Recession. How are you coping?

[Go2Tex]

It's official. The economy is slowing down. We're in a full blown recession. Orders are dropping off. The phones aren't ringing. What plans are you leatherworkers making to cope with what could be a very slow year? Smaller, cheaper items? Different marketing techniques? Fewer shows and less production? Turn the thermometer down, conserve more, drink more?

[calanneh]

Well, I just started leather work last year...November actually...so I am still a beginner. But I have had 5 or 6 paying orders over the last few months. Made a few hundred dollars profit. Spent it all at Tandy..hehehe

But as the economy goes south...and Conoco-Philips cuts contract employees and piles the work on their normal employees....I find myself with lotsa time and little to do (other than look for more real work contracts which are getting harder to find).

With one son at the Univ of Texas and another following in about 9 months, gotta do something....

I've basically employed the shotgun effect. I've found a few websites that let you post stuff and also go thru their custom request sections and bid. I've bid on lotsa requests and got the 5 or 6 jobs mentioned above.

At my skill level, it won't replace my regular salary, but those little jobs are bringing a little in at least....... Hopefully, this will bring me a variety of jobs and help me develop different techniques I may not think of doing while working on stuff for myself or Scouts.

Thats my 2 cents.

William

[Kowboyboots]

I have been self employed as a craftsman for nearly 35 yrs. Late September-mid October my business was the slowest it had ever been. Scared the heck out of me, OMG I never had a real job and don't know if I could it, LOL.

Then for no reason the last of October biz picked up an I am booked up through Christmas now.

Go figure!

Luckily I am quite diverse on what I all do so I have several things to fall back on if the leather part slows down.

I came from a working cattle/wheat ranch an my dad always preached diversity! Sure glade I listened.

Good luck to you all in this trying time.

Be interesting to see what happens next.

[Hilly]

It's official. The economy is slowing down. We're in a full blown recession. Orders are dropping off. The phones aren't ringing. What plans are you leatherworkers making to cope with what could be a very slow year? Smaller, cheaper items? Different marketing techniques? Fewer shows and less production? Turn the thermometer down, conserve more, drink more?

The "drink more" option sounds pretty good about now!

[ArtS]

[wildrose]

I honestly haven't noticed a recession, but for me, this is a jumped up hobby - I sell at craft fairs and take some custom orders mostly around Christmas.

When I moved to VA, my mom warned me people won't pay the same for things down south as they did up north. I began making smaller items (ornaments, bracelets in school colors - especially VA Tech) and have made more money here than I did before. In fact, I took in 5 custom orders for items costing over 50.00 (for me, that's a big item) - including 4 three ring binders, one with a family crest that I'm charging 100.00 for. I got those orders because I always bring some pieces of my own with me (1 Bible cover and 1 folio most of the time) so people can see what I can do.

I guess I've been fortunate so far.

[rawhide1]

While my job as a fireman and my wifes as a nurse we really haven't felt the effects of the recession. Both our jobs are pretty dang secure. People always getting hurt and burning stuff down. But I've definitely started spending less on stuff myself. So I'm sure others have as well. While I don't do leather work for a living and don't really try to sell stuff yet. I know there's less money out there for people to spend on custom made goods so I wish everybody out there that does this for a living the best of luck!

Mike

[kseidel]

This has been my slowest fall in over 15 years in current retail store! Year to date sales are down about 30%. I have a fairly large backlog and should be able to weather the slow down, but have had a few cancelations. Many more could cause a problem. The store is responsible for a lot of my income. Tourist sales were soft this summer, and the trafic was down about half. I am making adjustments to spending and cutting back on smaller shows that probably won't pay expenses. This could be a long cold winter here.

Keith