Is the market this year really ****?

[Iridium]

Hello fellow members,

I've been a small business owner since October of 2019 it was the most scary and exciting time that month due to me quitting and finally being able to venture on my own without having a second job to make ends meet. since then busniness has been great with some small set backs yet I've managed to make it out Ok. In 2023 I was able to purchase a new construction home on my own and that was a huge milestone for me yet starting 2024 a little slow, business just went to **** starting in March and has been relatively low since then that I found myself working a second job all over again.

i've spoken to some other business owners and they mentioned that its always like this during election year but not this bad. I cater to weddings btw. Covid was a low point also but not as low due to weddings being held in peoples homes rather than at venues and churches.

(Im new still to how things work and i try to follow the market)

Can anyone confirm that this year has been a rollercoaster for small businesses? and hopefully next year is better once these elections are over. Just worried

if anyone is interested what I do here is my store: Mint to be Us, LLC.

I love what I do and I hope things get better otherwise I'll be forced to shut down

 

[boogielander]

yeap this year's crap compared to before.
I'm in auto industry both in customization/ building and in parts manufacturing part time.

let me just say it's so bad that no one's buying anything. the manufacturing company actually put the warehouse workers on rotating part time shifts while just the year before things were flying off the shelf.

at the customization/ building side, we see more vehicles in for repairs and maintenances than full on expensive overlanding/ offroad builds.

Is it going to be better? depends on who goes in whitehouse next year, and it's gonna be a "possibility of getting better" vs "same thing as now only getting worse"

 

[jl13]

yep this year has been the slowest for us, owner was considering closing down. but we are starting to see positive news and orders starting February of next year, hopefully it continues
we are in manufacturing, textiles, clothing, home goods

 

[LITTLEREBEL]

I'm not a business owner, but can vouch for the no spending money part. I've cut way back this year due to the increase home owners insurance and inflated everyday cost. I do hope things turn around for you.

 

[Iridium]

yeap this year's crap compared to before.
I'm in auto industry both in customization/ building and in parts manufacturing part time.

let me just say it's so bad that no one's buying anything. the manufacturing company actually put the warehouse workers on rotating part time shifts while just the year before things were flying off the shelf.

at the customization/ building side, we see more vehicles in for repairs and maintenances than full on expensive overlanding/ offroad builds.

Is it going to be better? depends on who goes in whitehouse next year, and it's gonna be a "possibility of getting better" vs "same thing as now only getting worse"

I see. Thanks for your reply. I managed to open a second store to see if I can grab "the market" a bit more. Hopefully things get better next year. I normally start seeing a spike in sales right after new years.
I do small ornaments for Christmas but only time can tell, sales for those should start towards the end of Nov. so far nothing.

 

[Iridium]

I'm not a business owner, but can vouch for the no spending money part. I've cut way back this year due to the increase home owners insurance and inflated everyday cost. I do hope things turn around for you.

The Wife and I sat down multiple times and set budgets on everything just to make it work. so far its working yet hopeful things get better in the market. next budget cut would be my truck my brother is willing to take it if needed so he says, so we'll see.

 

[Iridium]

yep this year has been the slowest for us, owner was considering closing down. but we are starting to see positive news and orders starting February of next year, hopefully it continues
we are in manufacturing, textiles, clothing, home goods

Thats good news!

 

[HSKR R/T]

Election years are always rough. The uncertainty of what will happen, the policies that may change depending on who wins. People just don't want to spend money they don't need to. Plus the crappy inflation, increased interest rates, increased price of goods. Just a perfect storm this year.

It will definitely pick up next year. Shoot, I'm up $1000 since election day on my small investment in cryptocurrency

 

[boogielander]

I see. Thanks for your reply. I managed to open a second store to see if I can grab "the market" a bit more. Hopefully things get better next year. I normally start seeing a spike in sales right after new years.
I do small ornaments for Christmas but only time can tell, sales for those should start towards the end of Nov. so far nothing.

with the new admin next year i'm hopeful that things will get better.
hopefully things stabilize and costs of doing business go down with more oil production leases. that whole green thing really killed the entire supply chain and everything.