Tough Business Climate to Figure Out
I do hear a lot of people say that their business has picked up a bit over the last few months. Some people are really busy. Others still say they will have a few good weeks then a slow week. But, for the most part, everyone seems to agree that the last few months business has been strong than it was at the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009. But, we are still crawling out of a hole. Not sure when we will see business as strong as it was in the early part of 2008 and before that.
One weird thing that is still different though is the unemployment situation. I had a friend ask me recently, "in your adult life, did you ever know a time when a person who really wanted to find a job just couldn't find one?" I know what he meant. Yes, I knew people that lost their jobs or took a few months off between jobs but, for the most part, guys and ladies I knew that really wanted to find a job could do so within a reasonable period of time. Sometimes the job did not pay what their last job paid but it was generally not like they were taking a job for half of what they used to make. Right now, I know of three former sales managers that I reported to who are out of work. Two in the midwest, one in the east. All were effective, competent and experienced. One is out of work 10 months and the other two about 6 months. And, I don't think they are finding anything.
So, I am very happy to see business pick up. Hope it continues and by 2011 or 2012 we are really rockin' again. But, I know until some of these people I know find work I am going to feel a little skeptical that everything is getting back to normal.
One weird thing that is still different though is the unemployment situation. I had a friend ask me recently, "in your adult life, did you ever know a time when a person who really wanted to find a job just couldn't find one?" I know what he meant. Yes, I knew people that lost their jobs or took a few months off between jobs but, for the most part, guys and ladies I knew that really wanted to find a job could do so within a reasonable period of time. Sometimes the job did not pay what their last job paid but it was generally not like they were taking a job for half of what they used to make. Right now, I know of three former sales managers that I reported to who are out of work. Two in the midwest, one in the east. All were effective, competent and experienced. One is out of work 10 months and the other two about 6 months. And, I don't think they are finding anything.
So, I am very happy to see business pick up. Hope it continues and by 2011 or 2012 we are really rockin' again. But, I know until some of these people I know find work I am going to feel a little skeptical that everything is getting back to normal.
As a small distributer about the size of a flea on Fastenals behind, I ask myself what have I learned from today's business climate. One thing and one thing only! Get out there. Make something happen! If it comes back there's no guarantee that I'll be on the receiving end. My customers need to stay in business, I must offer products and service that benefits them! The path is pretty clear. A dear friend always quoted the saying "If you're praying for potatoes grab a hoe." Crying won't help.
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TS, you've gotten the attention of a very wise & philosophical contributor in Mike, I always enjoy visiting with him. On a similar note, an old friend of mine used to say "If wishes were horses, even beggars would ride."
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As many Fastener Talk readers will attest, we work the phones constantly here at FCH, and we're always checking the pulse of current trends.
The good news is that positive reports are clearly on the rise. The not so good news is that there is a prevailing uncertainty as to the sustainability of a rebound, if that's what these improved conditions represent.
Queries on the FCH fastener search engine have picked up very well during the quarter, and even though we're not necessarily able to peg this traffic increase directly to the wider market, we can see that the size and quality of the orders being placed seems to be increasing.
We've been working with members in every way we can to maximize the benefits of their participation in the FCH network. We know that right now every extra sales opportunity means a lot. So we're keeping some members on under extended terms in hopes that as many distributors as possible will make it through this difficult time.
I agree with Mike Hose's comment above, although I think there are very good reasons for complaint. Much of the economic strife we're now experiencing is directly related to inept leadership in the U.S.
This is not a forum for political advocacy, and many complex issues are in play, but the fact is that the very foundation of the economy is perceived to be under attack, either by recklessness or by design at the hands of the current leadership.
Personally, I will be doing everything I can to remove it, and urging others to do the same.
I'll also be grabbing my hoe.
For the potatoes.
www.fastenersclearinghouse.com/search
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I'm not sure that businss has been picked up.We still worry about that economy situation will be as same as in 2009.
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