Anyone else freakishly slow this year?

ChrisOTS

ChrisOTS

Location
Goderich, Ontario
I am in southwestern Ontario, and we have had a bad start to the year so far. This time last year we were doing some good full weeks, but this year, be it job shortages or just the economy, there is hardly any climbing to do. People just don't want to spend money around here.

Curious how everyone else is faring? We are just a small company of 3 guys. I miss those at least 40 hour weeks, and so does my bank account.
 
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I am in southwestern Ontario, and we have had a bad start to the year so far. This time last year we were doing some good full weeks, but this year, be it job shortages or just the economy, there is hardly any climbing to do. People just don't want to spend money around here.

Curious how everyone else is faring? We are just a small company of 3 guys. I miss those at least 40 hour weeks, and so does my bank account.

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It's the opposite for me here, I have 2 fulltime employees, 4 part time, and we can barely keep up with the work coming in, plus my 3 commercial contracts. Scary thing is we haven't had any bad storms yet! That's when things get crazy! Yeah can't complain, I just don't really want to grow much bigger (yet)
 
We've been buried since the october snow storm. 8-9 guys full time, backlogged for months. And we're in a relatively small market as well.
 
southeastern Ontario, and it is not near as busy as it was last season and the season before. Lots of fly by nite dudes doing treework now too, ladders and chainsaws...lol april and early may were quite cold and wet, hopefully , it pics up soon :)
 
slow down here....crane's down. Anyone know what kind of wiring harness goes with a terex 4792 on a '06 sterling 26k GVW CAT diesel....I won't hold my breath.
 
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We've been buried since the october snow storm. 8-9 guys full time, backlogged for months. And we're in a relatively small market as well.

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How do you get people to wait "for months" for their work to be done?

Mass. seems to be clearly the tree work capital of the universe. Tree services which own their own cranes are commonplace. Prices for work are high ($2500 a day for 3 men and a 75'er), and the work is busy all year round. Go figure.
 
We are debating trying to sub out our crew to Davey, and do some work in cities till things pick up.
I think the government job cuts have a lit to do with my area, we lost 2 of the 3 main industries in the past 5 years in Goderich, and we were stomped with a tornado last year.

I am noticing a rise in fly by nighters too, luckily they aren't insured for damage, so when something goes wrong, we will be called in to save the day.
Gibson, I am a fan of your stuff on youtube. Good to see you on the Buzz.
 
I had a record breaking winter due to the October snow storm. However for the last month or so things have been really slow. The stuff I've been doing lately has been little jobs for regulars... pruning ornamentals, or 1 little removal, etc. The nice removal work I've looked at has been going for DIRT cheap. I've got a few theories on why this is though.

1. People were getting work done this winter which normally is not the case, so I think they got a lot of stuff out of the way at that point... so the pressure is off.

2. People spent their money this past winter and want to hold off on spending any more money on their trees.

3. We didn't have a real winter with snow that kept people inside, so that spring fever never really happened.

4. The spring was strange, hotter than normal, and dryer... and I think that had an influence on how people percieved their seasons and what is involced with those times of year.
 
S.A.D.



Seasonal Affective Disorder. We just didn't have a winter. Few are spending like normal, but some are spending more.
 
Yes.

Work is getting done in hours in this area. Even the complex jobs are being done in days. Prices have taken a severe beat down. Need a good storm to put everyone into the months of backup.

We are doing ok, not great, but OK.

Trees are having the bomb of a year so far. Hope the water doesn't get shut off.
 
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3. We didn't have a real winter with snow that kept people inside, so that spring fever never really happened.

4. The spring was strange, hotter than normal, and dryer... and I think that had an influence on how people percieved their seasons and what is involced with those times of year.

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These are really good points and I agree with them.
 
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3. We didn't have a real winter with snow that kept people inside, so that spring fever never really happened.

4. The spring was strange, hotter than normal, and dryer... and I think that had an influence on how people percieved their seasons and what is involced with those times of year.

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These are really good points and I agree with them.

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me too
 
Doing jobs the day after they're sold. I know most of the shops in town that cater primarily to residential are getting into uncomfortable territory, though we are somewhat insulated with the contract work. Let's hope we don't exhaust that supply any time soon.

Cmon storm.
 
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