Budget Wars - A New Hope (with apologies to George Lucas)

crazy_cat_lady

Sorry to read this Bob. I wish I had some fantastic advice to offer but I really don't know anything at all about small businesses etc.
The one thing I do know though, is that you're a fantastic lady doing everything that you can. I have crossed fingers and toes hoping that things will work out for you. What advice would you offer to someone in your situation?

sashybo

Hi Bob, sorry to hear about the problems you're having.

I hope you get your miracle - you've certainly worked hard enough for it. More positive vibes being sent your way. :A

f0xh0les

Oh Bobs, I am sure you are doing everything you can to make this a success. Do you have times of the year when you are busy and times where it is flat? Or is it too early to tell.

You have done brilliantly to climb out of the (booming voice) Hole Of Debt........ and now you are debt neutral. That is to be celebrated, it is just so annoying 'they' waited until that happened to mess you about with NI uncertainty, rates uncertainty, and on top of that to do it all in BBB month. It is like it waited so it could snowball and hit your confidence as hard as it could.
Well, there, it is done. You will soon know where you stand, but only when that letter arrives, and I think you need to concentrate on selling that big old white elephant bit of kit you have so you have a buffer to tide you over and give you a bit of a cushion.

Wish I could give you business advice, but I can't cos I know nothing!!!! Wish I could give you certainty, but I can't, it is beyond my control and yours.

I really hope you can enjoy this bit of sunshine we are having, and get some quality family time in .

MASSIVE HUGS.

JWPopps

Hello Bob

I am only really here to repeat what everyone else has said - I'm so sorry you're in this situation, and I'm angry that small business owners can be treated this way! It's not like you're secretly squirreling away mega-bucks and not letting the economy have any :mad:

I genuinely hope something goes your way soon - you work your socks off as it is!! And you know that everyone here is supportive of your efforts, even if we're limited in terms of advice and help.

Bobarella

Sanchsoot49 wrote: »

Will PM you about the mystery shopping Bob

Looks like PM wont go through .... if you are still interested message me !

Thank you sorry about that, have my inbox on lock down post Troll....have now added you to my contacts. I will also message you.

Bobarella

Good Morning

Thanks to everyone who has commented on my diary so far. All support is so much appreciated.

TOP I am glad to hear of your business running so much smoother after your time away. And I can well imagine how much and how easy the debt wracked up whilst you were supporting the business but not working.

I wish I was able to write a more positive update than the last one. Im just feeling so frustrated. I had a flurry of 'pay day' enquirers starting from last Friday but other than 1 person who says they are going to book this week, I've done a lot of work again for little result. The utter misery of getting a great enquiry, and then finding someone goes completely silent on you is just horrible. Obviously you get enquiries and hear nothing, but when you've had back and forth, someone saying they want to do something, and then its like pulling teeth to get any further information. That.

On the flip side I have a day this week where I have managed to get 3 potential clients and a photographer all scheduled in, to get us up and running on another platform. Half of the success in this game is just pure luck of who sees your place I think. So thats important.

But the reality of knowing I have money due in around 14 days, that at present I have very little of, is so draining. I feel like I need to be in doing mode constantly, but also just keep worrying about where this magical money is going to appear from.

I had some lovely person trying to haggle me down to dirt level for a booking that they want for a special occasion, with me going lower and lower and then.......radio silence......which makes me feel rubbish quite frankly.

The holidays are a double edged sword. Trying to entertain two children with an almost 7 year age gap, who both get annoyed with each other is not my idea of fun. OH has booked time off but again, we just dont have the money to be able to do anything. I felt in the pits of despair yesterday that I felt exactly the same in the summer holidays. And so much has happened since then, but I am also now in this bad place again.

Anyway, at least today DS made it to his swimming course. Yesterday we were on the bus and suddenly both of us realized the other had left his bag behind.....so that was fun! No way of getting him home and back in time for the start and the lesson so short (30 mins) that he'd have never made it into the water anyway. His Dad has taken him today. I was hoping his class would be at 11 or 12 to break up the day a bit, but no its 8.30....

Right, I am going to get a coffee and try and cheer up a bit.

Bob

parsniphead

Hello Bob

Sorry to hear you are having such a hard time. It seems that small businesses are always having to take hits here and there.

You may already do this but do you have holiday clubs for school kids during the school breaks. Or perhaps rent out to crafts people who want to hold group classes but don't have space in there workshop. This is a bit of an issue I have found. The spaces I've seen are more suited to class/written type activities but not suitable for makers.

I hope everything comes right for you.

crazy_cat_lady

Lots of love to you Bob - I know things are hard at the moment, and I know that you will get through it. I'm thinking of you and hoping for a turnaround.

Bobarella

parsniphead wrote: »

Hello Bob

Sorry to hear you are having such a hard time. It seems that small businesses are always having to take hits here and there.

You may already do this but do you have holiday clubs for school kids during the school breaks. Or perhaps rent out to crafts people who want to hold group classes but don't have space in there workshop. This is a bit of an issue I have found. The spaces I've seen are more suited to class/written type activities but not suitable for makers.

I hope everything comes right for you.

Thanks Parsniphead that is a good angle, on the makers hire out. We do art hire so maybe I can look at makers as a sub group and find some groups to speak to.

crazy_cat_lady wrote: »

Lots of love to you Bob - I know things are hard at the moment, and I know that you will get through it. I'm thinking of you and hoping for a turnaround.

Thanks as always Cat

Bobarella

f0xh0les wrote: »

Oh Bobs, I am sure you are doing everything you can to make this a success. Do you have times of the year when you are busy and times where it is flat? Or is it too early to tell.

You have done brilliantly to climb out of the (booming voice) Hole Of Debt........ and now you are debt neutral. That is to be celebrated, it is just so annoying 'they' waited until that happened to mess you about with NI uncertainty, rates uncertainty, and on top of that to do it all in BBB month. It is like it waited so it could snowball and hit your confidence as hard as it could.
Well, there, it is done. You will soon know where you stand, but only when that letter arrives, and I think you need to concentrate on selling that big old white elephant bit of kit you have so you have a buffer to tide you over and give you a bit of a cushion.

Wish I could give you business advice, but I can't cos I know nothing!!!! Wish I could give you certainty, but I can't, it is beyond my control and yours.

I really hope you can enjoy this bit of sunshine we are having, and get some quality family time in .

MASSIVE HUGS.

Thanks for the rallying! Half of it is luck rather than anything else I am sure.
I am trying with my machine sale. It's just proven more complex because when my friend suggested it the market was uncluttered but every time I log onto the bay it has 6 or so models. So will I get top dollar for mine in that market? So we've held off a bit.

Hope you have a good holiday with the mini Foxes