Closing down for Christmas, what is everyone else doing?

[Jamie Wood]

We’re closing tomorrow until 4th Jan. Plenty to do, but no urgency before the New Year, so we’re just going to have a nice relaxing break, after a very busy year.

[David Hammond]

We were closing Friday just gone, but a van we had it over ran, so closed yesterday, back in on the 4th Jan.

It’s a welcome rest, whilst we’ve not been as busy as usual, it’s been mentally exhausting, and spent a few months working on the business, rather than it, just need Covid to sod off.

[Chris Wilson]

Closing tomorrow at 4pm.

Whole year has been busy for us. No break over the summer that I normally take so I am looking forward to this one. Last few days have been 5am till 8pm to make it happen.

Coming back on the 5th as 4th is a bank holiday I believe.

I hear what your saying David. After a few weeks of busting out jobs I look forward to sitting at my desk, but in many ways it actually worse trying to get bits done and move forward. Still trying to figure out which is worse.

[RobertLambie]

We are now closed as of 6.30pm tonight. 😀
We open back up on the 7th of January.

I am going to use the first few days to just relax and have a few beers. I really haven’t consumed much alcohol, at all, since the start of Lockdown around March/April. Not like me, but I think its more… “it doesn’t feel like socialising” that gets me. so I don’t bother.

I have a lot of UKSB work to catch up on now too. I have had no choice but to prioritise my sign business and make sure Covid does not impact me like it has, a great many!

If I do anything “Sign work” wise. I guess I may catch up on some artwork visuals for customers and some of our own stuff that’s been needing done for, like ever! 🤣

[Richard Wills]

Shut up shop this evening, got home for dinner and a beer or two. Looking forward to a couple of weeks off – think there were four days of holiday this year.

I know that I’ll still be checking the emails and if something comes up that would be easier to go into work for a half day, to ease the way back in to the working year, I suspect I’ll do so (not much good at sitting around doing nowt). Apart from that, planning to spend too much time with Lynda, to get ahead with latest Lr, PS, Il and ID, as well as some plans with FileMaker.

[Phill Fenton]

Finishing up today and officially closed until 6th January. However, I get bored when not working so will be calling into the unit to check up on things and run ink through the printer from time to time. However, I will not be dealing with any enquiries until we are officially back at work.

[Kevin Mahoney]

Officially closed tomorrow at lunchtime, been a very busy year for us & coming back to an unusually full diary for January. I will of course, as usual, make a break for the workshop when nobody’s looking & sneak in to do a bit. Been meaning to redo our vans so will do those over the break. Hope everyone has a good rest, a good time & very successful 2021. I think we all deserve it if the universe has any sense of fair play.

[RobertLambie]

I get bored when not working so will be calling into the unit to check up on things and run ink through the printer from time to time.

@phill-fenton

I am amazed at how many people do not do this, Phill. I do this over holiday periods, even with latex machines. I haven’t taken a maintenance warranty on any machine I have owned, ever! I just believe in keeping them running, even if not in use. Weekly shut down, clean, lube etc. and they just keep on-going…

[David Rogers]

Not taken any holiday this year, even worked some weekends. Last time off was when we got back on 6th Jan…so, taking from the close of play tonight (24th) through to the 11th Jan to get 3 weekends.

Will be in…of course 🙄, swapping over some PCs as upgrades and keeping the printer happy…and having to find a media profile that works on our JV33 160 CMYK with COLORGATE. They’ve not been too helpful despite us having a full technical support package….apparently if they don’t have a profile for your setup…tough.

[RobertLambie]

I am the same, David. Other than the initial government-enforced lockdown, which I only closed for about 5 weeks. we have been in every day since. Those 5 weeks are the longest I have been off at one time in my 31 years in this industry.

Like you, I have just drove passed a sign company putting up a shop front sign. I know them, a small company, two guys. Hats off to them… its a game of survival of the fittest!

[Karen White]

Well, here I am and bored already, as expected!
Christmas was not the same, slow and no real spark to it. Am i the only one thinking that?

I have been doing the rounds of the internet, youtube facebook twitter and there is little to no ideas of inspiration for 2021. I feel for the Americans, at least we have some sort of financial cushion but that is going to go too and i don’t want to have wasted all this time doing nothing!

[Shane Drew]

We closed today, 29th and will reopen on the 11th officially but in truth, if any work pops up, I will do it. Our wholesalers are closed till the 4th so if I don’t have the stock I need, it won’t get done till the 5th. We will be working on rearranging our shed to try and work smarter next year. We closed for two months during our Lockdown in March to May, but because our work is tourism, transport and Clubs, we got the trifecta with the maximum covid restrictions. Added to that, my wife is a travel agent, so she’s done nothing for some time. Our state borders only opened recently, although NSW has basically gone back into lockdown this week. Most of my contracts are interstate (NSW and VIC, so it been a dreadful year for us. I really can’t afford to close, but there is so little happening with my client base, I think we need to take the opportunity to regroup and chill a bit. I’ve used every bit of my capital in reserve just keeping the business going, so I have no money to waste of frivolous activities like enjoying myself :), so I’ll probably be on the internet harassing everyone because I’ll be bored by this time tomorrow 🙂