{POLL] -- Q4 Is Here. How's Your Business Faring? How Are You Driving Revenue?

Oct 7th, 2023

How's everything going as you're preparing to dive into Q4? And how are you dealing with gas prices, interest rates and more? Please take just a few minutes to fill out our monthly poll, and give us the latest, so we can let policymakers know what's really going on. (Thanks in advance for your time).

Thanks again for your input. We really appreciate it. Feel free to add any other thoughts in the comment section below, if you'd like.

To see the results of past polls, go to Alignable's Research Center. To join our new group of Newsmakers & Trendsetters, go here.

As Head of PR & a former SMB owner himself, Chuck Casto is a small business crusader. He’s deeply invested in letting national media and social influencers know what’s really happening on Main Street. From promoting our polls, to running contests celebrating member achievements, to acting as managing editor of the newsletter, Chuck's one of our chief storytellers. Before Alignable, he led branding, PR & social campaigns for companies from Haagen-Dazs to Harley-Davidson & Wendy’s to Wayfair. Prior to PR, Chuck was a TV reporter in NY, and an editor for local Gannett newspapers. Chuck holds a B.A. from Brown & an M.S.J. from Northwestern.

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Comments (1-10)

from

Commented on Sep 30th, 2023

Mr. Casto, with my 21 years sobriety, 40 years of experience in the entertainment industry (Motion Picture & Music Industries) and the experience of losing my father at 9 yrs young. I believe I can make a difference with legal, proper help of others with the same desire to give our children a better life

I legalized my foundation, "The Fatherless Foundation Inc", in 2016, after 40+ years of visions I had to help the Fatherless, which I lost my own father by a drunk driver, when I was just 9.

I've had many obstacles I've gone through or around to make sure I do NOT let down these Fatherless children in all our communities.

This is the #1 problem within all inner cities, per tenants and representatives of inner cities. "We have no father or big brothers around to help lead, guide, discipline our children. So most of course go into other "family oriented" groups (gangs, drugs, etc).

OUR CHILDREN NEED A CHANCE.

Larry Jefferson Sr from Sag-AFTRA

You are a choosen few to reach out and help those that are in need. God bless you always. In which he is daily.

from

Commented on Sep 30th, 2023

Food cost is to high . its much more than 30% ! And if I raze the prices , again! I will loose a good percentage of our local customers. I can't blame them because they are having financial problems also. It boils down to this ! To high Food cost, Liquor Cost to high, To many taxes that drain our bank account , Electric and propane gas are much to high, high cost of payroll even though I run on a skeleton crew!! And that will go up even higher when they raze the minimum wage again! We are on a treadmill , and can't get any were ! Ed Aulich / Chuds

Gail S. Trower from Interior Dimensions and Design, LLC

Here's a little "food for thought" (yes, pun intended). We were out yesterday with some longggg time friends and on the subject of exactly what you mentioned above. We no longer go to certain restaurants we used to as they stopped serving their BEST dishes as they said it was cost prohibitive. :( DUH!!! Many years ago there was a small scale eatery where all of us would go, walk-ins welcomed but reservations suggested. They served only TWO specialties per day, no special requests unless you had food alergies. there were always two choices for an acompanying salad and just one soup choice. Desert had three. Long story short the menus were set by the week and did not change--if you didn't want what being served that day, then come on the day you did like. Needless to say this eatery was NEVER without a full house and waiting list. The eatery closed down when the two ladies who owned it became elderly and went on to greener pastures. NO ONE CAN BE ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE, SO STOP TRYING! It's too expensive to do it this way. Pair down, be conservative, yet still serve the things you're famous for, just approach it in a different manner. Your true patrons will understand, and you don't need the nay-sayer. Today, there is a eatery similar to yours in a town near us she does exactly what these ladies were doing...serving what she had on her menu for that day. Call ahead or check on line to see what it is and if it works for you, otherwise visit another day. She ;makes no excuses, she's ALWAYS crammed full of customers and is still going strong running her business with the bottom line in mind. So, my story here is over...think about changing and not being "everything" all the time, just don't get rid of custo;mer favorites or you'll loose customers, but you WILL maintain their faithfullness, they will understand and be grateful you're doing things differently so you can stay in biz and they can still enjoy your eats, just on particular days.

from

Commented on Sep 30th, 2023

I’m not really sure about this . All I can say is be honest in everything you do , even if it hurts at times . People need honesty! No crap .
quality work and honesty. Times are a changing fast . If you’re not diverse in the biz . Your done . Take the small jobs and grow the honesty. Respect the customer and support them

from

Commented on Oct 1st, 2023

Our 3rd quarter faired better then I thought. Here's hoping for a good 4th quarter.

Business from Downtown Boston Boston, MA

Good to hear, Mary Ann!

from

Commented on Oct 2nd, 2023

I skipped many of the "before and after Covid" questions, because the major impact for business for me, was a couple years ago. I'm back to normal for quite some time now. End of 2020 and all of 2021 were horrible. My business has always been 100% virtual, so the entry into virtual meetings was actually a boost to my business. However, the loss of employment and income from the population, reduced my business by 50% in 2021.

Business from Downtown Boston Boston, MA

Thanks for sharing, Dana. I'm glad business is back to normal now!

from

Commented on Sep 30th, 2023

I saw the downward trend in LED sales due to the fact that LED lasts so much longer and we were running out of customers to do a Energy efficient Upgrade to . So I sold my 23 yr old company to one of the largest Manufacturers of EVCharging Stations . We will continue providing Lighting LED and Full Electrical Services but now we will be ADDING EVCHarging Stations and we will be under a new name - InCharge Energy ,INC. If the other LED Lighting service companies don.t find another service to provide they could be in trouble moving forward .

from

Commented on Oct 1st, 2023

Volleyball training: Camps, clinics, lessons. Doing well! Please visit us at www.coachhouser.com

However, I don't have time to do this poll every few months. I finally finished one, but usually get about 10 questions in and stop. I'm getting no benefits from alignable that I know of, only loss of time.

from

Commented on Sep 30th, 2023

Restaurant business is tough in this economy, but we seem to pay our bills. All our expenses continue to increase, Food,Groceries,Insurances,Payroll and Rent. In our business we do not have a choice but to increase Menu prices, or Close the doors.

Business from Near Northside Houston, TX

Down here in Houston, we pay about $25-$35 a plate on average for BBQ. It's always worth it!

from

Commented on Oct 7th, 2023

Besides being in the news business as Editor in Chief and Senior Writer for CWEB.com, I have other businesses which relate to the pulse of the economy. My freelance content writing has slowed down due to customer budget constraints. But when they stop promoting their website content, their business ends up suffering. In addition, I own an e-commerce company where we sell to Walmart etc. Consumer spending is down- plain and simple, and I see the numbers in e-commerce ahead of everyone else. We sell over 5,000 SKUs in a few categories. People are not spending as much right now due to inflation, insane gas and food prices. My advice is to market wisely and concentrate on re-marketing to current clients who are mostly likely to buy from you again. Then concentrate on getting new clients. You don't need thousands to get good content marketing- or even a website. You can do it in stages and break it down to an affordable package, and reinvest some of the profit in marketing and paying your bills etc. Be wary of those charging thousands up front. Know your budgets and think realistically and work with someone who can understand that. Most people here are small businesses. You have all taken the risk to succeed. Those that can make it in this economy certainly have thrived. Remember this saying? " Jack be nimble- Jack be quick."