to start supporting us with some of our marketing efforts. I admit I really need the assistance as I am out to lunch with social media programs. I know this Miami Rep is an expert in her field and will hopefully point us and get us started in the right direction. Tim their President has pledged his support in our conversations and I now need to take advantage of that.
I watch a few of the guys here on Facebook and when they post I try and make a positive comment or two. I know I did this once on Mikes post and it resulted in a sale for him. I really enjoy helping other friends on here by either support or pushing sales this way. It is awesome when we all support each other.
We are ready to embark on some advertising, the first we have ever done. It is expensive but I will never know the impact on sales that strategic advertising can play with these media outlets unless I make a play. I used to structure ad campaigns and brand awareness programs all the time but I am behind the times with internet marketing and need to catch up. Time will tell. We have instituted a new phone / email inquiry form and on this is a question " How did you hear about us ". I really need to start nailing down how we are gaining customers. So far it has all been referrals.
Thankfully Mindy is running the business on her own and I have more free time. It is awesome to have a manager that has a grasp on our business, can take the reins and run with the operation. She has been a God send and rock star.
Chris
Rose and I celebrate our 31st anniversary this weekend. This photo is from 1990 in our first shop. We were both in our 30's.
(https://forum.upholster.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1179.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fx386%2FEdwinNorthuis%2Fth_LaddampRoseProfilePic.jpg&hash=14650e1d0d29493b3ccf34403508b938) (http://s1179.photobucket.com/user/EdwinNorthuis/media/LaddampRoseProfilePic.jpg.html)
Happy anniversary.
We hit 38 last D-day.
And I can say from experience, the first 38 are the hardest.
Blessings for the many years married and working together ! I have 36 years married - my wife is the very best occasional helper but if she worked with me full time we would not have made 36 years together
SA
Quote from: SteveA on August 27, 2015, 03:04:43 am
Blessings for the many years married and working together ! I have 36 years married - my wife is the very best occasional helper but if she worked with me full time we would not have made 36 years together
SA
Bob and I had our 33rd on May 29th. For six years we worked in cubicles right across from each other. The only time it was a problem was when he decided that he could grope me on company time. That did seriously torque me off. I kept explaining to him that I was a co-worker from 9-5 not his wife. He wasn't buying it. And, to be fair, he always made sure that no one else was in the office when he grabbed a cheap feel but it truly did p*ss me off. Other than that, I had no issues working so closely with him. If we were "discussing" something at home, we left it at home and didn't air our laundry in the office.
Now, he's my tear-out expert. Really is a tremendous help as I can concentrate on rebuilding the project and helps to keep my carpel tunnel under control. Probably helps that Sew & Sew is in our basement and steps are really hard on his leg that was badly broken about 15 years ago. Keeps him from trying to get frisky when I'm still in work-day mode.
Love the old picture kodydog and congrats on your upcoming anniversary. Lots of people don't have the stick-to-it that it takes to get past the first 10 these days. I think it does get easier as you learn what is important, what to blow off, etc. As our dog obedience trainer said "You have to wisely pick your battles". The same holds true with marriages, raising teenagers, surviving in the work world, etc.
Virginia
Congratulations.
There's a video on the net interviewing a couple who had been married 75 years. The interviewer asks them what was the secret for their long marriage.
The wife said that when they were first married they made an agreement. The husband would make the decisions for all the big issues, and she would make the decisions for all the small issues. So far, she said, they haven't had any big issues. And as she says this the husband is shaking his head up and down in agreement.
gene
My wife and I worked together in the shop for several years. She could sit behind a sewing machine and sew as good as anyone. But she never showed any aptitude for blocking out and cutting. So I had to prepare all the pieces to be sewn for her. I spent all my time just trying to stay ahead of her. Then when all the pieces were sewn, she had nothing to do but sit and wait while I caught up on the tack-on phase of the job.
So realistically, her helping me wasn't really getting the jobs done much faster than if I had done them alone.
Besides, we needed a job with benefits, so she went out into the cold cruel world and got one.
V
I'm sure Hubby or Hubby to be couldn't fight off instincts - all turned out well after 33 years and some years dating ?
My Wife's work is OK but I'd find fault with it which would lead to arguments. The problem is me - not her !
There is surely a name for my behavior - I'd say detailed - she'd say mental !
SA
congrats Ed on 31 years , my X only made it 2. not my choice me im happily divorced for 27 :)
Congrats Ed and Rose!!!!
Winnie and I cannot work together ---on anything! She's a hell of a stripper ---till her hands get sore, but I had to take her scissor privileges away, and she is intimidated by the sewing machine and the office end. That and we face adversity differently. Things go bad ---I get all Sargeant Major and tilt windmills. She hides under the waterbed until I fix it with out any help and calm down. She did always have a nice hot meal for who ever stayed to hold the other end of the board and I when we gotter dun! though.
After working together for over 25 years I can say the arguments are tough but the making up is fantastic.
A couple that was celebrating their 50th anniversary was asked the key to their successful marriage. The husband answered the question.....
"When we got married, we went to the Grand Canyon for our honeymoon. One of the things we did was hike up this steep cliff to camp under the stars that night. We had a pack mule carrying out gear. We were going up this very steep, rugged trail and the poor ol mule was having a very hard time. He slipped on a rock and fell. We went and helped him back up, repacked our gear on him, then my wife looked at him and said, 'That's one.' We continued up the steep incline and the mule slipped again on a rock. We helped him back up again, repacked our gear and my wife looked at the mule and said, 'That's two.' We continued and almost got to our camp and the mule slipped again. Before I knew it, my wife got out her pistol, thumb cocked and BLOOM, shot the ol mule graveyard dead right there. I couldn't believe it! I said to her, 'What in the world? You crazy woman, have you lost you ever lovin mind or what???' She looked at me and said, 'That's one.' We have been happily married ever since......
Rick
When Bob & I worked on Ft Leavenworth, there was a Major in my organization, CAS3. A co-worker and I were chewing the fat with him one day. I think it was his wedding anniversary as he got to talking about his wife and how much he loved her. He said that his wife NEVER worried about his cheating on her in all of their years of marriage. Right after they first got married, she hung a pair of pig cutters (she was an old farm girl) on the wall over their headboard in the bedroom and just smiled at him. He said it was a funny thing, that he never had any inclination to cheat after that. Every time they moved, she packed them away and hung them back up over the headboard when they reached their new duty station.
Seemed a little excessive to me but whatever floats your boat as the old saying goes.
Virginia
QuoteShe's a hell of a stripper
Anyone else have a wife (or husband) who is a hell of stripper? (Those crazy Canadians.)
Donald Trump's wife is said to have been a porn star. From what I heard she was never good enough to be a star. He is leading in the poles. (Anyone get the pun?)
Do you know what poles do in Poland? They hold up electrical and telephone wires. (I heard this somewhere and it's better to say it than to type it. Not that it gets any more laughs - maybe a few more groans.)
gene
30 plus years of marriage ???? Good Gawd. We sure have alot of old people on this site. :)
Happy Anniversary to all of you. :)
Great joke Rick. :)
Chris
QuoteRight after they first got married, she hung a pair of pig cutters (she was an old farm girl) on the wall over their headboard in the bedroom and just smiled at him.
Too funny! But he had to be making that up.
One of Dad's favourite fables was the young couple who had just spent their honeymoon. In the morning he told her to put his pants on. She hiked them up again and again but they fell to her angles every time she let go. " I can't wear your pants" ,she said. "that's right, and don't ever go thinking you can" he said. She convinced him to don her slacks. He huffed and he puffed and no matter how hard he tried he couldn't get them past his knees. " I can't get into your pants" he said. " Not until your attitude changes" was her reply.
'dunno Darren. Rick always insisted that was a true story about his wife, Peggy. Some of the Army wives are pretty crazy -- make me look sane and that is hard to do. I've met some women that I could see doing that, without blinking an eye.
Virginia
My military wife story: But first let me say thank you to all that serve.
Charleston had a huge Navel base. One of the biggest and most efficiently run in the nation. We did 4 dinning seats for an officers wife. Not the screw out dining seats but the kind that you upholster right to the frame.
She brought them in, I upholstered them and she came to pick them up. It was raining that day and she gave a very close, on her hands and knees inspection. She noticed a small stain on one chair she was giving close scrutiny to. Rose looked at the stain then looked at the ladies wet hair and determined a droplet of water fell from her hair upon her regimented inspection. Okay.
She then pointed out one of the corner pleats was 1/8th inch taller than the other. I assured her this was well within industry standards but this was totally unacceptable to her. She explained how her husbands closet was impeccable. Everything in its place. Shirts pressed and starched and lined up in order of color and importance of ceremony. Shoes polished and not more than 1/8th inch out of line. She went on about his pants but at this point I was starting to feel sorry for this poor women and agreed I should redo the pleats. She came back a week later and was very happy with the job. Whew!
Ed:
That was a Navy officers wife. You should have to deal with a Marine's wife. :)
When in the Corp's we had constant inspections. Boots, brass buckles, shirts, pants, etc. Th drape in the back had to be perfect. The outside seam on the shirt had to line up perfectly with the fly on your pants. And on and on. If you were not squared away during inspection you paid dearly.
The Marines were brutal back when I was in. They beat you, tortured you, run you till you dropped, etc. We always had an ambulance following us during runs to pick up stragglers and they were always present and parked next to our puggle stick ring during puggle stick fights/training. These training sessions were brutal, bloody and nasty.
I got knocked out cold by a Gunny Sgt who butt stroked me in the back of the head with an M-16. ( I got out of time on a step during marching once. One single step and he saw it ). We had suicides during boot camp and attempted suicides by the dozens ). The abuse was outrageous. Then they beat a recruit to death during a puggle stick fight. Turns out this kids parents had deep ties to a few Senators. Shit hit the fan and an investigation ensued. That changed the Marines forever. They were no longer able to hit us, torture us or abuse us or even swear at us. Some say it was the downfall of the Corp's.
Speaking of military officers wife's. I was on base one day running an errand for my CO and was near headquarters. A Marine officers wife came by me in her car, stopped and got out and chewed me up one side and down the other for not saluting. We were required to salute any car that had an officers emblem on the bumper. Some of these women were more over the top about power then their officer husbands. lol She snitched on me and I got called in for it. My DI told me " I don't care if the officers pet dog is driving the damn car......you see that emblem..salute it. "
I could tell stories about the Marines till the cows came home. But there is a reason why they are the most respected and feared fighting force in the world and the very best at what they do.
Chris
QuoteShit hit the fan and an investigation ensued. That changed the Marines forever.
Our airborne regiment was to the CF what your marines are to the U.S army. They were disbanded following an "investigation" after video of some of their actions in Somalia was sensationalized in the media. Politicians and public opinion have no business dealing with the military. If you've never played the game---don't try to change the rules.
The masses have Hollywood's portrayal of military life---they do not understand that each and every drill and behaviour is based on a sound decision to evoke a required mind set and response. If some one is shooting at you and I tell you to duck---I'm not going to make small talk, ask politely, and negotiate. The only way I can bring you home to Mom in one piece (and have you do the same for the other members of the unit) is if following orders is instinctive and immediate. You have until the bullet gets there to decide if you want to do as your told. John Q Pubic always tries to equate the military with large corporations. This is not a job or even a career people! It is a LIFE. Soldiers do not work 9-5 in air conditioned cubicles where a paper cut or missing out on the doughnuts is their biggest fear. They get yanked out of bed in the middle of the night and sent to nasty corner of the planet they didn't even know existed knowing that their lives are at risk, and do what ever they can to save the lives of a bunch of innocent people. The insurgents do not play Margue of Queensbury rules. They do not think or act like our society---we have to function on their level, no matter how unpleasant that is.
The media ( and thereby public opinion) fail to mention that in order to do that soldiers have to be better prepared for adversity and much stronger team players than our privileged lifestyle prepares us. In all the "Hollywierd" movies I've seen there is no mention of the commaradery (sp), brotherhood and esprite de corp that develops when a unit has to work that hard together in training or the benefits that those bonds bring to the battle field. [ Read---most effective neutralization of threat vs. casualties sustained ]. They also over look the confidence, attention to detail, and work ethic that military service instills in young people.
Is it right to
strike a subordinate during peace time training? Only to prevent a dangerous situation for the rest of the unit. Did I deserve that "tap" in the slats with a pick axe handle when I sent a round down range before the safety officer got to my gun platform on my det. comm's course? Hell yes---may I have another to remind me not to be a dumb ass again, Sgt!
Yup, my rude awakening in basic training was that DS held me responsible for the failures of the two dumb biatches in the next room that caused us to flunk the Colonel's inspection. Holy Crap. Seriously, we double-timed for 4 hours with only one lousy cigarette break. OMG! Yes, a blanket party was held that night and the two afore mentioned biatches were the guests of honor (or dishonor).
Officer's wives. You have to love them. Leavenworth has more Officer's wives than any city should have due the Command and General Staff College being located on Ft Leavenworth. For 10 months every year, the little darlings move there and are in for the shock of their lives. At any other duty assignment, a Lieutenant Colonel is pretty close to God and the wives can call anywhere in town and introduce themselves as Mrs. LTC scuzbutt and they are treated almost as a celebrity. One of my friend's father managed the Sears in Leavenworth and he had finally reached his fill of Mrs. LTC one day. The next phone call when the woman introduced herself in that fashion, he very nicely replied, "Ma'am, your husband is a LTC. What have you accomplished in your life?" Shut her pie hold up post haste!
My first job on Ft Leavenworth, I worked in the Secretary's Office of CGSC, a glorified Orderly Room. One day, a very PO'd Captain strutted in, very irate because there was no one waiting at Kansas City International Airport to greet him when he arrived. One of our closest friends worked in the same office and was a Sergeant First Class (SFC) for all you civilians. He proceeded to dress Gregg down for this egregious sin. Gregg clicked his heels together, pulled himself to attention and proceeded to explain to CPT Dumb Sh*t that Ft Leavenworth has 1 3 star General, 3 2 star Generals, 50 Full Bird Colonel's (called Full Bird because their insignia is an eagle), several hundered LTC's or Lieutenant Colonels, 500 more or less Majors and when CAS3 is in session there are over 1,000 CPT's on post at any given time. He smiled politely and said, "Now that you understand where you are in the pecking order here Sir, is there anything else I can do for you?" The Captain said not one word, turned and tucked his tail betweel his legs and crawled out of our office. Once he was out of earshot, Gregg treated himself to a full belly laugh, explaining that he lives for the days that he got to put an officer in their place.
Virginia