Thread: where will it end?

Pedro, I thought about getting a big dog. One that I could train to tow my golf clubs around, in one of those small garden trailers.
But then I thought, I would probably have to lift the lazy coot in and out of the Disco.
Its not that easy being a professional layabout either. You have to be prepared for the unexpected. You have to be prepared at all times for the WHIMS... they can strike at any time. Bit earlier on a WHIM I felt the need to go fishin, ended up for weeks up in the Gulf, potterin about. Damn.
The other week, on a Whim I decided to go for a drive. Ended up doing a lap around around the Birdsvile and Strzelecki tracks. It was'nt easy.
At the moment I am trying to ignore a Whim to go and see vast areas of wild Hops.
The blasted Whims play havoc with my local golf.

Robert.

Originally Posted by blitz

this is my biggest problem I am obviously a still living in a different time frame. I have been done over so many times by a handshake and being an idiot to believe that a handshake is a mans bond. Even so called friends have put the brown stuff on me, for me being so niave to believe that if they say something they will honour the agreement - this is what has put me in such a financial tight spot at the moment.

And no one to blame but myself for thinking I can trust some ones word.

I have the same problem, we set up a small business in 2007 just before the "GFC". So far, we are travelling along fairly well, but definately not rakeing it in, the thing I found is to offer something that your competition cannot, in my case 30years of industry knowledge and treat your customers like friends and not an account number. We have a few fall over on us and take us for, in 2 cases, a lot of money, and one of these guys was a personal friend. He said, I guarantee you will get your money, but I dont know when, 3 years later his attitutude is, when I get it you will get it, if you want to have me wound up, go for it but you will get nothing at all. What do you say to that?
If you can survive this current downturn, I think you will come out a lot stronger and you must be doing something right by your customers.
Have a good weekend all, I'm off to the LandRover show at Castle Hill Showground.
Cheers Ian

Originally Posted by ezyrama

when I get it you will get it, if you want to have me wound up, go for it but you will get nothing at all. What do you say to that?

Have him wound up. You'll get nothing anyway.

Originally Posted by mikehzz

Business is slow everywhere. My business was extremely slow the last 2 months...similar business to yours in the IT field.

I temporarily closed my tool importing business in late May for an extended holiday. I have started up again and am as busy as. Just depends what line you are in, the numbers and strength of the competition.

Originally Posted by ezyrama

I have the same problem, we set up a small business in 2007 just before the "GFC". So far, we are travelling along fairly well, but definately not rakeing it in, the thing I found is to offer something that your competition cannot, in my case 30years of industry knowledge and treat your customers like friends and not an account number. We have a few fall over on us and take us for, in 2 cases, a lot of money, and one of these guys was a personal friend. He said, I guarantee you will get your money, but I dont know when, 3 years later his attitutude is, when I get it you will get it, if you want to have me wound up, go for it but you will get nothing at all. What do you say to that?
If you can survive this current downturn, I think you will come out a lot stronger and you must be doing something right by your customers.
Have a good weekend all, I'm off to the LandRover show at Castle Hill Showground.
Cheers Ian

Make contact with you local motor cycle club. On the Gold Coast it is likely The Finks. Offer them 25% of what they collect. Works for me.

Originally Posted by incisor

in this area within a couple of kilometers of my little shoppe.......and 5 local computer shops similar to mine

has me wondering when does it reach saturation point? and what happens when it does?

I wish I had those options. A two week plus wait to get my PC back from the local guy if I am lucky and if I can get him to answer his phone in the first place OR I drive a hundred kays to the nearest regional centre be told to come back in a few days to a week and pick it up - again if I am lucky.

Decentralisation will fix all of those problems. Get out into the country and set your business up. There is a massive shortage of skills in all the regional centres.

Originally Posted by incisor

in this area within a couple of kilometers of my little shoppe

we have

RT Edwards
JB HiFi
The Good Guys
Woolworths (2 of) soon to be 3
Office Works
Dick Smith (2 of)
Clive Peters
Harvey Norman
Joyce Maine
Aldi
Jaycar
Kmart
Coles

and 5 local computer shops similar to mine

has me wondering

when does it reach saturation point?

and what happens when it does?

Offer to your customers what the others can't.

Offer them a warm welcome try to call them by their names. Be friendly with them even at your small expense a bowl of candies or a cup of tea can do the trick.

But best of all, create with your friends and customers the circle of good and loyal clients. The group's members will make the extra effort to drive a little longer to buy their needs from one of the group's. They will pay a slightly higher price just to buy from the group's business.

I believe that this is the way to go this is the way for small businesses to stay alive.