slowing down?

[chopshopcustoms]

anyone else out there with a business starting to really see the 'economic slowdown' everyone is talking about?

I mean, my shop is busy, but the phone and emails are slowing down.(which can be a good thing cuz now I can do work instead of fielding calls about cars that should be going to the local collision shop...lol) :pat:

My suppliers arent chatting about new products to buy- sounds like everyone is just trying to stay afloat.

Maybe its just the calm before the storm of show season- who knows...

[Jim Nilsen]

The local speed shop owner said it was the best March he had ever seen, so it would seem everyone who is doing a car feels comfortable enough to keep on like normal or just don't care and will just take it as it comes once it gets here. Recessions are no fun but some people never get effected by it because the change moves their lives in a new direction which is for the better. Career changes usually happen at times like these and most people move up that are skilled.

Full speed ahead and let the plastic burn a hole in your wallet just might be what some are still thinking ?

[chopshopcustoms]

I hear ya on that- I guess its a good thing in dighuise. Im not getting so many dreamers calling (and I hate to use that word but cant think of anything else right now) and more pople who know what they want to do /build -just dotn know how to do it themselves or dont have the time to do it themselves.

My wife's company is busy AND expanding- so its a very weird vibe around here I guess.
Houses are still up in the $400K range in our area too.

[CraigMorrison]

I think it really depends- some in the industry are slowing down, especially those who sell to warehouses, but others are swamped. We had our best March ever and the builders we deal with are equally busy. Some are months back on new projects and others are 1 year + for new cars.

Even though we are as busy as we are, we have our guys working OT so we stay around 4-6 weeks back on chassis orders.

[gordonquixote]

I work for a big general contractor and it is waaaaayyyyyy slow.

Steel prices are going through the roof as well.

[69TAPoser]

I have several independent contractor friends in my area. They are ALL very slow.

Phil

[Damn True]

We are two weeks into Q2 and have done roughly 30% of our total Q1 revenue. So not bad in my industry.

The contractor that built my house tells me that he is getting fewer calls for nickel & dime jobs (simple remodel on a kitchen or bath) and more interest in larger jobs. Whole house builds like mine, whole house remodels or major sq' additions.

[Paul_J]

I'm in the MEP Engineering business, mostly Medical and we are swamped here in Texas. It seams to be regional from everyone I talk to and mostly hyped up by the media. It's real if you live in a depressed area but most of the country is humming along.

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

funny.. ive been SLOW for the last 2 months.

[danbob67]

slowed down at the body shop I work at went from turning 100-120 hrs a week to about 70 a week. the dealership side is really hating life I went over today and not a sole over there.

[Young Gun]

slowed down at the body shop I work at went from turning 100-120 hrs a week to about 70 a week. the dealership side is really hating life I went over today and not a sole over there.

well one good part about being in the bodyshop line is that there are definately gonna be bad drivers forever!!

[EFI69Cam]

the definition of a recession is two consecutive quarters of negative growth. That has not happened, despite what the media is calling the slow down.

[danbob67]

well one good part about being in the bodyshop line is that there are definately gonna be bad drivers forever!!

I think gas prices is what is slowing us down people arent driving as much. But that is a whole nother thread:enguard: .

[vp23271]

IMO

The real estate market is in a recession in most of the country. I would not say the WHOLE economy is in a recession yet. The dollar is weak, home loans are tougher to get and foreclosures are on the rise. The economy is like a set of domino's. We have had a couple domino's fall and if more fall than we can have a serious problem.

[Young Gun]

IMO

The real estate market is in a recession in most of the country. I would not say the WHOLE economy is in a recession yet.

houston has a ridiculously strong housing market... definately not the best time to be buying here!

[vp23271]

houston has a ridiculously strong housing market... definitely not the best time to be buying here!

I looked into Austin Texas to purchase rental property, but your property tax is crazy high. A great place to buy a house to live in and raise a family, but not enough positive cash flow as an investor.

Florida is getting hit hard!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24115651/

[Paul_J]

I've been told it's the house flippers that are taking a beating in Florida.

[vp23271]

I've been told it's the house flippers that are taking a beating in Florida.

Very true. Some people never thought the party would end.

[vp23271]

houston has a ridiculously strong housing market... definately not the best time to be buying here!

Young Gun,

I saw this link on CNN Money that listed the "6 Best Places to Buy a Home" over the next 12 months and guess what city made the top 6?

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/real_estate/0804/gallery.best_buy_home.moneymag/6.html

[scogin918]

Try being in the lumber business right now. While everything we pay for to do business goes up, the price of the lumber we sell is in the toilet. Our saving grace is that 95% of our customer base are custom home builders and the people they build house for are going to spend the money no matter what; especially with the lumber prices the way they are. And they rarely have to use mortgages either.

www.bucklumber.com (http://www.bucklumber.com)

[Vegas69]

In Real Estate and crazy busy right now.

[68sixspeed]

I'm in manufacturing and so far, so good. We have a good backlog at the moment, I'm concerned about the 2nd 1/2 of the year but right now it's doing ok; enough work and a good volume of quoting going on too. Lets hope it holds... Dan