Hows business at the moment??

[lukeyluke]

Hi everyone,

Came back from travelling afew months ago, before I went i was doing electrics, at that time it was pretty dyer...as I'm getting back into my electrics, just wondering how you guys are doing in the industry at this current moment in time!?

regards luke

 

[Badger]

round these parts i think its still not a brilliant time.

 

[davetheglitz]

Very poor here - now lecturing part time on Electrical Installation to supplement income - which seems a bit ironic as if the lecturer can't earn enough what chance do the students have!

 

[Technician]

Was self-employed for a while...had a training job thrown at me so

I am now engaged in that full time. Still do little bits and pieces but

I do not take on anything large.

 

[~Sparky~]

Hard to say really as you speak to other sparks in the suppliers and they say there struggling and others are over the head and turning down work, as for us were not to bad, seems we are doing alot of work for elderly people and very rarely getting a younger couple, but thats understandable. Also you used to be planning months ahead of yourself which was great but thats not the case now, but as long as it keeps comming in the way it is then we cant really grumble (altho its allways better to have more)

 

[Doc Hudson]

Hi everyone,Came back from travelling afew months ago, before I went i was doing electrics, at that time it was pretty dyer...as I'm getting back into my electrics, just wondering how you guys are doing in the industry at this current moment in time!?

regards luke

The electrical industry is very much dependent upon the wider economy, especially the building trade. There are a few specialised areas of more intense involvement such as the Solar industry, racing to beat the changes to FIT rates and projects such as the Olympics which have specific timescales of urgency. However in many other areas, businesses and homeowners are tightening their budgets to only do essential works. The projects that can be categorised as 'it would be nice to have' are generally been left on the back burner until the economy picks up. Also house prices and stricter mortgage requirements have stifled the prospect for young people get on the housing ladder with the obvious reduction in refurbishment of old properties. Landlords buying such properties tend to stick the the minimum bare essentials of electrical safety and convenience. Looking at the current government figures, especially the young unemployed, I would estimate at least another 18months of slow progress. I would be inclined to think that the situation is equally dyer if not worse than your last experience several months ago.

Doc H.

 

[Technician]

Would go with Doc on this; I remember the dreadful days of

"stagflation" in the '70's. I was not directly affected but I met

a lot of people who were.

 

[Evans Electric]

Most of this year I worked 2 - 3 days a week sometimes nothing a week. Start a large newbuild farmhouse next week so about 2 weeks solid for 1st fix .

 

[Manator]

Would go with Doc on this; I remember the dreadful days of"stagflation" in the '70's. I was not directly affected but I met

a lot of people who were.

You must be as old as me

I have worked through a few economic downfalls, and the building industry is normally the first to feel the impact. Amazing when you think that our trade is always in demand, yet very seldom appreciated.

 

[Evans Electric]

Manator, to builders we are a PITA that have to be tolerated between putting the roof on and plastering the walls.

 

[Terry W]

Would go with Doc on this; I remember the dreadful days of"stagflation" in the '70's.

before my time, started employment in the early 90's which had some hard times,

where working short times, but still working.

new bussiness is lacking, exisitng cleints keep popping out the wood work

 

[Technician]

Manator... :slap

You know you are getting on when your blood group

has been discontinued.

 

[Technician]

Does that account for his temperament?

 

[Badger]

Does that account for his temperament?

:slap

 

[Sidewinder]

before my time, started employment in the early 90's which had some hard times, where working short times, but still working.

new bussiness is lacking, exisitng cleints keep popping out the wood work

TerryW,

Not doubting you mate, but in the early 90's my boss & I fell out as he wanted me to do 80-90 hours per week at overtime rates every day after 8 hours & 1.5x Sat am, 2x Sat pm, & 2x Sun!

Plus travel time & expenses.

I had had enough of it and wanted a life!!!

So I did not see your lean times in the early 90's!!!

 

[Cirrus]

We are very busy here with 5 or so dry days in 16 months. We don't do any form of contract work and have managed to keep a steady stream of work coming in. I had a scare a few weeks ago when we had nothing in the pipeline. We work on a two week lead time and the next day all work was up with nothing booked in. Still, phone rang and we ended up with 2 more rewires, a couple of kitchens, hotel work and some smaller bits. We have now had to sub some of our work out as there is too much for us to handle whilst maintaining our high standards. I think the key is replenishing clients lost through natural attrition. It is easy to get caught up doing the day to day things and forgetting how we ever got the business in the first place and that is where we all as businessmen must excel.

 

[steptoe]

TerryW,Not doubting you mate, but in the early 90's my boss & I fell out as he wanted me to do 80-90 hours per week at overtime rates every day after 8 hours & 1.5x Sat am, 2x Sat pm, & 2x Sun!

Plus travel time & expenses.

I had had enough of it and wanted a life!!!

So I did not see your lean times in the early 90's!!!

Id agree there,

sometimes I wouldnt get home for weeks on end,

16/18 hr days, sleeping on site so we didnt lose any time travelling.

saying that though, I did move about a lot(I worked all over),

so maybe thats why I was always busy, I worked where the work was.