January Sales. Good idea or not?

[Paul Humble]

In theory its a nice idea, but as we normally order raw materials to suit the job in hand I cant see how it can work unless our suppliers also have a sale.

Ill be selling off some Fruit of the Loom clothing that we have in stock in January, but its simply because I dont use FotL anymore and they are in my way now. But on the sign side, I cant afford to come down any lower tbh.

[Phill Fenton]

As I understand it – for something to be in a sale it needs to have been offered for sale for a minimum period of time at a higher price. Bespoke signs (the vast majority of my work) can’t have been offered at a higher price already as they are literally made to order.

So I suspect that only standard signage items such as H&S and other regular off the shelf sign types could be truly classified as "sale" items.

[Peter Normington]

quote Phill:

As I understand it – for something to be in a sale it needs to have been offered for sale for a minimum period of time at a higher price. Bespoke signs (the vast majority of my work) can’t have been offered at a higher price already as they are literally made to order.

So I suspect that only standard signage items such as H&S and other regular off the shelf sign types could be truly classified as “sale” items.

Looking at a lot of the half price sales advertised in tv now, it seems they have reversed the criteria, and the small print now says "reduction based on the price after the promotion ends"

Peter

[Ian Jenkin]

if you already sell pop up banners and the like, you could whip an email shot around offering a deal.

[Nigel Hindley]

offer a freebie rather than knock money off ie knocking £20 off will cost you £20 giving away a freebie worth £20 may only cost you a £1

[Chris Dowd]

We had 500 Christmas cards printed with a ‘tear-off’ gift voucher – 15% off your first purchase in 2009 – Jan & Feb only (got them from printing.com).

Sent these out to all our customers, had around 20 jobs from these already (the bulk of which the customers wouldn’t have normally ordered).

2009 is going to be a year to concentrate on cash-flow more than profit. I keep telling people if I’m sat here this time next year with all the bills paid, all the staff still in place, all the wages paid (including mine) I don’t care if we only make £1 profit, and it’s less tax the government is going to get their hands on too!

[Phill Fenton]

I will be very surprised if Britains inflation rate is less than 20% by the end of 2009 😕

I’ll resurrect this thread in a years time simply to say "told you so" 😛

[Lynn Normington]

I know you will Phill 😀 I think you are more British Bulldog than a wee Highland Terrier 😀 and hope we are all still here to read it 🙄

Lynn

[Paul Humble]

quote Phill:

I will be very surprised if Britains inflation rate is less than 20% by the end of 2009 😕

I’ll resurrect this thread in a years time simply to say “told you so” 😛

I agree Phill, and as a saver with a small Mortgage im quite p!ssed at the 1.5% rate the BOE is setting.

[Peter Normington]

if we wait another few weeks, we will be able to borrow a ton of cash, and Gorden will give us negative interest, that is borrow a grand, and only pay back £900,
way to go……

Turn off the lights now, and put up your blackout curtains.

Obama is going to spend billions building stuff his country really needs.
like more roads, cars, and broadband networks, right,

meanwhile we are worried about all the recycled paper we are stock piling, !!!

aint it depressing?

Peter

[John Thomson]

quote Peter Normington:

if we wait another few weeks, we will be able to borrow a ton of cash, and Gorden will give us negative interest, that is borrow a grand, and only pay back £900,
way to go……
Peter

As far as I can see the interest rate cuts are really only a benefit to lenders…..it increases their margin on the money they have already lent……

John