Economy and Overall Business Question

[DJD]

I have a few friends who are Engineers at Lexmark and they are doing great! Their bonus was fantastic and the work load is amazing.

[Mean Morone]

I am in the lure manufacturing business. Some of you know what company I'm with and have done business with me and some are posting good reports on catching nice stripers in the jumps both near surface and 20 to 40 ft down on the same lure. I would rather not say what company out of respect for Peter, APB and the rest. I will say that this year is the worst year we've had since we've been in business. It's so bad that I had to go back to construction for the first time in 4 yrs. That is not such a good move either because the construction business in my county is very bad. I hope that with the fall cool down sales will increase and take some pressure off. Last fall my wife nearly lost her job that she has had for 14 yrs. No such thing as seniority where she works. She survived the draw down and is still going strong thank goodness. Spring is on the way, it can only get better.

[Catfish Bob]

My personal bubble has been great this year. I've gotten more side work mowing lawns then I have since I started doing it.
Also started doing garage/basement clean outs. That has been very good thanks to the price of scrap metal being at a all time high.
This summer I've made enough side money to buy a 40hp merc outboard for my jon boat, a bad a$$ motor/trans/rear end, for my 78 camaro. Bought a 75 camaro project car which by next summer should have a 454 big block. Also got a early 90's F150 so I don't have to use my nice truck to do all the dirty work.
Have also sold 3 cars that I bought cheap to fix up and sell.

Still getting my 40 hours at work with some OT here and there.

[HURRICANEBOB]

I am in the lure manufacturing business. Some of you know what company I'm with and have done business with me and some are posting good reports on catching nice stripers in the jumps both near surface and 20 to 40 ft down on the same lure. I would rather not say what company out of respect for Peter, APB and the rest. I will say that this year is the worst year we've had since we've been in business. It's so bad that I had to go back to construction for the first time in 4 yrs. That is not such a good move either because the construction business in my county is very bad. I hope that with the fall cool down sales will increase and take some pressure off. Last fall my wife nearly lost her job that she has had for 14 yrs. No such thing as seniority where she works. She survived the draw down and is still going strong thank goodness. Spring is on the way, it can only get better.

Then drop the price on your lures, increase volume, and help us all out. $11.95??????? I can get a Redfin for $4.99, or a Long a Bomber for $5.25, and still kill the Stripers in the jumps, on the banks in the winter, or on the banks in the Spring. I don't think the Stripers read the labels first.

[HURRICANEBOB]

Talked to a marine dealer recently, a couple, or three.

All said things were slow. All also said they are having a hard time getting inventory, or boats built to order, and in some cases can't find the engines customers want.

Ya see the big marine manufacturers cut production when demand dropped. Did they drop prices and provide incentives to buy....heck no! Instead, they "guestimated" and cut back making the stuff they needed to sell to make $$$. There has been an increase in aluminum boats sales. Why? Cheaper, lighter, needs less motor, need less gas to tow or run. But alas, most dealers are having a tough time capitalizing on that because some marine makers have forgotten a cardinal rule of business or two.

a. Make product available.
b. Price it to market at customer needs, TRANSLATED, if the customer has less to spend, then sell for less to keep the demand there. Volume is the basis of profit.
c. Make product the market is demanding, react and capitalize on emerging trends.

Why do marine dealers have such slow service centers? Labor rates for 3 I talked to are $110/hou5, $, 95/hour, and $97.50/hour.

I was quoted $180 to purge the air out of 4 disc brakes on a trailer and I know it takes about 30 minutes with a power bleeder.

Customers who are having a hard time keeping a job, or getting one, who are faced with repairs to be able to enjoy their boats, will blow off the labor rate quick, either ignore or delay repairs, or seek alternatives, i.e do it them selves, or bargain with a freind to do it.

In my case, an RV service center quoted the exact same job for $85 and promised to have it done in 45 minutes from when I dropped it off. Sorry marine dealer....you lose.

Loyalty to dealers? Where's the loyalty to customers that cause a customer to return the favor? You struggling to stay in business does not justify taking me to the cleaner and taking money out of my families pocket to fix yours.

Why is Walmart sales still growing in the midst of this all? Matching customer demands, making inventory avaialoble, and tailoring prices.

Whay are Ford and Gm sales increasing in this mess? Matching product to new customer demand, and to customer expectations. Great sales ###, NO, but increasing above and beyond 2 years ago.....YES