Hey Optiboarders!!!
We have been hearing for years about the recession and we have been blessed and not been to effected by it. But this year is markedly different we are definitely feeling it.
Are we the only ones??? What are you guys dealing with and how are you overcoming it???
It started the day after the last Presidential Election. You may not have noticed but your money is only worth 40% of what it was at the beginning of the year. Your children and grandchildren owe about 38K before they even arrive on this earth.
That's a recession, dear.
Chip
Last edited by chip anderson; 09-12-2011 at 12:53 PM. Reason: more thought
You obviously mean the one before that.
DragonlensmanWV N.A.O.L.
"There is nothing patriotic about hating your government or pretending you can hate your government but love your country."
Don't we just love politics!
I know! We know it's somebody's fault....I just really want to know is it as bad as it seems! In the spirit of full disclosure, I voted for Ron Paul last time and will do so again!
Chip, you're going to have to prove that before anyone believes it.Originally Posted by chip anderson
DragonlensmanWV N.A.O.L.
"There is nothing patriotic about hating your government or pretending you can hate your government but love your country."
Yes BUT you live in CA which is a strict BLUE Liberal state so your vote is pretty meaningless, it's the folks in OH, WI, MO, FL, NV, MN, VA and maybe a few others that matter most!
As a Texan, I simply dismiss Liberals and Liberatarians, because no matter what they say or do Texas is a red state just like CA & NY are blue states.
BTW I agree that the recession started pre 2008 but there was some change promised that never materialized, but hey we got a nifty new healthcare program passesd that can't be paid for.
Politics aside, the recession seemed to hit our office around the summer of 2009. OK actually has a relatively low unemployment rate, but it seemed that people were suddenly tightening the purse strings, and really looking at what they were spending. Eyecare suddenly went pretty low on the priority scale, and we saw a lot of lenses only in POFs. We've come back up somewhat; we don't have several people a week calling to cancel their appointments because they just can't afford it right now. But we're still not doing quite as well as we had been a couple years ago.
It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.
Californians seem to be the last ones's to notice....... FrameGoddess(love the handle-so exotic), the recession is over.
That being said, unfortunately, we might be heading into a double-dip type of recession. In that case double/double scotch/rocks ahead!
Cheers, cheers.(I miss those smilies)
You only need look at the grocery store. Coffee soap and all. What aint gone up 30% has gone down in volume. Coffee has done both. Funny they kept the same containers. Only way to know is to read the little numbers on the bottom of the label. Some can sizes have gotten smaller as well.
It's been here in Rockingham county for a long time.
Just watch this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omZ05EtVVTg
UNCUT'S top 10 Recession Rules:
1) Have adequate/ample impulse purchase products available for sale.
2) Show infectious enthusiasm
3) SMILE- It never hurts and costs little.
4) Value add-both in product and service.
5) Pamper yourself-take that "breathe in deeply" and "smell the roses" day off.
6) Treat all your patients like they are the one and only. FOCUS on their needs, and listen to their aspirations, and help them plan ahead.
7)Embrace the slow time-clean, dust. Do inexpensive renovations......paint.
8) Plan for the future.....it will be here before you know it.
9) Thumb your nose at the condition- have a "pamper your eyewear spa day" or a "recession special".
10) BE A CHEERLEADER---in your family, in your neighborhood, and in your community. A lot of recessions end only when, psychologically, people believe it is over. Do your part to stimulate the economy, BUT don't go nuts.................................that will just start up another one.
Last edited by uncut; 09-12-2011 at 08:08 PM. Reason: sp/embellish
95% of statistics are made up on the spot.
Wesley S. Scott, MBA, MIS, ABOM, NCLE-AC, LDO - SC & GA
“As our circle of knowledge expands, so does the circumference of darkness surrounding it.” -Albert Einstein
Nothing ever said, or done would ever convince a Marxist of the truth!
As to statistics: There are liars, damn liars and statisticians." Sam Johnson, statistician
Chip
yeah,sometimes we need to focus on politicsDon't we just love politics!
Chip, before you start flinging around labels like "socialist" and "Marxist", do your research. Forewarned is forearmed. Beware, it might cause you to think.
http://www.dollartimes.com/calculators/inflation.htm
$1.00 in 2009 had the same buying power as $1.04 in 2011.
Annual inflation over this period was 2.11%.
only 35% have heard this little known fact!
So, which of those are you Chip? I'm just asking for some proof, not just what you hear or read in an email or hear on Faux News or the conservative-dominated media.
DragonlensmanWV N.A.O.L.
"There is nothing patriotic about hating your government or pretending you can hate your government but love your country."
Unneccessarily divisive and confrontational politics aside, perhaps we can actually answer the question at hand.
Similar story for us: We hadn't really felt a recession bite until this year. Patients are buying frames less often in favor of re-using their old frames--which we sold them a year or two years ago--and a small few are skipping an add-on such as Transitions or A/R. Interestingly, we had experienced a much smaller back-to-school rush in 2009 and 2010 than we had anticipated, only to have those numbers pick back up this year.
I'm Andrew Hamm and I approve this message.
Are you able to tell what amount of business decline is due to recession and how much is due to online opticals?
Actually, last year was the worst as far as new frame sales went here. This year our new frame sales are up. Unfortunately, most of our VSP customers only want "what the insurance pays for, nothing else."
DragonlensmanWV N.A.O.L.
"There is nothing patriotic about hating your government or pretending you can hate your government but love your country."
Both offices I work for are holding their own, but I have noticed that we have never had so many cold-calling reps roving our neighborhood! Honestly! Reps that wouldn't have thought to even drive down the same street, let alone walk into our office, are practically camping on our doorstep.
Times MUST be tough!
Fortunately, I don't get a lot of cold calls. Occasionally, one will stop by just to see if they can make an appointment later. Just showing up and expecting an order is not welcomed.
DragonlensmanWV N.A.O.L.
"There is nothing patriotic about hating your government or pretending you can hate your government but love your country."
Thanks everyone for your responses. @David-Garza As an American I will never believe my vote is meaningless....no matter what state I choose to live in. @Chip our country has been going to hell in a hand basket for a very long time. Is this President perfect? No. But which one was???? He still is our President. @Ang I am a wholesaler and Back to school is always a very busy time of year for us....this year back to school came and went with barely a whimper! But I think I really started noticing a slow down in the first quarter....usually our first quarters rock this year not so much.@Darby, As a Sales Rep I can tell you that at my company we are leaving no stone unturned.....lol...
Unless you have been living under a rock or back in your old room at dear old Mom and Dads you may have noticed that the housing market and the stock market have indeed "gone to hell in a handbasket." You probably have not noticed that taxes are going up and employment opportunities are going down.
The only ones who have not noticed that things truly sucketh are the welfare loungeabouts, illegal aliens and stumblebum winos. For them all is well and the future is bright; they are going to skin the wealthy and divide up the spoils.
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