Coronavirus - effects on business

[jvieira]

Seems about the same in Europe.

We're based in Portugal and started seeing the effects before you did in the US. We had 16 employees, grew by 50% in the past 2 years and were expecting another big growth this year. Shut down came whilst we were assembling a new press (almost one month later and it's still not finished, the techs stopped coming). We are now down to 4 employees and even those are working part-time.

It's been a couple weeks since we screen printed anything. It's scary!! We still get a few DTG and embroidery orders, but we're 80% down from last year. April/May are usually our best months so that percentage is bound to get to the 90% mark.

Our main markets are tourism (gone), restaurants (gone) and events (gone). Most other businesses (retail) are also closed so we barely have any customers left.


We've been making and selling masks, getting some orders through that.
The government is not allowing us to fire people but we're able to get them through a lay off system where employees get 70% of their wages and we pay 30% of those 70%. It's not ideal but it could be a lot worse (some countries in Europe don't allow any kind of changes at all). Once that ends we're going to fire most of them. We're also getting loans at low interest rates.

I expect things to get back to "normal" (not the usual normal of course) in august/september. We went almost bankrupt before the lay off system was announced but things are looking better now. Hopefully we'll survive this. It's scary seeing our labor of 14 years going down the drain in less than a month. Stay safe everyone.

[BorisB]

Seems about the same in Europe.

We're based in Portugal and started seeing the effects before you did in the US. We had 16 employees, grew by 50% in the past 2 years and were expecting another big growth this year. Shut down came whilst we were assembling a new press (almost one month later and it's still not finished, the techs stopped coming). We are now down to 4 employees and even those are working part-time.

It's been a couple weeks since we screen printed anything. It's scary!! We still get a few DTG and embroidery orders, but we're 80% down from last year. April/May are usually our best months so that percentage is bound to get to the 90% mark.

Our main markets are tourism (gone), restaurants (gone) and events (gone). Most other businesses (retail) are also closed so we barely have any customers left.


We've been making and selling masks, getting some orders through that.
The government is not allowing us to fire people but we're able to get them through a lay off system where employees get 70% of their wages and we pay 30% of those 70%. It's not ideal but it could be a lot worse (some countries in Europe don't allow any kind of changes at all). Once that ends we're going to fire most of them. We're also getting loans at low interest rates.

I expect things to get back to "normal" (not the usual normal of course) in august/september. We went almost bankrupt before the lay off system was announced but things are looking better now. Hopefully we'll survive this. It's scary seeing our labor of 14 years going down the drain in less than a month. Stay safe everyone.

About same in my country Slovenia. Since mid March when it all started we are at 5% regular order volume. Should maybe close completely, but try to keep in touch with customers despite fulfilling orders with loses. It will take very long time before we regain regular business. Off course smaller than before.

[farmboygraphics]

I've been "running" my shop alone for the past 3 weeks and another 3 to go. I started a small Local Strong campaign that really surprised me. Got me in the local paper and a radio interview and boosted me to the local market. I never expected any of that. Raised close to 7 grand. Printing the "Hero Lives Here" signs and that's going well. Online sales for our small micro roasted coffee are steady. I ran the Local Strong through the coffee site since that's where I had a web store and it's also boosted our local awareness for that. Using the time to get web stores set up properly on both sites and getting a little work in from a local printer who had to let their staff go. I honestly have no idea what my business is going to look like after this.

[GraphicDisorder]

Our state extended safer at home orders until the 30th.

From there I doubt they move it again. Our state was last state to go from the 14th to the 30th. (other than the ones that never had a lock down to start with).

So I think next week I will begin to take orders and fill our schedule and bring staff back based on that demand May 4th. I will also be applying for PPP as our bank recently decided to participate in the program. When we get approved I will bring staff back in full at that point and see if we can't kick start it again.

[blue moon]

I am actually cautiously optimistic. There has been a steady uptick in demand for our services and with the masks we are bringing in, we should be in OK shape pretty soon. Now, this does not mean we will be in pre-virus business as usual condition, but with reduced staff should be able to break even pretty soon. That folks is a plus in my book, as Greg Kitson would say, stop the bleeding first!

pierre 

[Homer]

we're starting to get the ball rolling back towards apparel, I had a number of shirt orders just drop in... We are in FULL ON mask mode so they all understand it'll be a bit before we get to it but it's looking better!! Almost there boys, we're almost there

[Nation03]

Glad to hear some optimism. Only thing I have to my advantage right now is no employees. Otherwise it's looking pretty grim on my end. North NJ is in bad shape though so that could be the reason. Doubt schools open back up so that pretty much kills my most profitable season, but I'm sure that's the case for most of us. Probably going to end up seeking full time employment somewhere else and doing this as a side gig again until I can carve out a new niche to print for.

[lancasterprinthouse]

Glad to hear some optimism. Only thing I have to my advantage right now is no employees. Otherwise it's looking pretty grim on my end. North NJ is in bad shape though so that could be the reason. Doubt schools open back up so that pretty much kills my most profitable season, but I'm sure that's the case for most of us. Probably going to end up seeking full time employment somewhere else and doing this as a side gig again until I can carve out a new niche to print for.

Here in PA it’s not looking any better. Schools already closed for the rest of the academic year. Stay in place through April 30 but I won’t be surprised if that goes longer. Haven’t had anything of size come through in over 2 weeks. Hard to be optimistic about the near future right now


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[Croft]

I guess having a big family has payed off , been running on a reduced schedule with the kids . Orders are coming so hopefully beginning of May can start calling workers back, and my kids now know why they want to stay in school 

[3Deep]

Glad some of you are getting back in the into it, as my state was one of the last to quarantine and I guess we will be the last to get back in the swing of things.

[blue moon]

Glad some of you are getting back in the into it, as my state was one of the last to quarantine and I guess we will be the last to get back in the swing of things.

this!

I posted to let you know that since OH was one of the first to lock up we are starting to see the light. So hang in there, orders will be coming. We have school work, university work, hospitals, construction companies and so on. Chances are the states hit really hard will take longer, but we are all starting to get used to this new normal and ppl are starting to order.
Hang in there, there's a little white dot on the other end of the tunnel. hopefully it is not a train!

pierre

[brandon]

Web stores. Now is the time to dive in if haven't already. If you can sell even just 50 to 100 tees a day at retail pricing that can cover a lot of overhead if you are a small shop. If you don't have one find a niche now and work it

[lancasterprinthouse]

Web stores. Now is the time to dive in if haven't already. If you can sell even just 50 to 100 tees a day at retail pricing that can cover a lot of overhead if you are a small shop. If you don't have one find a niche now and work it

Agreed. We sold 300 shirts this past week on web stores. Obviously a lot more work than just a 300 piece order but also a higher margin. It covered our expenses for the next month or more.


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[inkman996]

Not looking any better in Connecticut, the cases and deaths are rising by the day not going the other way yet.

I know three people personally that have gotten the virus and sadly my ex mother in law in PA passed from it.

[GraphicDisorder]

How is everyone making out?

We got PPP funded today. We brought back staff Monday. We are busy. Not like covered up but id say we are above average sales this week depending on how tomorrow finishes.