Gone very quiet
Discussion
fridaypassion said:
bearman68 said:
I'm steadily busy. and in the car industry. I don't want much more work, but if another 10% came along, we could cope with it.
But we are thinking of expanding the 'shop' to rent a small industrial workshop in Bristol - I have a new employee, and he's exploring the opportunities to set up a sister shop in Bristol.
What's completely surprising, is the lack of available commercial workshop space. It's like bloody hens teeth, and when it is available, workshop space is generally more expensive than fully serviced office space in a very nice office in the centre of town. Completely bonkers.
Since I work from old farm buildings, I'm not up to speed on the value of commercial property, but can someone tell me, is this normal, or is it more expensive / less available than normal?
Commercial property is scarce everywhere. I bought last year but looking to get a bigger place or second smaller place to rent and theres nothing around! But we are thinking of expanding the 'shop' to rent a small industrial workshop in Bristol - I have a new employee, and he's exploring the opportunities to set up a sister shop in Bristol.
What's completely surprising, is the lack of available commercial workshop space. It's like bloody hens teeth, and when it is available, workshop space is generally more expensive than fully serviced office space in a very nice office in the centre of town. Completely bonkers.
Since I work from old farm buildings, I'm not up to speed on the value of commercial property, but can someone tell me, is this normal, or is it more expensive / less available than normal?
Hugo Stiglitz said:
Could it be brownfield/lots of old commercial land near city centres being redeveloped for flats?
I think commercial is something always overlooked by councils as they poetically get more tax yield from domestic development. Slight correction I bought my unit 2 years ago I think rents in this area have risen 30% since I last looked. I really don't understand how businesses can get going with crazy rents and the utter pointlessness of the business rates system.
Commercial property still scarce to rent?
I'm arguing about a market rent review that was due Feb 21, but has only just taken place. They are looking for a 22% increase stating similar rents from Dec 21. I'm arguing that isn't representative as it is 10 months after the review should have taken place. And, as we all know a totally different world commercially due to the pandemic.
I'm contracted until Feb 23, and wonder if offering to walk away is a viable bargaining point? I can manage without the premises and it would give the landlord a chance to get the rent he thinks he can.
I'm arguing about a market rent review that was due Feb 21, but has only just taken place. They are looking for a 22% increase stating similar rents from Dec 21. I'm arguing that isn't representative as it is 10 months after the review should have taken place. And, as we all know a totally different world commercially due to the pandemic.
I'm contracted until Feb 23, and wonder if offering to walk away is a viable bargaining point? I can manage without the premises and it would give the landlord a chance to get the rent he thinks he can.
singlecoil said:
Tyre Smoke said:
...I'm contracted until Feb 23, and wonder if offering to walk away is a viable bargaining point?...
There's none better.Tyre Smoke said:
Commercial property still scarce to rent?
Unit we vacated last year sold for 40% more than the units on the estate (broadly the same) typically sell for. As tenants, we had a handshake agreement to buy it (at usual levels) but I suppose many would do the same (we also bought the business from the same owner so left a sour taste). The first day it went on the market there were 9 viewings - small industrial ~2000sq ft then a bidding war. All cash buyers.By chance I saw someone inspecting a unit (2 doors down) that someone had abandoned (in a right state). Turns out she was the owner. I offered to clear it out and pay a year's rent upfront which she accepted. There's just nothing around here, bigger standalone units are getting taken by developers for flats. Rents are bonkers, even for not very secure farm units, but people are paying it as nothing else about.
First six weeks of the year were tough (we won 8 clients but lost 7). The reasons for client loss were either projects naturally ending or budget constraints with clients.
Last 3 weeks things are really picking up.
I'm hoping that we'll be able to go out to market in April with a massive announcement (just waiting for final sign off from our partner) - that should really open up the PR taps
Last 3 weeks things are really picking up.
I'm hoping that we'll be able to go out to market in April with a massive announcement (just waiting for final sign off from our partner) - that should really open up the PR taps
22 said:
singlecoil said:
Tyre Smoke said:
...I'm contracted until Feb 23, and wonder if offering to walk away is a viable bargaining point?...
There's none better.Tyre Smoke said:
Commercial property still scarce to rent?
Unit we vacated last year sold for 40% more than the units on the estate (broadly the same) typically sell for. As tenants, we had a handshake agreement to buy it (at usual levels) but I suppose many would do the same (we also bought the business from the same owner so left a sour taste). The first day it went on the market there were 9 viewings - small industrial ~2000sq ft then a bidding war. All cash buyers.By chance I saw someone inspecting a unit (2 doors down) that someone had abandoned (in a right state). Turns out she was the owner. I offered to clear it out and pay a year's rent upfront which she accepted. There's just nothing around here, bigger standalone units are getting taken by developers for flats. Rents are bonkers, even for not very secure farm units, but people are paying it as nothing else about.
I think I might offer to go. Everyone can walk away happy.
loafer123 said:
Online retail pretty quiet - consumers afraid of future fuel bills, I guess.
My ecom manager was at an industry data event this week. Very long faces all round. Sales down across the board - cliff edge stuff. Big firms massively ramping up advertising and promotion, going into early sales with large markdowns. Smaller firms just doing nothing.The problem is there's no end in sight; the drivers (cost of living, war uncertainty, tax rises, etc.) aren't going away.
Still busy in ecomm here, I’m seeing agile DTC retailers that think outside the marketing box move forward against the ones stuck in the “we always do it this way” type of ecomm managers who are often panicked into quiet paralysis.
All of my Amazon clients are holding ground or busier, however Amazon are a bit reactive with a few sale days scheduled and a lot of activity around Prime Day in July. This is their second busiest period after BF/CM.
I’m putting my money where my mouth is with my own clothing / design brand launch next month. Budget is just £10k to get started with a target of £300k year one, should hopefully be in profit as well - if it works it’s (another) case study for my new marketing agency I can start in September once my lock out ends. If it fails I’ll still use it as content for my social media.
All of my Amazon clients are holding ground or busier, however Amazon are a bit reactive with a few sale days scheduled and a lot of activity around Prime Day in July. This is their second busiest period after BF/CM.
I’m putting my money where my mouth is with my own clothing / design brand launch next month. Budget is just £10k to get started with a target of £300k year one, should hopefully be in profit as well - if it works it’s (another) case study for my new marketing agency I can start in September once my lock out ends. If it fails I’ll still use it as content for my social media.
DSLiverpool said:
Still busy in ecomm here, I’m seeing agile DTC retailers that think outside the marketing box move forward against the ones stuck in the “we always do it this way” type of ecomm managers who are often panicked into quiet paralysis.
All of my Amazon clients are holding ground or busier, however Amazon are a bit reactive with a few sale days scheduled and a lot of activity around Prime Day in July. This is their second busiest period after BF/CM.
I’m putting my money where my mouth is with my own clothing / design brand launch next month. Budget is just £10k to get started with a target of £300k year one, should hopefully be in profit as well - if it works it’s (another) case study for my new marketing agency I can start in September once my lock out ends. If it fails I’ll still use it as content for my social media.
I'm with you on the outside the box bit. I'm not doom-and-gloom for us (we predicted the hurt, and got ahead of the curve with a pre-emptive promotion that has hit the spot and given us our busiest 2 weeks of the year with thousands of orders), but I'm more concerned about the market in general - downturns are usually bad for business.All of my Amazon clients are holding ground or busier, however Amazon are a bit reactive with a few sale days scheduled and a lot of activity around Prime Day in July. This is their second busiest period after BF/CM.
I’m putting my money where my mouth is with my own clothing / design brand launch next month. Budget is just £10k to get started with a target of £300k year one, should hopefully be in profit as well - if it works it’s (another) case study for my new marketing agency I can start in September once my lock out ends. If it fails I’ll still use it as content for my social media.
I'm sorry I went quiet about that Shopify project we talked about last year. We DIY'd our new EU site (with fantastic results), and have been working on upgrading our UK ERP to allow us a proper integration path in the UK. But we've had some issues getting our Japan business on-board for the "big migration" so that's slowed progress a little.
I might be interested in your marketing agency, however, depending upon what it's going to offer
Re fashion, good luck. £300k year 1 is perfectly doable. Do you have fulfilment sorted yet? I'm looking to take our UK operation in-house this year, but may be offering a third-party service to those who want a more value-add service than many of the 3PL operators can manage
skwdenyer said:
loafer123 said:
Online retail pretty quiet - consumers afraid of future fuel bills, I guess.
My ecom manager was at an industry data event this week. Very long faces all round. Sales down across the board - cliff edge stuff. Big firms massively ramping up advertising and promotion, going into early sales with large markdowns. Smaller firms just doing nothing.The problem is there's no end in sight; the drivers (cost of living, war uncertainty, tax rises, etc.) aren't going away.
There’s been a couple of quiet weeks since January Sales finished, but overall it’s been pretty steady.
I could be a hell of a lot busier than I am now if only I could find more decent, reliable drivers. I know I’m going to be a bit behind the curve of BooHoo, Next etc, but only by about 3-4 days. The projections for early next week are looking decent as well.
skwdenyer said:
I'm with you on the outside the box bit. I'm not doom-and-gloom for us (we predicted the hurt, and got ahead of the curve with a pre-emptive promotion that has hit the spot and given us our busiest 2 weeks of the year with thousands of orders), but I'm more concerned about the market in general - downturns are usually bad for business.
I'm sorry I went quiet about that Shopify project we talked about last year. We DIY'd our new EU site (with fantastic results), and have been working on upgrading our UK ERP to allow us a proper integration path in the UK. But we've had some issues getting our Japan business on-board for the "big migration" so that's slowed progress a little.
I might be interested in your marketing agency, however, depending upon what it's going to offer
Re fashion, good luck. £300k year 1 is perfectly doable. Do you have fulfilment sorted yet? I'm looking to take our UK operation in-house this year, but may be offering a third-party service to those who want a more value-add service than many of the 3PL operators can manage
Cheers - speak soon. 3PL is an issue as I can no longer recommend “fulfilment crowd” I’mI'm sorry I went quiet about that Shopify project we talked about last year. We DIY'd our new EU site (with fantastic results), and have been working on upgrading our UK ERP to allow us a proper integration path in the UK. But we've had some issues getting our Japan business on-board for the "big migration" so that's slowed progress a little.
I might be interested in your marketing agency, however, depending upon what it's going to offer
Re fashion, good luck. £300k year 1 is perfectly doable. Do you have fulfilment sorted yet? I'm looking to take our UK operation in-house this year, but may be offering a third-party service to those who want a more value-add service than many of the 3PL operators can manage
assessing James & James plus one other
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