Who's business is actually picking up???
 

Seems as though it's worse now for us online retailers than back when everyone started talking doomsday theory. The market's up, but where the hell are the sales???

Thoughts? I really want to know if things are getting better for ANYONE.

Well they want all us 'consumers' to get out there and 'consume', trouble with that is if you are laid off you don't have money, and if you are not laid off you are putting it in the mattress in case you do get laid off.

I have been saying for the last four or five years if you beggar the consumer in a consumer driven economy you have shot yourself in the foot, but they did it anyway. All those wealthy folk don't spend their money here, they travel the world and spend it overseas.

In answer to your question, things are actually a bit better because the Canadian dollar is climbing and my pension comes from Bell Canada.

Collections must be good, judging from the calls I keep getting concerning my employees.

Chas

This is by far my worst month. Getting better ? Not here..

Well, I'm still holding just barely steady, but my wife had her best month ever in real estate last month. We need jobs, and as long as American buisness keeps getting punished for doing buisness here, they will be tough to come by. Let's just hope that knee cap and tax is on the shelf for awhile. I like to think about what Reagan did, when he inherited an economy with double digit unemployment, double digit interest, and inflation running amok. He cut taxes from 70 to 28% and literally doubled the tax revenue for the government.:)

Advertising is starting to tick up a little. Automotive is starting to come back. That helps a lot.

I can agree with you there...

And sent us down the path that led to here. Pay down the debt. Raise taxes to do it. We can't cut taxes and keep Social Security, Medicade, Medicare and spend billions each year nation building.

Are you familiar with the Laffer Curve?

Chas

Let's help him out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laffer_curve

You're making things too easy. Besides, unless the government gets spending under control it's just a moot point.

BTW, how did your party go...hope it was a success. You have Dwight Yokum on vinyl...reckon I'll have to do a search on Ebay.

Chas

Yes I am. And the Tooth Fairy.

Even if it weren't "Voodoo" with historically low tax rates where do you think we fall on the curve? There is a "too low" scenario even in Laffer's world.

There is. And at this point in time, in this situation, I think that controlling spending as opposed to raising taxes is the direction to take. And spending wisely.

But it's not that simple anymore.

Chas

Apples and oranges. I don't believe that Reductio Ad Absurdum applies in this case.

Chas

I've read somewhere that the only people that are doing well are those involved with processing personal and corporate bankruptcies, those involved in mortgage foreclosures, and salvage people who clean out the houses of underwater mortgage holders who pack up and leave in the middle of the night. Seriously.

See, that's the thing. They've conned you into believing that we can keep lowering and lowering taxes. And when it all goes to hell, they say lower them some more. Okay, you say spend less. But there has to be a point where someone says "ya know, really, we just need more money".

I've been over this. There's no where to cut that makes enough difference that it would change anything other than Social Security, Medicade/Medicare (not going to happen) and military spending. We could make some difference if we were willing to cut military spending. But the people who want to keep taxes so low are the same ones who want to take over the world. Can't have it both ways.

In the mean time, we're up to our eye balls. Time to pay the bills.

We are seeing (knock wood) some pick-up in construction...some, not much.

I've been conned? Fucked maybe, but not conned.

No one has any intention of paying off the national debt other than through inflation. Besides, as a nation, we don't have enough money TO pay it off.

In theory, should we pay off the debt, we would have the money spent servicing the debt freed up to use for things of substance. And in theory, I agree with you there.

But the government doesn't operate like you and I. And they are busy raising taxes, they just call 'em something else.

Chas

Lol that's excellent!

Sales for me this year appear to be holding steady now, at down 20%. It had been as bad as down 40 earlier this year.

I get a housing industry newsletter that said that, because housing starts basically stopped completely, soon they will have to ramp up at least a little bit to fill even minor demand.

Just the same I'm waiting for the last empty street in a new development behind me to show construction before I believe anything.

Pete

Orders are up for us- actually better than this time last year. We're in the manufactured/ modular housing business.

Well, after everbuddy loses their "Upside-Downies" McMansion, the Gummint'll hafta stick 'em SOMEWHERE... (grin)

I see your point, Sandy. Actually, most of our customers are repeat home buyers looking for an upgrade, a retirement home, or something for the lake.

No FEMA trailers for us.

Oddly enough they are still building large houses here and selling them to boot. Our place increased by $10,000 in the last 45 days.

The only huge plus around here for me is selling snowblowers. I can't get them done fast enough. In fact, I have people on a waiting list.....

So there is some value to the lake effect after all.

I guess a reply addressing the actual thread is in order.

Construction is picking up here in mid Missouri, but it is still slow. It was absolutely dead until well into the 2nd quarter, I think that when people started to win back some of their losses in the market they started to feel wealthy again.

Personally, I've got a four month backlog at the time, which, considering the nature of things and the time of year, is pretty good. And I have several bids still out, and am bidding more.

Haven't made any money, but I haven't lost any, still have my crew intact, and I'm positioned to move when things open up.

Provided things open up...a big if.

Chas

Good news in WI and AZ
 

Just read in the news that Sub-Zero/ Wolf (the appliance manufacturer) is recalling laid-off workers. Nice to see some good news for once.

The following is from the Wisconsin State Journal.

An increase in home sales and home remodeling projects has prompted Sub-Zero/Wolf to add a second production shift at its factories producing high-end appliances in Fitchburg and Phoenix.

The company said Wednesday it has hired back 165 workers in Wisconsin and 40 in Arizona who were laid off earlier this year. They are needed to meet the increased demand for its "luxury" refrigerators, freezers and wine storage units, the company said.

Another 60 people are to be hired for salaried positions over the next six months. All the hourly employees will be back on the job by November, the company said.

"We're cautiously optimistic that the industry and the economy will continue to recover," said Chuck Verri, vice president for human resources, "and so we've positioned ourselves to rebound quickly as we come out of this recessionary period."

Never heard of Sub-Zero/Wolf, maybe too high end for Bugtussell.

But folks can only sit on their pocketbooks for so long, things wear out. Besides, they're more and more folks.

I'm an optomist. The big boys have taken their profits, the natives are starting to get restless, the time has come for some smooth sailing. Provided the puppet masters have a firm grip on the strings.

I only hope so, too old to start over again.
Chas

business remains very bad


:(

At least 2 more weeks in the space boot for me.

Have a job offer on hold til I recover, but not so sure the ankle will be ready for 8-10 hr shift on the hot line after months of lounging. Besides, duck season opens in earnest this month, and we can hunt pretty much un-interuppted til April as long as the birds cooperate w/ travel to Ark and South Missouri, where "Huntin Whitey" has a whole different meaning.:D:D

:eek::rolleyes::p

Might be time to "sell high, buy low".

You could still but a whole county down in Southern Missouri or Arkansas with that kind of mullah.

Down there where "the chickens fornicate with the hoot owls".

God's country. Neighbor gives you problems? "He needed killin'" is still grounds for justifible homicide in them parts.

Just kiddin'. Rockaway Beach is pretty cool, kinda of seedy, on Lake Taneycomo, close to Forsyth and Springfield. Buy a 5K boat and go trout fishing every day.

Only downside is Branson is 15 miles East. Just don't go 15 miles East. Go five miles West, you're on Bull Shoals, and most likely the only boat there. I'd recommend a kicker.

I'd do it myself, but by the time I hang around here and see both sides of the family to the grave, I'll be too old.

Hell, odds are they'll see me to the grave. Pricks are ruining my good time.

Chas

Markertek is up. I'm sure everybody likes a panic story. I think my auto parts vendor is doing well too, at least the Volvo parts. The old ones are a freaking gold mine in this financial train wreck. fcpgroton.com

Chas if I was to sell this place we would be heading for Nova Scotia or New Brunswick. Watching Congress scares the hell out of me.

Can't say as I blame you, but....

have you considered Ecuador?

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com...to-retire.aspx

Anyway, adios you mucks, I'm off the the Caribbean with my loving wife. I suppose that living with me for 25 yrs without smothering me in my sleep is worth humoring her for a week.

Chas

We did look at the island off the coast of Spain once, Florence speaks the language and it might be close enough to French that I could pick it up. Back in the70s I was able to get where I wanted with cab drivers in Madrid who spoke no English.

Safe trip and relax big time.

Our numbers are still down from what they were a few years ago.:( But I'm certain that that's due more to some stunningly bad decisions at OUR level, and really doesn't have anything to do with the gov't or the general economy.

I am in the coffee manufacturing and packaging business. Green beans in one end of the plant, fully packaged coffee out the other. Currently, about 750,000 pounds a day. We make some of Americas oldest and well known brands. Our coffee is sold around the globe.:D

Dave

I'm back around, after a somewhat long hiatus......

Business for me has just started to get into swing, here at work.....not sure if it's holiday volume, or the fact that people are actually buying cars. For the first time in many months, I may actually see a bonus.....IF things keep up the way they are now.

I've been busy in the garage, working every night until bedtime and beyond, working on snowblowers. Sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn't, but the common denominator for me is aching arms, greasy hands, and the ability to eat.

Things have gotten worse for me financially than I think they ever have, but I'm surviving. I'll be back around a bit more, as I decided once and for all to not only fight strong to survive, but have a life to survive for :)

Glad to see things are coming around a bit for you Kamakiri. So, I take it you work in the auto industry?

Dave

You will make it Tim, I'll put in a good word with the man upstairs.