Had a big day, yesterday, which brought my sales up to original estimates for the month.
So here's hoping that September was an anomaly. January of this year also sucked, but was followed by more normal months. So I'm hoping that Oct., Nov. and Dec. will be more in line with what I was expecting.
I'm actually kind of optimistic about December, strangely. I think people will kind of let loose a little -- the election over and there will be a honeymoon period with Obama, and hopefully most of the panic on Wall Street subsiding. A dead cat bounce, if you will.
I believe I have the kind of interesting but relatively inexpensive product that people can feel good about buying, books, toys, games.
All bets are off for January, though. Going to be careful there. I think every business should probably expect a 20% pay cut next year, even if it doesn't happen.
September is my new benchmark; I expect to hover about 10% above that, with some months being 20% higher; but I also have to expect that I'll occasionally do 10% below that, or even the black swan 20%.
It's only prudent.
So far, so good. Lot's of businesses will cut back spending; but being able to keep up your service and selection; without cutting into your margins (constant SALES!) takes a whole nother level of sophistication.
Because of my experience with bubbles like pogs, beanie babies, pokemon, I'm pretty practiced at smoothing out my spending in a seamless way that hopefully the customer never has to notice.
I've actually been intrigued a bit by how easy it's been this time to keep ordering the stuff I need within budget. Part of that is that the store finally reached a very viable level about 8 years ago, whereas before I was almost depending on the occasional bubble. The base so far seems pretty solid, though I'm glad I added books and games in the last year. It might have been more dicey without them.
For some reason, my income never seems to really change. Which probably means I'm imprudent on the way up, and prudent on the way down, making my base the same.
The intriguing part of owning a business has always been negotiating the pitfalls. Keeps life interesting.
So here's hoping that September was an anomaly. January of this year also sucked, but was followed by more normal months. So I'm hoping that Oct., Nov. and Dec. will be more in line with what I was expecting.
I'm actually kind of optimistic about December, strangely. I think people will kind of let loose a little -- the election over and there will be a honeymoon period with Obama, and hopefully most of the panic on Wall Street subsiding. A dead cat bounce, if you will.
I believe I have the kind of interesting but relatively inexpensive product that people can feel good about buying, books, toys, games.
All bets are off for January, though. Going to be careful there. I think every business should probably expect a 20% pay cut next year, even if it doesn't happen.
September is my new benchmark; I expect to hover about 10% above that, with some months being 20% higher; but I also have to expect that I'll occasionally do 10% below that, or even the black swan 20%.
It's only prudent.
So far, so good. Lot's of businesses will cut back spending; but being able to keep up your service and selection; without cutting into your margins (constant SALES!) takes a whole nother level of sophistication.
Because of my experience with bubbles like pogs, beanie babies, pokemon, I'm pretty practiced at smoothing out my spending in a seamless way that hopefully the customer never has to notice.
I've actually been intrigued a bit by how easy it's been this time to keep ordering the stuff I need within budget. Part of that is that the store finally reached a very viable level about 8 years ago, whereas before I was almost depending on the occasional bubble. The base so far seems pretty solid, though I'm glad I added books and games in the last year. It might have been more dicey without them.
For some reason, my income never seems to really change. Which probably means I'm imprudent on the way up, and prudent on the way down, making my base the same.
The intriguing part of owning a business has always been negotiating the pitfalls. Keeps life interesting.