Retail Slowdown?

[christh]

I was reading this story from the Guardian - http://money.guardian.co.uk/businessnews/story/0,,-1928857,00.html 'High street shops are bracing themselves for a tough Christmas after takings fell by more than 9% in the first half of the year.'

Yeah, yeah, you may be thinking, it's the perennial christmas retail crunch story happening on the high street where they blame online shopping for all their woes and are 'forced' into offering discount sales early. But looking at my stats for the first two thirds of October 2005 vs the first two thirds of October 2006 - click for click my sales are well down. In certain categories my EPC is through the floor compared to this time last year.

I'll admit to resting on my laurels a bit this year; I've been concentrating on my studies much more than my affiliate marketing endeavours, but my visitor levels are definitely up on last year, yet people are spending less... I know it is hard times for many, repossessions are up, the real rate of inflation is WELL up despite the CPI being relatively low (conveniently doesn't include inflation of things such as fuel and energy costs, mortgage payments, etc.) Now it's getting colder, the increases in energy costs are surely going to hurt, and the almost certain interest rate increase next month is going to be a double-whammy for borrowers.

Well these are just my feelings on a chilly monday morning. I'm just going to have to knuckle down and work a lot harder. I'd love to hear others' thoughts and experiences on how it is out there.

Chris

[justhomdotcom]

I haven't seen any decrease in sales at all this year in fact apart from September (which was to be expected) has seen us beat our monthly target by quite a big margin.

[pricethat]

Originally Posted by justhomdotcom I haven't seen any decrease in sales at all this year in fact apart from September (which was to be expected) has seen us beat our monthly target by quite a big margin.

Yeah but you didnt account for the fact that if people are spending less in the shops then its a well known fact that they spend more on food during these times which means that they must be eating more which then in turn means that there is a lot of fat people out there that need bigger pants. Now being that they are so fat now they probably cant face the long walk down to the local slacks store so opt for the new designer range at justhom.

You know i am right............admit it and weep

[justhomdotcom]

As long as they are buying I don't care how chunky they get

acutally talking about chunky monkeys - I wonder if there any increase of sales on exercise equipment post xmas ???

[Red]

Originally Posted by justhomdotcom acutally talking about chunky monkeys - I wonder if there any increase of sales on exercise equipment post xmas ???

There is always a surge of memberships to gyms and weight loss classes! By February, however, most have given up

Not sure if that helps you sell anymore pants though!

[JustBuyOnlineLtd]

Originally Posted by Red There is always a surge of memberships to gyms and weight loss classes!

Yes, I can concur. We have some of those post-X-Mas gems too.

Originally Posted by Red By February, however, most have given up

That's why you shouldn't do 28 days returns guarantees but something like 14

j/k

[christh]

Cheers for derailing my thread guys! Well predictably after having a good moan earlier and then sitting down and doing some work for a few hours a nice few sales have come my way. This October's still rubbish though.

Also, my washing machine has decided to pack up after 10 years of loyal service so I might be in the market for some new fancy pants to stave off having to go down the laundrette

[justhomdotcom]

Originally Posted by christh I might be in the market for some new fancy pants to stave off having to go down the laundrette

Naaaa just turn em inside out and you can get in another day of wear

[pricethat]

Originally Posted by christh Cheers for derailing my thread guys!

Love it

Originally Posted by christh Also, my washing machine has decided to pack up after 10 years of loyal service so I might be in the market for some new fancy pants to stave off having to go down the laundrette

If i was nice i could of given you the url to my super duper washing machine comparison site. But i am not

[Azam.net]

LOL pricethat

Chris - we hear this doom and gloom every single year and the fact is that the economic factors seem to suggest everything opposite to what the doomsdayers predict. For example, champagne and flatscreen TV sales are at an all time high, property prices keep increasing at absurd rates and people are taking more exotic holidays than at any stage in history, ever. There's a lot of disposable income around (I'm just looking at my neighbour's house with four cars in the driveway )