The Economy Update

[wberminio]

How's it going out there!

We are seeing a slight increase in calls and work here in Westchester Co.,just north of NYC.
Don't know if it will keep up.
I heard on the news a few months ago that the recession is OVER!
I haven't opened the champagne yet.

How is the outlook in your neck of the woods?

[bcondon]

In Masachusetts, the job situation is declining. In the paper, it had town by town maps with (green) Increase, (Yellow) same state and Red (decline)

About 1/2 the towns (probably 125 reported out of 303 in Mass) were yellow and 1/2 Red and only 2 were green (Must have been 2 McDonalds opened.

I was laid off end of October and have sent out 50 resumes with one call back (which I hear is very typical) so we look for alternatives. My old company is in financial trouble and I expect it to go under in a couple of years, mostly because of management decisions.

Being in my 50s, age discrimination is rampart which is why I am considering opening my own shop and do the best I can which is much
more under my control.



Bob Condon

[dlcw]

Things are still slow in the cabinetry/furniture arena here in northeast WA state. Things are picking up a little with some craft and sign work. At least it's some money coming to cover bills and buy food. We do tend to run about 9 to 12 months behind the rest of the country entering and departing recessions though. So I hope to see more of a turn around by mid to late summer. Crossing my fingers...

[michael_schwartz]

Personally business has been on an upward trend and at the very least people want and are interested in projects, they might just not be willing to spend much.


Things are starting to look better here, at least for now. People are starting to quit their jobs and open up businesses for a change. The local ski resort has resumed development which was put on hold years ago. Tourists are starting to spend money again as well.

However in my town at least there are very few corporate jobs and most people work work multiple part time jobs at any given time. Everybody has pretty much worked everywhere at some point.

[bcondon]

Michael,

wonderful country... I thought in that area that if you were not working 4 jobs (as in Maine), you were loafing!

I have a very good friend in Waterbury, just 1 mile north of 89 on Rt 100.

funny story for your area...

My son went to Middlebury and I was calling the local Inn to stay at with my family. I got the names of the towns confused... I was suppose to call the Weybury Inn (Near Middlebury) but I called the Waterbury Inn.

The lady who answered was very nice and I told her that my family would like to stay for the weekend.... she said un-huh and I gave her the date
and she said un-huh, then finally said that I must have the wrong number because the Waterbury Inn is a drug and alcohol recovery home, but that we sounded nice, and if we could not find a place to stay, to call back...

We both laughed...

Then I called the Weybury Inn and the folks were as snotty as one could get... I bet they are Massachusetts transplants!

ooops.. I am from Massachusetts...

Enjoy the cool weather!

Bob

[gene]

Down south in Georgia we have been seeing a upswing in work both remodeling and cabinetry . It seems like people are stopping talking and finally starting to take action. Nov was good and so far Dec was better , I just wish it would warm up some ,10 was the low last nite . come on spring

[cabnet636]

and mayer moved to columbia!! gene we are planning a spring gathering again!!

[woodworx]

Most can agree what you put into something is equal to what you get out of it. Fair attitude=Fair results, and great attitude=great results. You see this direct correlation as being small business owners.

As far as a nation/global economy stance; We are still in the crapper. Europe is one step from a meltdown. Look at Greece, Spain, Portugal???? They are all in trouble.

Our nation is really one or two states bankruptcies away from a total economic flop. If California declares bankruptcy..........The you know what will hit the fan. They hold 1.8 trillion of the nations debt. That is more than 10% of the nations debt. There aren't too many more states, or countries that can afford to write loans to these broke states.

All of us are working hard everyday, and that is all you can do. Just hold on to your gold schillings, and don't go buying that boat you always wanted.

We are not even close to being out of this thing.....Not by a long shot.

[cabindoors]

And guess what happened today.. Yet another 2,000 page stimulus with over 600 ear marks. Go figure.

[coach]

I am in Cocoa, Fl. 90% of my work is in Orlando. We had to hire 2 guys.
Just praying it isn't a fluke but this is usually the slowest time of year for us.

[wberminio]

Hey Dave
Good to see you're busy
What projects are you working on?

[coach]

Erminio, we are doing cabinets for 2 property management companies, and door and drawer replacement. Total of 10 apartment buildings.
Also doing counter tops for a contractor in Jacksonville. We worked the same apartments 2+ years ago every month. They have finally started their rehabs again. The contractor said if I could do 125 sets of cabinets in 2 weeks he would buy frome me. He despises the Depots cabinets.
Also we are making shelf supports from ash lumber. He keeps us really busy too. I have been very lucky as of late.
check out www the neat freaks dot com. those are the supports we make.
Are you staying busy? Haven't been on the forum much lately.
Dave

[wberminio]

Dave

The last few months I have been busy doing small jobs-vanities mostly.
I have continued to make samples for designers and others.I put their logo in front and my website in back.It is slowly starting to pay off.
I've been working with a designer I made a sample .Dropped it off and got a call a year later for some work.Problem is they don't have much work either.
The architects I work with are just starting to get some calls.That means any work they get is a least a year out.
The Bot has helped me expand to some sign and other work, like making parts and custom cutting boards-but this is all in the beginning stages.
I'm stating to see some type of movement-but who knows if it will continue.

This slow down has been in the works for about 3 years.Any work coming in is just to catch up on old bills.
The old way of doing business has definitely changed.