Anyone else just totally slammed right now?

[TheSnowman]

I'm normally busy this time of year, but I can't hardly even have time to print. I've been selling massive job after massive job (I call it massive as a one man shop) and I just can't keep up. It's great. About a month or two ago we were mega slow, which was unusual for that time of year, but this has just been unheard of. I have a great designer, and I've been using him two years, so maybe the work is starting to speak for itself? I'm not lowballing, but still landing most jobs.

Maybe things have turned around?

 

[Flame]

I have seen a lot of new customers, and good sales the past 2 months. Maybe a new generation getting started and they need advertising? Not sure but it's been trucking along nicely

 

[fresh]

We are overwhelmed. I hired someone two months ago, but I don't have time to train her to do more than really basic stuff. I need to hire a full time designer, but we can't really afford one yet. Once we get through the next two months, we'll be in a position to take on another person. Thank goodness.

Anyway, I tell people we are two weeks out on jobs, some are even longer. I've had someone calling me for 2 months to redo her Sandy-downed sign. I told her we were swamped with three huge jobs, and it was going to be a while, and now that I have time, she is dragging her feet. Well, guess what, she snoozes, she looses. I've just taken deposits for two more big jobs. My small shop can only hand so much at one time. I am honest about my turn around, and it sucks to lose work, but we can only do what we can do.

 

[James Burke]

Yep...we've been blessed with an over abundance of work as well. Of all the stresses to have, I would have to say it's the best kind, and it sure beats the alternative. JB

 

[TheSnowman]

My biggest thing in the last two weeks has been people coming in and needing it that day or the next. Or people I talked to months ago finally decide to do something, and pay a down payment, then wonder why I can't do their stuff right then and there since we'd talked about it a month ago. I don't mind the rush stuff, cause it's mostly simple, and I charge them big for it because it's not my fault they just decided to order, but I guess I'm just mega thankful for my subs at this point. I'm sending a lot of work out to keep up.

 

[HulkSmash]

Busiest we've ever been. Doing massive fleets, and massive installs. It's awesome. We're turning away small stuff like perfs, tail gate wraps.. 1 off signs.. etc etc.
no time for non profit jobs..

 

[MR. Graphics]

It's been picking up here in Jacksonville Fl. I have had to hire a full and a part timer. to help with the load.

 

[CP Signs]

Crazy busy here in small town Carleton Place, then again we've been busier then ever this past winter. Landed major contracts, the famous Calabogie Motorsports Park, a Nascar team, hooked with a billboard company and on and on. Just loving it.

 

[SAR.Summerlin]

Same here. Dead in April then May and now June are getting very busy. Boss man wants fast turnaround then gets upset when it takes too long for just little old me to do design and production. Oh well good to be busy and yeah lots of large jobs and little last minute need in now stuff just like the rest of you.

 

[Jillbeans]

I have been insanely busy since February.
:Big Laugh
I used to do about two logos a year I have been doing like one a week, plus a ton of painted signs and other stuff.
Agreed about the last minute people, I have had to turn a few away as I am just one person and there are not enough hours in the day.
This is the busiest year I have had since about 2008.
Love....Jill

 

[fmg]

We have been slammed non stop for at least the past 7 years.

 

[Z SIGNS]

Slammed is a state of mind

 

[OldPaint]

iam even BUSY.....and i am not out looking for work.........

 

[kanini]

Here in Europe we are also slammed with work, no idea where this will end but we are working very long days right now... Strangely also a lot of cut vinyl jobs, HUGE large cut vinyl graphics (and reflective) on trucks, signs etc.
Can't wait until the VS-640 arrives in a couple of weeks to speed up things on the printing side...

Good to hear business are going great over in the USA!

 

[FatCat]

Yup busy, busy, busy...

First quarter we were swamped with small jobs - pays the bills but seems like you work twice as hard for the same money. Now, we're booked up for the next 2 weeks and phone keeps on ringing. The difference is these are bigger jobs (for us) and as a 2 man shop we can only do so much.

The saddest fact of all is that we've been so busy I haven't had time to go fishing this year or get my boat ready for the season....:Big Laugh

 

[ddarlak]

corporations have been sitting on huge profits waiting to see if obama would lose and what would become of obamacare. they are now to the breaking point and must start hiring and spending money. I just had a corporation spend $20k to spruce up it's image with new exterior signs and a ton of canvas prints for their office hallways. that kind of spending hasn't hppened in years...

 

[AceSignsOnline]

I'm a little overwhelmed myself. Been doing a lot of LED's, wraps, pylons, monuments, etc. Great time for profiting in the sign industry. Now if I could only convince our sales team to quit taking on small vinyl jobs and promising 2-3 day turnarounds when I'm 6 weeks out on channel letters and cabinet frames. I honestly don't think that this work environment has ever run at such a fast pace.

 

[nashvillesigns]

slammed? no. busy and loving it? yes!!!

the title says it all.
gotta go. i am too busy to write anything else here.
Mos-

 

[tattoo.dan]

We have been extremely fortunate as well..Last year the boom hit in March...I hired a couple more employees in anticipation for it this year.....The rush didn't hit until almost the end of April, but when it did....wow...

glad to hear of everyone staying busy...and while I'm at it, I need to say thanks to Phillip...he has saved me on quite a few designs during the rush this year!

 

[rjssigns]

If we get an average percentage of our bids we'll be very busy.