Slow September?

[GeoSpectrum]

After quite a busy period things have slowed down a bit. Is this normal at this time of year? Ive put it down to people not wanting to spend following the holiday period and schools starting back? But I am worried that, although I spread my advertising around, the closure of the local free paper where I had an add running might mean people are not finding me?

[yankee]

i wouldnt panic over 1 bad month thats if it turns out bad.i would say that what ive went through may and june were decent july quiet picked up slighty in august typical summer months. its at the back end of the year us framers should be making our money on the lead up to christmas getting in plenty of work and selling pictures off the wall also selling add ons like gifts and jewellery.as things are tough you have to try and find different ways of getting customers through the door and hopefully over the coming months that will be the case for all of us chin up over this month im sure things will pick up.

[Dave]

Summer holidays are usually slow for us, but this year not the case. September is slightly off, but always when I start worrying it comes back up again.

Dave

[stcstc]

i have had my best year to date this year, and can only see things growing

[Jonny2morsos]

Other way round for us. Slow in school summer holidays now got busier and this was the same way last year.

From now until christmas is always our busiest time.

[Steve N]

Seems to be getting busier

[prospero]

Absolutely ballistic this month.

[Not your average framer]

The start of the year was a difficult time for us, but the last three months have been very good months.

September has been a month of peaks and dips, but it's starting to look like it may end on a high!

Hand finished framing orders have been very good indeed, so not complaining at all!

[IFGL]

only 4k to go for my best ever month.

[IFGL]

yay, best ever month. and 2 days to go.

[JamesC]

Looking at past years sales patterns September is the quietest month from June to January for us so do not worry. It's back to school time and just before Xmas with people recovering after summer holiday spend.

We have had our best ever september and done lots already that will be invoiced next month e.g. framed oils done for the Savoy in London so hopeful this will generate extra kudos for us. Still not as busy as August which was our busiest month ever outside Nov/Dec rush.

We have just felt able to increase our spend on advertising and are going for the local market now where many people still don't know we exist but there is little strong competition. May take a while to pay for itself but should do in time.

[GeoSpectrum]

I'm actually feeling a little more optimistic now. I away from framing for a few days and have had time to go through the last 12 months figures (my 1st year trading in fact) and although I’m sure its relatively modest, there has been significant pick up in turnover from where I was 12 months ago. I have also noticed that I’m doing more work in the same time. The CMC has helped as well and the time taken to complete a job has shortened. Hence the feeling of not being so busy. Daft. Onward and upwards.

[fusionframer]

Was busy August, September has been flat out and orders still coming in like mad. Happy days!

[misterdiy]

Really odd month although we were shut for a week. August was balistic - best month ever and September was worst month for over two years. October has kicked off in balistic fashion.

There is absolutely no pattern these last three years