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Does winter affect your business sales?
Hi guys.
Thankfully, i am busy at the moment with both design work and signs. but for how long?
although i have been a graphic designer for many years, i have really only been making signs since 2019/2020 and the past two years of business has been a rollercoaster due to covid. so i am yet to really have a proper full year on year of business to get a true feel for what i should “expect as slow periods” or what is unusually quiet.
i would guess that the weather will slow down things for signs but as i don’t actually install signs, that is not so relevant to me. i am just wondering how each quarter of the year works or doesn’t work for you?thank you for any advice you can give. ❤
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9 Replies
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We tend to find that the last 2 weeks of July, and the first 2 weeks of August can sometimes be quieter although not this year. Other than that, it’s pretty steady througut the year.
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I’ve given up trying to predict it. School holidays are typically quiet.
At the moment, with all the uncertainty surrounding the economy, energy prices, I think it’s even more unpredictable.
We’re far from “busy” but do enough worthwhile work to make it pay.
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December is our worst month of the year. But it’s only 3 weeks. And it’s not terrible. And my credit bills in January are always tiny, so it has its upsides. And I love it on the last day when the workshop is blitz. No dust. Tools away. It’s a beautiful sight.
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If I was to say when a “predictable slow period” is for us, I would say “December and the second week in January. But we close down for the festive period from the 22nd of December until the 6th of January.
That said, even in December and the first week we return I plan to carry out workshop updates, clear out the place and implement new plans for the year coming. So we never really feel like we aren’t busy. -
It used to be very predictable. December got quieter with things picking up again in January. The rest of the year was fairly constant with peaks in March/April/May when many companies were using up the last of their budget for the financial year. Other than that things tended to get quieter during school holidays. But nowadays it’s become very topsy turvy and highly unpredictable.
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Without question, December/January is my slowest months.
does anyone run promotions or do something different to help their sales at the times they know will be slow? -
Jamie, David, Chris, Robert, Phill and Karen, thank you so much for your replies. ❤🤗
Judging by your replies the christmas period seems to be the one that is possible to prepare for and it was the one i was thinking could be very slower than normal and should i try and do some promotions? 🤔
i supply theatres with stage sets and designs which is what moved me into signs. and this time of year is busy for them so im lucky there. but the work is all pre-December in preparation for shows. so it will almost stop at the end of next week i think.
i am wondering do any of you do promotional things to generate work around now. one i was thinking of was personalised gift wrapping paper? also, Calendars, but i do not know if there is a stiff enough paper or card that i can put through a latex printer?thanks for any help and tips 🙂
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We’re unusually busy at the moment, mostly with vehicle signage (our marketing must be working then!)
We’re almost back at pre-pandemic levels, after a very dry spell. The variance between quiet and busy is huge, and it can change overnight.
We don’t run promotions, although I’ve given thought to putting ‘packages’ together, but it’s something I think about and never get around to actually doing!
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Thanks david.
do you not run the promotions because you remain busy enough at this time of year or do you not run them because you do not think they will work?
i have work and it is the 5th of December now but it would be nice to stay busy right up until i close my doors. or is that wishful thinking? 😇
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