There's comments quite often all of the time about this topic, and I was again curious to see how things are going. More than once over the last few weeks I had to check to see if I remembered to pay the phone bill since it wasn't ringing much :D .
It's really not that bad, but is very slow and the calls I get are not big jobs.
This has me thinking of some reasons for this;
First and foremost is the economy, No one is spending. The guy who takes care of our IRA and some other investments tells me people have money, some are sitting on it, others are spending. He's quick to point out that the endless media attention to the financial situation does cause a fear for people to hold on to their money. I was at a major national car show the first of August and attendance and registration was down, Possibly fuel prices? other travel expenses? or some other reasons I'll touch on in a bit?
Second the weather, we live in a boating area with rivers and lakes nearby. Boat upholstery and canvas has been WAY DOWN this year. the spring brought lots of rain with rivers being above flood stage into late June early July. After that we went into a very humid heat wave. I feel that has kept many off of the water.
Around here if boats aren't on the water, the owners just don't think about them or doing any work they may need done.
Third is School, Around this area at least most schools have been in session since the first of August (my wife who's a teacher had to be back on July 29th). That has effectively cut off a third of the summer breaks I remember as a kid when we got out around Memorial day and didn't go back until after Labor Day. I believe that has cut short many families vacation season and as a result of trickle down economics (or lack of) people just aren't spending any extra to get things done.
Fourth is things like E-bay or other auction/classified ad sites or pre-made interior kits. There's been a lot of discussion about this lately on supplies that's imported, but what about finished products? Since my interests lies with custom cars and hot rods I'll use that as an example: as stated before I was at a national car show not long ago that is also a trade show with lots of new equipment there. A guy now can build a show quality, award winning hot rod in a little two car garage in a neighborhood by just using his credit card.
That includes the upholstery. There are several companies on the market who offer seats ready to bolt in and will sell matching material for the builder to complete the rest him/herself. I would imagine that is also going on in the boating community some too. Don't get me wrong nothing beats a true custom built interior, but these kits I'm seeing are very good quality not like the old J.C. Whitney seat covers you use to buy.
I'm sure there's many other reasons too, but just touched on a few of what's in my mind.
I guess as it's been said on here before, one of our jobs is to be more creative and offer something that can't be found in a catalog. Hope things pick up soon!
Kyle
Hi
really enjoyed reading your post in the above regard as you make some very salient points and make most insightful comment.
Well, now. In west oz we hear on the news that the States owes a trillion dollars but it's ok because Mister Obama's Office is going to print some more greenbacks. So don't panic.
You hear rumours that the Chinese have big mobs of geenbacks stashed away for release sometime sooner or later in the Asia pacific countries. Don't worry. Print more!
Now in the news the emphasis has turned to the varied bankrupted countries of Europe.
All in all its a lot of wall street mania again and talk of 2nd global recession.
Its all a bit of a shambles and what not however one can stay poised in the power of the present moment maybe and trust that things have a habit of working out, that is, as the cows will come home to pasture.
Hot tip - market thicker wallets for more money and some nice boots for the cow's homecoming.
It's August. End of summer, people on Vacation. Thing will pick back up in the Fall.
This is typically my slow time but I have been hammered. I have been stitching 7 days a week and many times at night as well. I admit I am exhausted and in desperate need of some time off. Besides that I am retired and didn't sign up for this kind of schedule. :)
I know exactly why my business has boomed. 1.) My name has been being passed around on RV forums lately and friends are recommending friends who are recommending more friends. 2.) Slide out awning replacement is something that most RV'ers cannot put off for a year or two. Most who I do the replacement fabric for have their awnings ripped out and are in desperate need of new fabric so to prevent interior leaks on the slides they have to get them done asap. 3.) The leading awning manufacturer for RV's switched to a ply thread in 2004 and it is complete junk. It is cheap Chinese low bid crap and has broke, come apart and, disintegrated. Thank you Carefree Inc. for producing crap awnings. 4.) The older Sunbrella awnings have hit their life expectancy so I am also busy doing awnings for 2000 - 2002 model years. 5.) Most motorcoach owners have the cash to have these awnings replaced because the vast majority of my customers are retired and have bigger savings accounts and are in better financial position then the young uns. If you can afford a 1/4 million dollar coach you can afford a
$ 1,200 awning replacement job. That's 3 tanks of fuel for some of these people. :)
But there is one major drawback with RV work. It is very cyclical. You do not get a steady flow of work and I have had weeks where I twiddled my thumbs. Then the next week I am booked out for a month. This is one thing my boss ( wife unit ) and I have discussed. How to spread the work out over the year and grab business during slow months. It is nothing new and many industrial's practice this same exact method. It is called the utilization of fixed based resources. I will explain that in a new thread as I do not want to hijack this one and I do have an idea as to how to combat the slow months.
I am busy as heck right now but am looking towards a slowdown next month. In November when the RV snowbirds start hitting the great State of Florida I will start picking back up again. One of my dealers gets slammed big time in November and December and that hopefully will keep me busy. I already have jobs booked for October and November when a few snowbirds hit the State and February and March wen the temp's start rising in FL this is when I have my biggest months for solar screens. I was so busy last year that I was booked out for nearly two months and was sewing 7 days a week morning and night.
Overall I am happy as this is turning out to be my biggest year ever since I started this business. But since I specialize in RV's only my customers could be a bit different then the rest of yours so it is logical to think that this is the reason why I am busy right now.
Chris
Boating is everywhere around me It as been slower and slowest this year I'd say I only did a couple of the 5-6 k jobs the rest have been a few entire upholsterys and mooring covers.
Now is my slowest tiime of the year waiting for snowbirds to return and local back to life with kids I school.
The ones with money seemed to be holding off work to see what happens unless like one ,they were hit with a windstorm and had no choise.
it's been steadyslow. I've alway got somthing to do Like cleaning my truck the other afternoon I was asked by a guy who stopes and asked if I could go take a look at his boat. Got that one and today I got a resew job. It's not much bit it pays for food.
Chris do you think that the rvs are aslo gettig ready to head south that you Re busy right now also ?
Oh ps that resew was a toon. Asked snout s néw Cover and I told him a new one best I could do would be like $900 he said cz t do that so let's resew a d get some more life out of it
We could use a nice nearmiss stirm to blow thigs around then I'd party with kkdydog
Quote from: needles eye on August 25, 2011, 07:13:07 am
Hi
really enjoyed reading your post in the above regard as you make some very salient points and make most insightful comment.
Well, now. In west oz we hear on the news that the States owes a trillion dollars but it's ok because Mister Obama's Office is going to print some more greenbacks. So don't panic.
You hear rumours that the Chinese have big mobs of geenbacks stashed away for release sometime sooner or later in the Asia pacific countries. Don't worry. Print more!
Now in the news the emphasis has turned to the varied bankrupted countries of Europe.
All in all its a lot of wall street mania again and talk of 2nd global recession.
Its all a bit of a shambles and what not however one can stay poised in the power of the present moment maybe and trust that things have a habit of working out, that is, as the cows will come home to pasture.
Hot tip - market thicker wallets for more money and some nice boots for the cow's homecoming.
Hey Needles, our economy in the East is still good as long as you guy's in the West keep on sending all those mining taxes over here to prop us up, keep diggin them holes. ;D
I've got more business than I know what to do with..
Doing quality work has paid off as the less desirable shops have gone under..
We've built a reputation of only using high end material, (sunbrella and Stradaglass) and refuse to drop our standards........
We're booking jobs for Mid November and have been working 12 hours a day, seven days a week, for the last 6 months.......
Its just the wife and I here in the shop, been looking for a quality worker but it seems that all I get are low-lifes wanting to put crap together, and we've got no place for them here.........
Randy it looms like your in northern CA. When is your slowest time of the year? In fl here I've found it to be sept kids back in school and winter snowbirds still up north
Quote from: Mike8560 on August 28, 2011, 04:45:17 pm
Randy it looms like your in northern CA. When is your slowest time of the year? In fl here I've found it to be sept kids back in school and winter snowbirds still up north
dosent look like we'll slow down any time soon.. and we're just getting into our big-boat season.. full inclosures, and just finished or working on the last of the sailboats with bimini and dodgers bound for mexico..
I'm in the California Delta...
our shop is located in an upscale Marina... the owners here also own two other marinas..... its a tight knit community where word of mouth and the quality of workmanship is a great value.............
Could be better. I'm losing jobs to an awning business that thinks it can do canvas.
(https://forum.upholster.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi271.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fjj147%2Fcustomtrans%2Fth_IMGP1514.jpg&hash=91471d1cb04f9675dc04177ef83fb13b) (http://s271.photobucket.com/albums/jj147/customtrans/IMGP1514.jpg)
The Bayliner on the right is mine, the Cruiser on the left I lost to awning place, that is there canvas.
Lost I believe 4 jobs to them because there cheaper.
My question is how to market to customer? I can build you a nice job, but if price is everything and looks don't matter let me know, I'll build you a piece of crap?
Eric
Quote from: Eric on August 30, 2011, 06:25:15 am
My question is how to market to customer? I can build you a nice job, but if price is everything and looks don't matter let me know, I'll build you a piece of crap?
Eric
If all their jobs look that bad they must be getting a ton of complaints. My experience is some people want the lowest price but still expect high quality. Sooner or later the awning business will have to either make a better product or stop making boat enclosures.
Most people take a lot of pride in their boat. These are the people you want to target. How about an ad with that picture in it? It got my attention and I don't even own a boat.
Quote from: Eric on August 30, 2011, 06:25:15 am
Could be better. I'm losing jobs to an awning business that thinks it can do canvas.
(https://forum.upholster.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi271.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fjj147%2Fcustomtrans%2Fth_IMGP1514.jpg&hash=91471d1cb04f9675dc04177ef83fb13b) (http://s271.photobucket.com/albums/jj147/customtrans/IMGP1514.jpg)
The Bayliner on the right is mine, the Cruiser on the left I lost to awning place, that is there canvas.
Lost I believe 4 jobs to them because there cheaper.
My question is how to market to customer? I can build you a nice job, but if price is everything and looks don't matter let me know, I'll build you a piece of crap?
Eric
Eric:
I have had the same problem with my awnings and solar screens. What I had to do is sell quality. I took the largest awning company in the USA and found their weaknesses in their manufacturing process, fabrics they used and even the thread. I then built a marketing program from there and beat quality into my customers head.
I never mention the names of my competition but made sure the customer seen the difference between their awnings and solar screens and mine. I have had no problem selling what I offer, even at a premium price. I did have to drop my prices a touch due to dealers pricing structures but it didn't kill my margins.
The one thing I will not do is price match. Doing that would dilute my products as well as my margins.
A lot of the success in down playing your competition is through careful wording. You do not want to concentrate too much on what they do wrong but more on what you do right. Tearing them apart is no help to you and few customers like it. There is an art to learning how to rip your competition in a professional way and not come across looking like a big ass and whiner. :)
Your going to need to find all of your strengths ( and their weaknesses ) and then highlight those to prospective customers. What kind of fabric are they using ? Thread, Sewing techniques ?, etc. In other words your going to have to find your strengths and then climb inside the customers heads and make them want to spend a little more based on quality.
Obviously, with the looks of your competitions work, it shouldn't be to hard. :) If you have questions, feel free to e-mail me and I will help you the best I can. Chris@stonevos.com
Chris
Quote from: Eric on August 30, 2011, 06:25:15 am
Could be better. I'm losing jobs to an awning business that thinks it can do canvas.
(https://forum.upholster.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi271.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fjj147%2Fcustomtrans%2Fth_IMGP1514.jpg&hash=91471d1cb04f9675dc04177ef83fb13b) (http://s271.photobucket.com/albums/jj147/customtrans/IMGP1514.jpg)
The Bayliner on the right is mine, the Cruiser on the left I lost to awning place, that is there canvas.
Lost I believe 4 jobs to them because there cheaper.
My question is how to market to customer? I can build you a nice job, but if price is everything and looks don't matter let me know, I'll build you a piece of crap?
Eric
I'm looking at those two boats Eric and I doubt you will be able to lower your standards to match there's, it might even take you longer to get the quality down that low, not to mention all the sleep you would lose. ;D
I've got to Admit when i started I was learning as I went and inwas the cheoer guy as I learned I went up in price as far as i could. People Weill talk and just havingntgoowe two boat sitting side by side. Will do it I'd hate to be thebguy with the lousey boat and have to look at your nice job.
Somebody had a saying about a cheap job if you overspent on somthing all you lost was what you overpaid but if you got a cheap job. Younlost everything you spent
Quote from: Mike8560 on August 30, 2011, 01:28:16 pm
Somebody had a saying about a cheap job
Quote"There is hardly anything in this world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and those people who consider price only, are this man's lawful prey. It is unwise to pay too much, but it's worse to pay too little. When you pay too much you lose a little money - that is all. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do. The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot; it cannot be done. If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to add something for the risk you run, and if you do that you will have enough to pay for something better"
John Ruskin (1819 - 1900)
Not mine, but I thought it was awesome.
You'll lose a little business at first, but they'll all come back. We've got an undercutter in town and it's perfect. People only concerned about price go to him and are disappointed. Without sh☁t jobs customers won't realize you're the best!
Ya unlike hat say Pepys how did you dod that with the sh!t
I have had the same problem with my awnings and solar screens. What I had to do is sell quality. I took the largest awning company in the USA and found their weaknesses in their manufacturing process, fabrics they used and even the thread. I then built a marketing program from there and beat quality into my customers head.
Had the same problems with someone near hear.. they claimed they would only have to make two trips to the boat.. one to take measurements and one to install..
I would laugh about it saying they were better than Myself as I would normally make two or three trips for each pannel..
and if they wanted a tent dropped over they're boat, go to them, but if they wanted a custom fit, let us do the work..
I recently got my just reward as a customer came in to say that this other person had come aboard they're boat durring a get together, (seems they belong to the same Yacht Club),
they mentioned that we had done the interior and inclosure and were more than pleased........
so we've gotton to the point where we are taking jobs right out from under our compititions noses.........
just keep your quality and ride it out..
Its actually GOOD that there boat is so close to what you are doing........you can now use the other boat as a "we dont do work like that" and If they would be happy to accept that type of work, go down the street...
Oh my :o I would run and hide if I turned out work that that!!! I know the feeling I lost a job on a older mastercraft ski boat. nothing big a bucket a lounge and a rear bench he wanted all the pleats and a logo put in the seats i quoted a fair price for the job i thought. Oh I wish I had a camera im no pro but man what a job wrinkle city none of the pleats lined up looked so bad hope he didnt pay for it
then he asks how much to fix it told him Ill pass on that some people
Quote from: RandyOnR3 on August 30, 2011, 05:41:13 pm
Had the same problems with someone near hear.. they claimed they would only have to make two trips to the boat.. one to take measurements and one to install..
I would laugh about it saying they were better than Myself as I would normally make two or three trips for each pannel..
do you pattern each panel because you are I. The marina?
I wouldn't laugh and say your going to get a lousey job going this way
I used to have a shop on the water and large boats would come to my shop in the water. I would pattern each part The top then each window I was on a large lake and turned Down Work at the coast because if thenway I worked. After decicing to move to Florida I k ew I wouldn't have a shop
on the water and learned to pattern. Here I will pattern the entire job in one shot build the canvas and install in one day
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http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy102/Mike8560/Flybridge/100_0580.jpg
yes somtime I d got to fix. Somthing I don't like But it can be done One shop
on here even only patterns half the boat. Normaly I'd say that's crazy I I would do it. I will pattern half a boat it it's a mooring co er and all is symetrical
Quote from: Mike8560 on August 30, 2011, 04:47:58 pm
Ya unlike hat say Pepys how did you dod that with the sh!t
http://fsymbols.com/
Quote from: Mike8560 on August 30, 2011, 08:06:13 pm
One shop on here even only patterns half the boat. Normaly I'd say that's crazy I I would do it. I will pattern half a boat it it's a mooring co er and all is symetrical
Aww... live a little Mike, don't let fear or common sense hold you back!
Aid I'd do it
I suppose it depends on the type of work. In our business, we lose work to the "white van man" because people are not prepared to ask what they are getting for their money. They will not listen when you try to explain it to them either. All most people seem interested in is "How cheap is it?". Once the job is done, however badly, the work is lost as with digital TV, the mankiest job will work most of the time. These cut throat artists also reduce the apparent value of the job as customers expect to pay these uneconomic prices as a norm.
We have always worked on the basis that we do a job to the minimum standards I would expect in my own home. To do less would turn us into a tin pot cowboy outfit in my opinion.
Work is very slow, something like 10-25% of our normal work coming in and I have laid off two engineers as a result. I think another one will be going too tragically. The only businesses doing anything in our area are the supermarkets. Everyone else seems to be kicking their heels. Our City centre looks like a ghost town, boarded up shops and the ones that ARE open are charity outlets. The City council are at war with the motorist and do their utmost to deter cars from getting anywhere near the shops, with no go areas and penal parking charges. We also have roads like roller coasters, they call it "traffic calming".
Oh good grief, Eric... Don't ever lower your quality to that level just to compete on price. You don't want those penny-pinchers for customers anyway - take my word for it. Stick to your guns, do good work, and those willing to pay the price for good-looking canvas will seek you out. Now, having said that, some of my early projects didn't look much better :-[ But I re-did them and reworked the project till I was satisfied, regardless of how long it took.
Just lost a nice job yesterday making new coaming pads for a center-console based entirely on price. I just told the customer that I couldn't produce them for the competitive quoted price and I hope they did good work for him. I'd love to know who quoted $1100 for 32 linear feet of 9" coaming pads from scratch (1/2" foam board including heat-bent corners and irregular lines (not squarely rectangular), all new foam with bull-nosed edges and, of course, the upholstery. I had quoted $1800 or so I think - don't remember exactly at the moment. Anyhoo, I was not upset to lose it as I'm BUSY. Business is good in S. Florida. I've been turning away work.
June