ForumsInternet/eCommerce

I'll admit, my business is little slow. With apologies to Jimmy Buffett:

Some people claim
That the recession's to blame,
But I know it could be my fault.

Hopefully we're not just "wasting away" -- but rather making good use of this time to strengthen our products, services, and relationships.

Hey Designer,

I have to agree with Biz Online. I own a website design company that has a strictly online presence. As far as local sales, yes, I have seen a drop in sales. As far as national sales; never better. I couldn't ask for a better first quarter.

Just in case though, I did pick up a part time job as a webmaster for one company. If things start to catch up to the Internet Marketing field, I may need to fall back on that.

Good Luck,
Dave Moore
http://www.rongdesign.com

I have to say i am quite amazed at how well everyone seems to be doing when all the markers are saying we should be doing poorly, but I have to agree the first couple months this year have treated me quite well though I am hoping at least some of that is because of my efforts to market the company. Hopefully the rest of the year will continue this way.

Forgive the typos, it has been a long day.

Historically, over my last 30 years as an independent graphic designer, when the economy is in trouble I have always experienced a jump in
my business. Businesses cutting back on in-house design departments
will outsource work to independent designers. Individuals who have been
laid off, or are concerned about losing their jobs, will often begin
new businesses during an economic downturn and will require the
services of a designer as well. Constant marketing during the good
times has always resulted in new clients coming my way when the economy
is less than ideal.

Jeff Fisher | Engineer of Creative Identity | Jeff Fisher LogoMotives

I hope not! I grew up just down from the brickyard. (Boy, the southerner in me came out in that sentence) Everything in our neighbor in Columbia, SC was brick when it was first built.

I know you have tried a lot of things but I was wondering if you have gotten on the outdoor kitchen craze? It is huge here in Dallas. What if you started marketing your business as the go to people for great outdoor kitchens - create the craze or at least position yourself as if you did. Another thing would be to start educating homeowners in the difference between a real brick work and the new stuff. Go on the offensive - get the word out that you do quality masonry work and there is no substitute for it. Look at Pella Windows, Moen Faucets - people are willing to pay for quality or what they believe is quality.

I don't think you have to disappear, you just need to remind folks. Get with the local brick and stone company, I'm sure they aren't happy with this trend and will be open to help get the message out. I really think you have to educate the consumer, make them make the builders use real stone and fake. Just a thought.

To";Lighthouse" and" I write",
Connecticut has the same population it had since 1963.People leave this state because they can"t survive here.It is the highest or second highest income in the country depending on the day.I work around the richest town in the richest state in the richest country in the world.We also have the fastest growing income disparity in the country.,and maybe the world.Everything here for a crafrtsmen is about the low income worker servicing the high end customer.There isnt a large middle class dressing up their backyards.The average income for a family here is 56k but low income is 43k .We have a lovely guilded cage with a scrappy food dish.Our state capital is also insurance capital of the world(tons of income perhaps,but its average family income is slightly above 20k which is almost the national poverty line.This is our proudest city yet the 1 million dollar plus home market here is holding its own.We are an example of the future of this country.Clasic victorian and early european economics.
I am over 50 and an expert in my field.I have tried to find employment elsewhere and find I am unskilled and to old.I must wait just a little longer until minimum wage pays better then masonry contractor and then I can leave this field.I cannot move as I am much to close to my family.
Also be leary of government stats.Our state reports average income of a mason by multiplying prevailing wages times 40 hours times 50 weeks.That is 3 times over reality.Also 25% to 30% of masons are subcontractors because there is not enough money in the trade to pay workers comp and unemployment benefits.Here only licensed trades (heating,plumbing and electrical,etc.)can afford such luxerys.Painters landscapers carpenters all the deemed by insurance companys to be safe trades must suffer.So all the trades with high self employment do so because homeowners builders and contractors dont pay enough.As far as the future of trade workers?When the average family income in this country reaches 125k then the average family can afford todays housing costs.Otherwise there is no future in our time.Also the mexican is not afraid of the cold.I have seen groups chasing contractors pickups ont the highway in the morning.We also have parking areas where hundreds wait every morning.They void all laws even housing laws.We dont allow boys and girls to share bedrooms and we have limits of adults per household.They survive here by sticking 12 to 20 people in an apartment.Also dont be fooled as to who they work for..it is the wealthy!!!! ! Not the poor.They are nannys and landscapers or work for cash for small contractors that serve the highend.They are not in the mainstream here yet.
I have witnessed first hand what happens with global trade(we lost the textile industry in the 70"s)nothing replaced those jobs.We lost our major commercial building in the recession of 1989(and it never came back)We lost our middle class by 1995,and we recently have began to lose our upper middle class.These are the people that bought the 400k plus homes for the last 10 years.Everything here now relies on government spending or the wealthy.The wealthy are employing cheap mexicans and whites at less than legitamate prices. Building your mansion at the sq ft prices of a ranch house.Those that arent are paying the difference to slick builders that pocket the difference.I could go on and on but I have to go to work...