Is the economy holding back buying a new bow or supplies

[Ray Hammond]

I can tell you this- at the Trad Expo this year- I was told they have NEVER had the number of custom bows leaving the building sold that they had THIS YEAR so the way I look at it-

if unemployment is 8.2 or 8.6 percent that means  92 percent of the people out there still have jobs. If our economic output is 1.5 percent lower that means its on track for 98.5 percent to still take place.

Of course its directly impacting those who've been laid off..its real for them. I was out of work six months last year...you don't have to tell me how difficult it can be. But my hunting is getting booked up this year AND into 2010. I'd say a lot of people are doing OK.

[Bjorn]

Fortunately for us it has been business as usual; but we never lived beyond our means anyway.

[TNstickn]

I have a small construction business... I think...gone from 11 emloyees down to 1 helper. I really enjoy what I do. I hope I can ride this out. It has an impacted everything my family does. We are all determined to keep on keeping on.

[Dartwick]

Im only working a few days a week so far this year - so year the economy is effecting everything I do that requires money.

[Rick Butler]

I'm pretty fortunate as both my wife and I are Registered Nurses with many years of seniority at the Hospital where we work. So far we have'nt been directly impacted by the current economy, but we're much more cautious in our spending just the same.

[DngrsDan]

Recession = when your neighbor loses his job.
Depression = when you lose your job.
Recovery = when Obama loses his job.

[jimmerc]

Yes, we feel it, I've been working 32 hours since feb first, had to cut way back on everything!! just dreaming of a new bow,thats all i can do for awhile!! The good news is we got everything caught up and most stuff paid off before things got bad, so if things in the ecom start picking up we will be looking pretty!!

[vtmtnman]

You guys think you're sad...

My hours haven't changed...in fact I've started working a little over time.The only thing keeping me from buying a new bow is what I make weekly.Which is probably what some of you make on cut back hours.

[James Wrenn]

My bussiness is in the dumps right now.Layed off all my help but one guy and am scatching trying to find enough work to keep him on.Like many I am just trying to make it through untill things get better.I still might but stuff but now will sell something to help cover it as far as archery is concerned.Life goes on and things change every day.We just hang in there untill it changes our way.  

[WESTBROOK]

I work for a small electrical contractor, normally 6 guys, we are down to 4 but that is normal for for this neck of the woods in the winter. Actually suprised (and Thankfull) that we have got 40hr/wk all winter.

Watching our $$ though, no big purchases, just the necessities, feathers and a few shafts...

Eric

[DngrsDan]

Was told last week that we're closing the doors the end of this week.
Yeah....cutting back.

[sethdiggs]

Yep. Because of the economy, the local Food Lion (Grocery Store) isn't hiring so I can't work there to make money for bows. Instead, I have to work for my granddad doing jobs such as painting a steep roof and before too long, cutting grass.    :(  
I am thankful to have a job though.    

[unclewhit]

I finaly found a job, after six long months of layoff. I'm working for the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. It's a not for profit orginization, and we rely on the public to fund us, well bottom line is folks just aren't spending, so the belt got tightend and hours got shortened. But I'm glad to be working even if it's not 40 hrs. a week.

[cahaba]

A song comes to mind

" Somebody told us wallstreet fell. We was so poor that we couldnt tell" Alabama

We are blessed but we are not making any major purchases. The cost of food is outrageous. I hope my garden does well this year.

[blind one]

I work for an excavating company. I normally get laid off around Jan 1st until around March 1st. We depend on the new house market for our work. This year it was a month early for the layoff and still not sure when we will get called back. I buy used in good condition or trade now. Hopefully it will get better for us all...Roy

[Horne Shooter]

I just cancelled my bear hunt in Alberta this Spring.  I'm still going to Africa this fall but I'm doing it with accumulated air miles and money from a second job.  I have no confidence in the folks running the show right now.

[TradPaul]

Yeah We're feeling the pinch. I once had a large and successful Concrete company in NC, but due to the economic slump that started a year ago it has forced almost all of my builders to stop construction, which put us out of business. We went from 25 employees, 20 subs, 3 trucks, many peices of equipement and our home.  to all but one vehicle, We're renting, I'm back to various remodeling and handyman jobs with one helper, and i'm 34K in debt and possibly looking at chapter 7, but with all that being said, I have one amazing custom shooter left after selling my others(Border, RER, Ferguson, Fox, Bruin, Wallace..etc) My wife and I are doing better than ever, and my two boys are always a blessing. Every step of every day is in faith, and I have never been happier. plus next week i'm going to visit Lukas at Saluki      

Shooting bows and breaking knocks still brings that big 'ol smile to my face.

Keep your heads up guys...


P.

[Orion]

It's interesting that three or four folks attribute the current economic situation to the present administration.  It's been in office two months and is trying to clean up the mess left by Bush and his cronies.  Most of us are hurting, but if we're going to point fingers, lets point them in the right direction.

[knife river]

Couldn't agree with you more, Orion.  Better still, why are we talking about politics at all?  I thought this was a trad archery site.  

Frankly, I'm none too interested in whether a person is republican or democrat.  Same goes for religion.  There are internet forums out the wazoo for those topics (like the politics section of Trad Gang).  Maybe it's just me (but probably not judging by the emails and phone calls I get), but why can't we exercise a little self-restraint and mutual respect and not try to force-feed our politics to other folks on PowWow?  Some of the signature lines I see look great as bumper stickers, but that's where they belong -- not here.

It's all about mutual respect, civility, and keeping on topic -- traditional archery.

My $0.02's worth.  I feel better now.         Thanks, friends, for letting me get that off my chest.    

[Bob Sarrels]

We are also blessed.  My wife has a good paying job working for U.T. and my bow sales are at their highest.  We  have alwas lived within our budget and payed for every thing we needed with cash.  A little money hidaway for emergencies has been hit a couple of times when we needed it but were able to refill it fairly quickly.  My brother lost his job some months back and had to move to another city to gain employment.  I feel for those that have lost jobs and pray things will get better soon.  I think this thing will last for more than a year but am old enough to remember worst times.  Altho , not worst managers.