Business Updates August 2024

Hello Everyone,

Hope this finds you all well. I just wanted to update you all on some changes I have been making to my systems in recent weeks.

Having been in business since 1998, I can say with some authority that the spell between the end of the summer and the festive season can be incredibly busy. Once the schools go back and summer holidays are but a distant memory, people turn there attention to getting there homes in order for the upcoming winter months. From experience this generally means a surge in enquiries which have proven to be difficult to keep up with in previous years. It is very easy to fall into the the trap of thinking that it is still August and there is plenty of time, but I have found that these few months can fly past so quickly and before we realise, it is December and there are not enough days remaining in the year to get everything done. It is very stressful, and no matter how careful I plan my schedule there are always jobs that just dont happen in time for the Festive Break.

The dreaded phrase, 'Will I have it done for Christmas' has already been mentioned to me this week. Well, my response is that whilst I recognise Christmas is an important family time for many (including ourselves), and I will always do my best to be obliging, I can no longer be treating it as a deadline for work to be completed. There is only one of me and often dozens of customers so the numbers are a little one-sided !

I am not intentionally trying to be a 'Bah Humbug', but I do need to be realistic and learn from the previous 26 years experience.

Another change I need to make is that in order for me to get through my work as efficiently as possible, I need to spend as much time as I can in my workshop doing the actual job of upholstering. Therefore, I have set up a system which will hopefully allow me to deal with some of my enquiries remotely via email or Whatsapp. In addition, customers are once again welcome to visit my workshop with their items for me to measure, assess and quote. (An appointment must be arranged first as I am not always available). There will be occasions when I need to get out on the road and visit my customers and I will be happy to discuss and arrange this on an individual basis.

Under no circumstances do I want to remove the personal service that I have always offered, but again I do need to be realistic and remind myself that I am a one man business and that I need to be as efficient with my time as possible.

So thats about all for the moment. I do however want to add that despite my recent absence from social media and keeping a low profile in general, I am working hard behind the scenes and doing my best to keep up with a demand that seems to be constantly increasing.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

All the Best,

Raymond