Gone very quiet

Author
Discussion

skwdenyer

17,101 posts

243 months

Tuesday 25th June
quotequote all
r3g said:
If they only have a shelf life of 20 years or so per the US example then the overall cost to replicate it in the UK is going to be far more than what it would cost to just build a proper house in the first place, once you add in costs to demolish and build a fresh one when it expires.

Anyway, this is the business thread, not the 'housing shortage/politics' thread, of which there are several current threads in their own sub-forums without turning this one into another.
Indeed. Does anyone know house builders, surveyors, groundworks contractors, and so on are getting on at the moment?

Digga

40,665 posts

286 months

Wednesday 26th June
quotequote all
skwdenyer said:
r3g said:
If they only have a shelf life of 20 years or so per the US example then the overall cost to replicate it in the UK is going to be far more than what it would cost to just build a proper house in the first place, once you add in costs to demolish and build a fresh one when it expires.

Anyway, this is the business thread, not the 'housing shortage/politics' thread, of which there are several current threads in their own sub-forums without turning this one into another.
Indeed. Does anyone know house builders, surveyors, groundworks contractors, and so on are getting on at the moment?
Overall, things are getting slightly better. There's slightly more activity, but this recovery is starting from a very low base.

2023 saw the most firms go to the wall in 30 years. 2024 may yet beat that.

Essarell

1,326 posts

57 months

Wednesday 26th June
quotequote all
The news the last few weeks (years) has been bereft of a glimmer of hope but how can any government proclaim to be growing the economy when we have the following:
Woodsmith site possibly mothballed
TATA steel closing a huge amount of the Port Talbot works
And Vauxhall looking to close / mothball major manufacturing plants.



Edited by Essarell on Wednesday 26th June 10:30


Edited by Essarell on Wednesday 26th June 10:30

GardeningEcomm

97 posts

24 months

Ecommerce retail (gardening)
Still incredibly tough out there.
Much of our demand drop is due to the terrible UK weather this spring.
But even the recent sunny spell didn't bring out the same high sales as usual.

Going to be a very 'interesting' few months I reckon.
Recent retail CBI survey backs up this feeling I think?

CBI CBI Distributive Trades Survey
26 JUNE 2024
Retail sales volumes fell faster than anticipated in the year to June.
reversing a return to modest growth last month

Retailers expect sales volumes to continue falling next month, albeit at a slower pace.

Key findings included:

Retail sales volumes fell in the year to June, following a modest recovery in May (weighted balance of -24% from +8%). Retailers expect sales to fall at a slower rate next month (-9%).
Sales were reported to be well below “average” for the time of year (-39% from +2% in May). Sales volumes are expected to remain below seasonal norms in July, albeit to a lesser extent (-29%).
Orders placed upon suppliers fell moderately in the year to June at a broadly similar pace to last month (-14% from -11% in May). Retailers expect the cutback in orders to continue next month (-16%).
Stock positions were reported as broadly “adequate” in relation to expected sales (+3% from +16% in May). Stock positions are expected to remain unchanged next month (0).
Internet sales declined heavily, and at a faster pace than expected in the year to June (-45% from -6% in May). Online sales are expected to fall again next month, but only slightly (-5%).

Dr Interceptor

7,862 posts

199 months

Well our sales book for June closed £40k down on June 2023, closer to £50k in reality when you factor in £10k's worth of Amazon sales that we didn't have to do in 2023 to stay busy.

Sales in our bricks and mortar shop have taken a massive tumble through May & June compared with last year. I think that's in part due to the above ground pool market this year being non-existent, we'd normally have small floating chlorine dispensers flying out the door (lots of 20 quids), but I haven't had to even re-order them yet from my initial stock. The weather has been crap and people haven't got their pools out.



GardeningEcomm

97 posts

24 months

Sorry to hear that Doctor.
I really have never seen demand as weak as this.
Fortunately we have kept a close eye on costs so should be able to ride out this soft period.
Hope we both have a better July

urquattroGus

1,871 posts

193 months

Stihl GB are now going to sell through Screwfix.

This is on op of the fact that their huge new offices have been paid for by screwing all existing dealers, especially the online ones within an inch of life.

skilly1

2,711 posts

198 months

GardeningEcomm said:
Sorry to hear that Doctor.
I really have never seen demand as weak as this.
Fortunately we have kept a close eye on costs so should be able to ride out this soft period.
Hope we both have a better July
Gardening Ecomm what’s your website? Just interested in what you sell.

Digga

40,665 posts

286 months

Yesterday (06:40)
quotequote all
urquattroGus said:
Stihl GB are now going to sell through Screwfix.

This is on op of the fact that their huge new offices have been paid for by screwing all existing dealers, especially the online ones within an inch of life.
I smell the influence (effluence) of private equity.

skwdenyer

17,101 posts

243 months

Yesterday (10:53)
quotequote all
Digga said:
urquattroGus said:
Stihl GB are now going to sell through Screwfix.

This is on op of the fact that their huge new offices have been paid for by screwing all existing dealers, especially the online ones within an inch of life.
I smell the influence (effluence) of private equity.
AIUI Stihl are still family-owned.

Presumably they’re going to push the more “consumer” equipment through Screwfix?

Digga

40,665 posts

286 months

Yesterday (11:30)
quotequote all
skwdenyer said:
Digga said:
urquattroGus said:
Stihl GB are now going to sell through Screwfix.

This is on op of the fact that their huge new offices have been paid for by screwing all existing dealers, especially the online ones within an inch of life.
I smell the influence (effluence) of private equity.
AIUI Stihl are still family-owned.

Presumably they’re going to push the more “consumer” equipment through Screwfix?
Morphed into VC: https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/1837086D...

Good Plan Ted

2,018 posts

234 months

Yesterday (14:06)
quotequote all
Speaking to a mobile crane operator and sites in the south are being mothballed and he’s taking down more tower crane's than putting up!