How are ya doing?

[Per Swenson]

Hi Folks,

Truth be told, things haven't being going so well at Swenson and Swenson.
From fine wood working to Jose da handiman to pay the bills.
It is hard sometimes to separate the things we do, with the things we know.
A breeding ground for under achievement.
I find it to be a disease.
It starts thus.
They were paid how much to do that?
Well heck. you mean I can charge more and do less then stellar work, and its ok?
I mean just to get by, this one time maybe.
Sure its ok, you are getting paid ...right?
I mean fella its only a job, am I rite?
We at Swenson and Swenson are still putting our foot down and saying its wrong.
Before we succumb to shoddy get rich quick work, we will continue to milk our herd of hamsters
for cheese, grow our own grapes of wrath mixed with the bitter tears of our children for table whine.
Or perish greeting you at you local wally world.
You know who is making out in this masqueraded economic downturn?
The sunsobeetchs selling anti depressants on TV.
Now that sir is a opportunity.
No self esteem, call your Doctor , eat a few of these.
Anyway.
I love ya all.
Folks,
I am a survivor. We will come back with a project that is worthy of your edification.
And a justification of years of tutelage.
In the interim, i will be cleaning gutters tomorrow and doing a damn good job at that to.

Per

 

[justinmcf]

i have cleaned a few gutters this year also per.
i have also had to dig a few holes and other general labouring jobs.
its a dirty job but someone has to do it, and it pays the bills.

its a far cry from using my festool toys onsite, but i cant complain.
i haven't gone hungry yet!

i also had a small injury. stood on a sharp piece of metal. off work for 2 weeks.
it has been my first injury where i have been introduced to the wonderful world of the medical profession.
now i know why they all drive porsche's, bmw's and mercedes....

regards, justin.

 

[Per Swenson]

Justin,

Lets see if I can put the economic situation of the North Eastern USA,
Specifically construction.
The rich are scared.
The poor can't borrow.
Stalemate.
Mow your lawn?

Per

 

[butzla]

Keep the faith, Per.  Things are looking up.  [scared] ???
Good to hear from you.

 

[peter halle]

Per,

As always it is great to hear from you.  The mindset of consumers had changed temporarily to that of survival and making do.  Fortunately for those who are survivors and can adapt, such as yourself, there is work out there that can be profitable.  Maybe not as profitable as other jobs, but profitable none the less.

There are many customers out there who can't do any more due to personal situations.  Or won't do.  That is a market to be tapped..  Becoming the person / contractor that they turn to is an enviable situation to be in.  Rarely an estimate.  First choice on work.  Repeat business.  Word of mouth advertising versus buying advertising.  Priceless.

Diversification and adaptability for contractors will become the key to success.  Look at your Dad and imagine what might be needed one year down the road.  Imagine services that can be provided to all tiers of economic situations and ages and then plan a part of your company to handle that. 

The economy will rebound.  People will spend again.  Maintaining and enhancing the enjoyment of smaller homes will become more important.  People will stay longer in their homes as they age - handicap modifications will become an even more important segment of the industry.

I offer these thoughts as someone who has worked for ten years building up a business model to serve the various needs of others.  Not glorious work.  Sometimes not even enjoyable work.  I look forward to those days when I can do something resembling creative.  But my company was hit late in this economic  situation and already is showing real signs of rebounding.  Only as the warmth and hope of Spring arrived. 

As you said,  never sacrifice quality for profitability - that is a long term losing proposition.

I look forward to your first big enjoyable project.

Peter

 

[Wonderwino]

Good to hear from you, Per!

What most people don't understand about money, is that it needs velocity to do any good.
Simply existing in a pile, it is nothing more than kindling.
When money starts actually moving, the economy will recover.
I don't know where all the "stimulus" money moved to, but it apparently has never gotten to the local economy.  It must be in a garage somewhere.
Has anyone else noticed the dozens of miles of "Work Zone" signs and orange cones along I-80 in several states with no equipment and no one working?
If money has too much velocity, it gets out of control, like a truck with no brakes coming down from a mountain.
Right now, it seems to be stuck in a swamp with no winch.
Hang in there!  I think there may be a few people running for office that understand income tax is transaction  based.  More transactions; more revenue.

 

[bonesbr549]

Hang in there Per!  I work in mfg and the jobs are headed overseas (i'm in the northeast) so fast its not funny.  I figure right about the time I can retire they will close down the last  American factory in my Co and I'll be out.  Right now everybody (In the boardrooms) is terrified of what the gov't will do next.  Is it higher taxes is it being taken over.  Its a real fear right now so nobody is moving and jumping in and being willing to hire people back. That of course drives confidence in the people who have jobs and thus don't want to (or cant) borrow.  There is money to be had if you have good credit.  People are just afraid right now.  Good luck

 

[MarkF]

My daughter sent this to me.  She lives near the small town of Mamou, Louisiana in the heart of Cajun French Louisiana...an area that never sees a boom in the boom times but suffers the lows of every down period.  It fits into this discussion. 

Mamou Economics

> It's a slow day in Mamou , Louisiana . The
> sun is beating down, and the streets are deserted. Times are tough,
> everybody is in debt, and everybody lives on credit.
>
> On this particular day a traveling Shreveport salesman is driving
> through town. He stops at the Hotel Cazan and lays a $100 bill on
> the desk saying he wants to inspect the rooms upstairs in order to
> pick one in which to spend the night.
>
> As soon as the man walks upstairs, Bosco, the owner, grabs the bill
> and runs next door to pay his debt to Boudreaux the butcher.
>
> Boudreaux takes the $100 and runs down the street to retire his debt
> to the Trosclair the pig farmer.
>
> Trosclair takes the $100 and heads off to pay his bill at T-Boy's
> Farmers Co-op, the local supplier of feed and fuel.
>
> T-Boy at the Farmer's Co-op
> takes the $100 and runs to pay his debt to the local prostitute,
> Clarise, who has also been facing hard times and has had to offer her
> "services" on credit.
>
> Clarise rushes to the hotel and pays off her room bill with Bosco,
> the hotel owner.
>
> Bosco then places the $100 back on the counter so the travelling
> salesman will not suspect anything.
>
> At that moment the salesman comes down the stairs, picks up the $100
> bill, states that the rooms are not satisfactory, pockets the money,
> and leaves town.
>
> No one produced anything. No one earned anything. However, the whole
> town is now out of debt and now looks to the future with a lot more
> optimism.

 

[woodguy7]

Isn't Bosco still out 100 usd for the room  [unsure]

 

[Mac]

Nah, he paid his debt to the Boudreux!

Great story!

 

[Per Swenson]

A ha!
The economics of optimism and pessimism.
Horseradish.

Here's the deal.
No tickee no shirtee.

I would sooner stand in the street  with a big squeegee and a grin,
Then do your library with MDF and caulk.

You don't need me, you need Ikea and a Bed Bath and beyond Catalog.

Then 10 years down the road, while your changing wives and lifestyles.
My humble work will be 5 years in the dumpster based on your girlfriends other whim.

Elitist? Hardly.

Just construction and interiors that will stand the test of time.
Physically and visually.

Hey, I gotta Disco ball for sale.......

Per

 

[EcoFurniture]

I feel with you! I just closed my company a couple of months ago...

Don't feel bad about me, it's all good! I'm glad it's over  [tongue] To many worries, no skilled staff to be found, cheap customers and greedy landlords... just to name a few.

It always blew my mind that our housing market is very strong and prices are skyrocking. People around here are still willing to pay $500.000,00 for a condo and much much more for run down houses! But on the other hand they are too cheap to buy locally made products.... As you said, IKEA is our enemy  [eek] How can you compete? You can't.

Anyhow, I found a job in a very nice shop. Now really enjoying building stuff again without the worries!

Wish you all the best!!!!!

 

[Per Swenson]

I agree.

But what it comes down to is the communal perception of a job well done.

There is the obvious, just as plain as the mustard stain on your tie.
Can you tell the difference between a Rolls and a Yugo?

Well........
Of course you can.

Bear with me a moment, and think about what we build.
Big word , build.
Create, design, and manufacture a living space for not only their yuppie children,
but the generations to come.

Because the key word here is living, not surviving.
I know, I have bivouacked with the best.
This my friends is the song of the starving artist.

Per

 

[clintholeman]

Per-

Alas, it is ever thus...

No one appreciates the artist in his time, unfortunately for our wallets, it is only after we've gong into the great void, that our  art is appreciated.  Personally, I think it is a bunch of crap!

Most folks can and do know the difference - they just rationalize it all away, along with a good bit of their lives, or so it seems.

Non Illigitimae Carborundum!

 

[Jonhilgen]

In the same boat down here in the South.  Trying to fight the good fight, giving my all, because "good enough" isn't. 

Here are some pictures of some "trim work" (and their "work station"--note the poplar linear moldings on the floor, yes those.  I actually saw a "carpenter" lay some plywood right down on them and rip a piece off with his skill saw...).  Keep in mind, this house is upwards of 800k, and you get craftsmanship like this. 

The good news:  This is what the competition does.

The bad news:  This is what we're bidding against.

Soon enough, those with money will start to see the value in what we do.  I just have smile and knowingly chuckle when I see poor workmanship, because I also see it as future business as well.  Somebody's going to have to tear it out and redo it correctly in a few years.

Oh yeah, I mow a couple of lawns in my neighborhood to bring in some extra cash each month, and I refuse to do that poorly either.

Jon

 

[Per Swenson]

Jon,
I am not the praying type.
but I am from the school of good work should sell itself.
I feel for my brothers down south.
But, what terrifies me.....
Is sitting on my ass with a non marketable skill.
Go wait in line for a Ipad, never mind the house that rots around you.
Poverty,. just today's hit of crack.
Ok, honestly, I really don't want to cut my hair, put on that suit and dust of that sheepskin.
There is not a shred of honesty or valor in that.
Excuse me while my dog, my mule and my helper go tilting at windmills.

Per

Go head its ok to chuckle.

 

[Brice Burrell]

I'm a survivor too. I just bought a Tajima caulking gun, at least my caulk will look good. [tongue] No really, I've looked at maybe 20 or so jobs for repair from the all the snow this year, I've gotten two of them. The insurance companies are offering about 3/4 of what it will cost for a quick and dirty fix. I'll do it cheap....as a sub, so my name isn't on it when I leave. I'm no artist so I'm not willing to starve, but even I will sit at home before I put in cheap vinyl windows or T111.   

 

[RONWEN]

What most people don't understand about money, is that it needs velocity to do any good.
Simply existing in a pile, it is nothing more than kindling.
When money starts actually moving, the economy will recover.
I don't know where all the "stimulus" money moved to, but it apparently has never gotten to the local economy.  It must be in a garage somewhere.
Has anyone else noticed the dozens of miles of "Work Zone" signs and orange cones along I-80 in several states with no equipment and no one working?
If money has too much velocity, it gets out of control, like a truck with no brakes coming down from a mountain.
Right now, it seems to be stuck in a swamp with no winch.
Hang in there!  I think there may be a few people running for office that understand income tax is transaction  based.  More transactions; more revenue.

Excellent point Wino!  There are miles & miles in my state also... If nothing else the stimulus money has made the orange cone/work sign czars fat & rich.

 

[tigger]

Hi Guys

Don't feel alone over there. Here in South Africa, it's quite too. Has been for the last two years now. Have gone from thriving carpentry company with 30 plus staff, big workshop, down to the lonely carpenter working out of my garage.
But it has to pick up again. I'm lucky because I've always had the ethos Per speaks of and some of my clients are calling me back for additional work. I'm grateful that they don't mind that it will take me longer to complete a job because it is now just me.
I must say that have all my Festool equipment still creates a great impression and I just love how my clients still marvel at these fantasic tools I have. I can, of course, only be a pro if this is the equipment I use.  [big grin]  I love my Fez's  [smile]
Hang in there everyone. What goes down, has to come up!!!  [eek] SA humour

 

[Jay Knoll]

I don't post here very often so I hope that these comments don't offend anyone

But........... I think you're missing a business opportunity when you trash IKEA stuff

Kitchens in particular, they are fantastic value at the price point

But most people don't have your skills and will do a crummy install job

Use IKEA as part of your bid process.  Show your customer the price of an IKEA kitchen installed by you.

Then the price of that kitchen but with custom doors/drawer fronts that you build and install.

Then the price of a total custom job installed by you

Somewhere in that spread I'm sure there is a job for you, and a very satisfied customer

Who will probably call you back for other work.

I don't think that any of these alternatives will undermine  your integrity as a skilled craftsperson but might give you a way to work within the confines of your customer's budgets/expectations.

Just a thought

Jay