[Carl2009]

What do you believe the next threat to your business could be?

Whilst I am in a great position just now, I never rest on my laurels. If I were to do a SWOT analysis one of the threats would be the "Cost of living debate" that has reared its head now the economy has started to move in a positive direction.

Given the recent good news on the economy, and just like any opportunist political party in opposition would, Labour have started to look for the next stick to beat the Government with. The hike in electric prices and stubborn inflation rate coupled with the static wage rises the general public are experiencing gives them an ideal subject to debate. It's undeniable that the cost of living has increased but it's only now that it has really become a hot news topic.

I believe that back in 2008 Robert Peston and the BBC (http://www.open.edu/openlearn/society/politics-policy-people/economics/has-robert-peston-caused-recession-social-amplification-performativity-and-risks-financial-markets) helped cause or at any rate help speed along the recession we experienced. If this new debate carries on it could well impact us providers of a luxury service as signs of growth are not seen at a consumer level, yet the price of utilities will make an immediate and easy to feel impact. I have lost 2 customers of many years standing just recently due to having to make cutbacks in their outgoings. Whilst I have gained more than I have lost since April I am expecting more to either stop me or change frequency as a direct result of this debate and the impact of larger winter bills.

We can do our bit to help prevent another recession. Whenever anyone asks me how business is I always say i'm flat out or couldn't be better. This leaves people thinking that things are not all doom and gloom. If we start talking the economy etc. down it will spread and before we know it we'll be in a triple dip.

Just my own opinion.

[bobplum]

the biggest threat to my business at this moment is the part needed for the power steering is lost and my van is off the road for another day

In the next hour or two i have to make a decision as to whether to rent a van for a few days

[deeege]

Plagues of Romanian window cleaners that are about to hit our shores and take all our work.

[Small but perfectley formed]

All this rain  , different day same poop

[Don Kee]

Firemen....

Joking, joking, no need for another debate 

[Pro-Poler]

What do you believe the next threat to your business could be?

Whilst I am in a great position just now, I never rest on my laurels. If I were to do a SWOT analysis one of the threats would be the "Cost of living debate" that has reared its head now the economy has started to move in a positive direction.

Given the recent good news on the economy, and just like any opportunist political party in opposition would, Labour have started to look for the next stick to beat the Government with. The hike in electric prices and stubborn inflation rate coupled with the static wage rises the general public are experiencing gives them an ideal subject to debate. It's undeniable that the cost of living has increased but it's only now that it has really become a hot news topic.

I believe that back in 2008 Robert Peston and the BBC (http://www.open.edu/openlearn/society/politics-policy-people/economics/has-robert-peston-caused-recession-social-amplification-performativity-and-risks-financial-markets) helped cause or at any rate help speed along the recession we experienced. If this new debate carries on it could well impact us providers of a luxury service as signs of growth are not seen at a consumer level, yet the price of utilities will make an immediate and easy to feel impact. I have lost 2 customers of many years standing just recently due to having to make cutbacks in their outgoings. Whilst I have gained more than I have lost since April I am expecting more to either stop me or change frequency as a direct result of this debate and the impact of larger winter bills.

We can do our bit to help prevent another recession. Whenever anyone asks me how business is I always say i'm flat out or couldn't be better. This leaves people thinking that things are not all doom and gloom. If we start talking the economy etc. down it will spread and before we know it we'll be in a triple dip.

Just my own opinion.

What's this good news on the ecocomy then?

[sunshine windies]

The majority if these issues , weather , cost of living, are external factors outside your control as such I don't believe they would be factored into a swot analysis

Regards
Scott

[Dean Taberner]

I'm the biggest threat to my business, because I don't think that I like windows anymore.

[MATT BATEMAN (OWC)]

Im also the biggest threat to my business. If I have the motivation to succeed nothing will get in my way, if I don't, my business goes down the swanny.

[Geoff]

My own laziness.  Then again, I couldn't get much more lazy than this, so if this is rock bottom, then there's no risk of losing anything.

It really pays to have low aspirations, that's why I lick windows.

[Carl2009]

The majority if these issues , weather , cost of living, are external factors outside your control as such I don't believe they would be factored into a swot analysis

Regards
Scott

Hi Scott,
Even though they are outside of your control they should be considered and factored in. It's a bit like a risk assessment - it might be unlikely to happen, but you need to have thought about it, even if the response is to do/that you can do nothing about it.

[Carl2009]

What's this good news on the ecocomy then?

See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24799507 Come on, keep up 

[Pro-Poler]

What's this good news on the ecocomy then?

See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24799507 Come on, keep up  

Keep up with what? , reports like this were highlighted by another ill informed window cleaner on another site a few years back , independent financial experts all agree household budgets are to be further stretched for years to come, wages have been cut or frozen, cost of living has risen between 20 and 30%, these increases in output are just numerical stats which cloud reality, fact is we'd couldn't get any lower economically so there have been blips at times and growth has shown small increases at times but any benefits are not trickling down to families and making their lives easier. Half of all families are living in poverty, energy bills have reached extortionate levels whilst the utility companies further profits, petrol and diesel at all time high, food prices have increased by 30% in the last 5 years and we have a million under 25s without a job all this in the 5th richest economy in the world, my advice start looking for millionaire customers because household budgets are feeling the pinch and the first things to go are luxurys yes and that includes window cleaning  

[Frankybadboy]

What's this good news on the ecocomy then?

See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24799507 Come on, keep up  

Keep up with what? , reports like this were highlighted by another ill informed window cleaner on another site a few years back , independent financial experts all agree household budgets are to be further stretched for years to come, wages have been cut or frozen, cost of living has risen between 20 and 30%, these increases in output are just numerical stats which cloud reality, fact is we'd couldn't get any lower economically so there have been blips at times and growth has shown small increases at times but any benefits are not trickling down to families and making their lives easier. Half of all families are living in poverty, energy bills have reached extortionate levels whilst the utility companies further profits, petrol and diesel at all time high, food prices have increased by 30% in the last 5 years and we have a million under 25s without a job all this in the 5th richest economy in the world, my advice start looking for millionaire customers because household budgets are feeling the pinch and the first things to go are luxurys yes and that includes window cleaning  

mr doom barby knew this was just up your street,

[Pro-Poler]

What's this good news on the ecocomy then?

See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24799507 Come on, keep up  

Keep up with what? , reports like this were highlighted by another ill informed window cleaner on another site a few years back , independent financial experts all agree household budgets are to be further stretched for years to come, wages have been cut or frozen, cost of living has risen between 20 and 30%, these increases in output are just numerical stats which cloud reality, fact is we'd couldn't get any lower economically so there have been blips at times and growth has shown small increases at times but any benefits are not trickling down to families and making their lives easier. Half of all families are living in poverty, energy bills have reached extortionate levels whilst the utility companies further profits, petrol and diesel at all time high, food prices have increased by 30% in the last 5 years and we have a million under 25s without a job all this in the 5th richest economy in the world, my advice start looking for millionaire customers because household budgets are feeling the pinch and the first things to go are luxurys yes and that includes window cleaning  

mr doom barby knew this was just up your street,

Brains like yours Franky can get window cleaners a bad reputation, some people might even suggest you are thick, OH BUT THEN HOLD ON A BIT

[Pro-Poler]

I thought that poster was always slagging this site off, too quiet on the other one is it? Get bored did we?  

[Frankybadboy]

Mr doom and gloom barby



get out in the rain and charge them £3 houses you do


some people like yourself barby you just cant educate 

[Carl2009]

What's this good news on the ecocomy then?

See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24799507 Come on, keep up  

Keep up with what? , reports like this were highlighted by another ill informed window cleaner on another site a few years back , independent financial experts all agree household budgets are to be further stretched for years to come, wages have been cut or frozen, cost of living has risen between 20 and 30%, these increases in output are just numerical stats which cloud reality, fact is we'd couldn't get any lower economically so there have been blips at times and growth has shown small increases at times but any benefits are not trickling down to families and making their lives easier. Half of all families are living in poverty, energy bills have reached extortionate levels whilst the utility companies further profits, petrol and diesel at all time high, food prices have increased by 30% in the last 5 years and we have a million under 25s without a job all this in the 5th richest economy in the world, my advice start looking for millionaire customers because household budgets are feeling the pinch and the first things to go are luxurys yes and that includes window cleaning  

You're missing the point of my original post. I said that the economy is picking up - which it is - but that families don't feel it - which they don't, hence I disagreeertion that all this banging on about the cost of living could be a threat to our business. Statistics show that business (albeit big business) is picking up nicely - house builders, Primark, the utility companies, the list is endless. Stats also show that people are feeling no benefit from this pick up.

Mind you, can you show me a piece of acknowledged statistical evidence to back up your statement that "half of all families are living in poverty". Many are hard up, but many are not - from my own circle of family and friends I know of no-one who is even close to struggling.

[Dave Mills]

 The percentage of individuals in relative low income, Before Housing Costs
(BHC), was 16 per cent. This is unchanged from 2010/11 and continues the
lowest level since the 1980s. Levels remained static because, in the main, real
incomes for households near the bottom of the income distribution fell by roughly
the same rate as real incomes for households at the average.


In 2011/12, the percentage of individuals in absolute low income,
measured against the 2010/11 baseline, was 17 per cent BHC, which is one percentage
point, or 900,000 people, higher than in 2010/11. As incomes across the
distribution grew by less than RPI inflation in 2011/12, and the absolute low-
income threshold was uprated by RPI inflation, the population falling into
absolute low income rose.

ONS: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/206850/first_release_1112.pdf

Nowhere near 50%

There really is some b****cks spouted on this site. Firemen claiming youll be in two serious fires in your lifetime (clue: You wont).  People talking tripe about poverty.

Anyone would think we were just a bunch of thick window cleaners making up facts as we go along.

[PoleKing]

There's no such thing as being 'poor' anymore.
Even the 'poorest' people in our country live like absolute kings compared to the actual poor around the world.
The thread in the OP-threat will only be in the customers head, not reality.
In a couple of years time a packet of fAgs will be £10.
They'll buy them.