Being in the business of heating & air conditioning for residential applications is challenging when the housing market continues to decline. Today's news won't help the situation. New York was not one of the hardest hit housing markets by far and there was news recently that the Glens Falls job situation was improving, if not stable. But that doesn't change the fact that, if the country continues to decline, then the news will focus on problems and that will hurt the confidence of buyers in any market.
When people turn on the evening news in Glens Falls they see that housing is bad, the markets are bad, BP oil spill, you name it. Even if they are in a good place financially, this weighs on there conscience when it comes to buying a new dish washer or putting in a new furnace. This is bad for local business as a whole. Whether your a local restaurant, corner shop or sheet metal fabricator. Micro-businesses like mine and others suffer from the problems of the masses, even if the town is stable financially and employment is good.
The bottom line is that the countries problems aren't getting any better. I follow the markets on a daily basis and things aren't looking great. Is there progress? Some, but not enough to create more jobs and make people optimistic about the future. Even if people in Glens Falls, Queensbury and Saratoga Springs have solid jobs and aren't as bad off as the rest of the country. That doesn't mean they won't hoard every last penny and find ways to save just as much as someone with less. Which means that local businesses will continue to suffer and so will the housing market, job market etc.. If people can't buy a new dishwasher, they're surely not going to be buying or building a new house.
Showing posts with label Glens Falls. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Glens Falls. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
No Break In The Heat Or The Slump
The heat here in the Glens Falls, Queensbury area has been scorching for the last two weeks. Not just dry heat either, it's been humid. Which usually means that our phones ring off the hook with people wanting air conditioning as soon as they can get it. This however has not been the case.
In the past when the heat has been this intense, we would be working what seemed like around the clock. People would call in the morning and want air conditioning by evening. Oh how times have changed. The recession has brought new rules to how the game is played. People are accepting the heat more, keeping there finances more in check(which they should) and maybe buying a window unit at Home Depot for $150. In fact, I heard a story from a colleague the other day about a women buying a few of these same units. She actually had central air conditioning, but it wasn't working. She received a couple of shady quotes and decided to buy three new window units, rather than research someone better to fix her already existing air system. This type of attitude does not bode well for business. She was willing to pay upwards of $500 for supplemental air conditioning instead of paying a reputable service man. She went with the guys working on the side who have basic knowledge, but not full knowledge. You know, the ones who are doing $3000 jobs for $1000. Undercutting guys like us. It makes business very challenging and hard to keep alive.
Heat or no heat, business has changed and so have the customers. I have learned a lot from the last two years of recession. Most of which is not to under appreciate the boom times, like they'll be there forever. Times are still a bit rocky but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Those same people getting work done for 1/4 of a fair price will be calling when their systems break down from faulty installation. When they call, we'll be ready. Business is business and you have to adapt to everything daily. Now we must make a more concerted effort to search out consistent business. Get our name out there and show that we do a great job, for a great price and we stand behind our work.
In the past when the heat has been this intense, we would be working what seemed like around the clock. People would call in the morning and want air conditioning by evening. Oh how times have changed. The recession has brought new rules to how the game is played. People are accepting the heat more, keeping there finances more in check(which they should) and maybe buying a window unit at Home Depot for $150. In fact, I heard a story from a colleague the other day about a women buying a few of these same units. She actually had central air conditioning, but it wasn't working. She received a couple of shady quotes and decided to buy three new window units, rather than research someone better to fix her already existing air system. This type of attitude does not bode well for business. She was willing to pay upwards of $500 for supplemental air conditioning instead of paying a reputable service man. She went with the guys working on the side who have basic knowledge, but not full knowledge. You know, the ones who are doing $3000 jobs for $1000. Undercutting guys like us. It makes business very challenging and hard to keep alive.
Heat or no heat, business has changed and so have the customers. I have learned a lot from the last two years of recession. Most of which is not to under appreciate the boom times, like they'll be there forever. Times are still a bit rocky but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Those same people getting work done for 1/4 of a fair price will be calling when their systems break down from faulty installation. When they call, we'll be ready. Business is business and you have to adapt to everything daily. Now we must make a more concerted effort to search out consistent business. Get our name out there and show that we do a great job, for a great price and we stand behind our work.
Don't forget to check out the new website
kesheetmetal.com
kesheetmetal.com
Labels:
Air Conditioning,
Glens Falls,
heat,
heating,
Queensbury
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