Instability

Author:: David DeCristoforo
Updated:: Apr 25, 2018
Original:: Apr 24, 2018

I have tried to avoid discussing anything political here. This is supposed to be about running a shop. But completely separating business and politics is like separating the cart and the horse.

We cannot deny the close to chaotic state of politics that exists right now. And there is no way this cannot affect business.

When things are uncertain, people become much more conservative in their willingness to spend money. If people have their money in stocks and the market starts to fluctuate like it has been, they put off buying decisions. It becomes much more difficult to close sales.

People are still shopping, but more and more of them are just looking. Maybe they want to remodel their kitchen or buy that new dining set but not right now. Maybe wait until things settle down a bit. We can only hope they do.

This Business About Woodworking

I have always tried to pay a living wage. The actual dollar amount is irrelevant because a living wage can vary dramatically depending on where your business is located.

This Business About Woodworking

The title of this post seems to be the attitude of most people when it comes to anything involving the spending of money. There is an uncertain quality to how people feel about buying anything, especially if it involves a substantial investment.

This Business About Woodworking

It seems like the cost of everything associated with doing business is rising. But the one the thing that is actually going down and going down dramatically is advertising.

This Business About Woodworking

Technology has been creeping into how we do business for a long time now. Obviously, CNC machines have taken on an increasing role in cutting, milling, shaping, carving, etc. And hand-held tools like routers and sanders are a lot smarter than used to be.

This Business About Woodworking

How many times has an employee asked for a raise, saying something like “I’ve been here for x-number of years” or “Joe is getting more money than I am.”

This Business About Woodworking

It wasn’t too long ago when it seemed like someone was coming into the shop looking for work about every day. These days, it’s a rare occurrence.

This Business About Woodworking

Current stats show a very low unemployment level across the country. This is a good thing. People have jobs.

This Business About Woodworking

I have always tried to maintain a positive outlook. Even when things get difficult, it’s not impossible to envision things improving. But these days, I’m finding that it is taking a lot more mental energy to combat the negative energy that seems to be pervading everything.

This Business About Woodworking

In our business we are often asked to do things a bit differently than we’re used to. People want to individualize their projects. They don’t want to pay premium prices for something that looks just like what they could have bought at the local furniture store.