According to the news today, retail sales rose .3% instead of dropping .3%.
One, that seems an awfully small number. Again, it would seem like the margin of error could make either number suspect.
Two, retail apparently including things like tractors and soda pop, not sure they have much to do with me.
My sales have been pretty consistently down about the same percent for the last three months, which means, as far as my planning goes, that it's no fluke. My wife's store sales are staying almost exactly even with last year for the last three months, which considering her constant and steady growth, is pretty much the same thing.
My sales have dropped to the point where it can still be absorbed without damage, and I figure, with the spring 'optimism' is likely to stay right about where it is. Summer business will without doubt pick up from where it currently is, (though the percentage from last year will be probably down) so that should give us a boost.
Fall? Probably it will drop again, but that enough time for me to keep making adjustments.
Like I said the other day, there is still money in the account after all the bills are paid, and I've never managed that before in a slowdown.
After hesitating, I even did my double mortgage payment as usual.
I'm so much more cheerful about this slowdown than ever before. I'm not sure if it's totally because I'm more economically secure, or because I've been through it so many times, that I've learned to accept it.
I remember the first few times it happened, I got very upset and even angry. Very vocal. Not helpful. But I took it almost personally, which is pretty silly. I remember even having a casual customer say to me, "If you are going to get upset about these things, you're in the wrong business."
He was right....but he was also wrong. ANY business I might be in could get me upset, instead of lowering sales, it might be my boss, or co-workers, whatever. Secondly, I have to believe that it was same passion that caused my emotional reaction that kept me going, that made me keep working at it.
Nevertheless, taking it in stride is much more preferable.
One, that seems an awfully small number. Again, it would seem like the margin of error could make either number suspect.
Two, retail apparently including things like tractors and soda pop, not sure they have much to do with me.
My sales have been pretty consistently down about the same percent for the last three months, which means, as far as my planning goes, that it's no fluke. My wife's store sales are staying almost exactly even with last year for the last three months, which considering her constant and steady growth, is pretty much the same thing.
My sales have dropped to the point where it can still be absorbed without damage, and I figure, with the spring 'optimism' is likely to stay right about where it is. Summer business will without doubt pick up from where it currently is, (though the percentage from last year will be probably down) so that should give us a boost.
Fall? Probably it will drop again, but that enough time for me to keep making adjustments.
Like I said the other day, there is still money in the account after all the bills are paid, and I've never managed that before in a slowdown.
After hesitating, I even did my double mortgage payment as usual.
I'm so much more cheerful about this slowdown than ever before. I'm not sure if it's totally because I'm more economically secure, or because I've been through it so many times, that I've learned to accept it.
I remember the first few times it happened, I got very upset and even angry. Very vocal. Not helpful. But I took it almost personally, which is pretty silly. I remember even having a casual customer say to me, "If you are going to get upset about these things, you're in the wrong business."
He was right....but he was also wrong. ANY business I might be in could get me upset, instead of lowering sales, it might be my boss, or co-workers, whatever. Secondly, I have to believe that it was same passion that caused my emotional reaction that kept me going, that made me keep working at it.
Nevertheless, taking it in stride is much more preferable.