How is business doing for you? (sales, 2009, financial, profit)

[Humanoid]

There was a post like this a bit ago, but I'm curious how business is going for anybody that runs their own business or those that know the financial details of the businesses they work for.

Our gross sales are down from last year, but we dropped (some cases voluntarily, others not) a few of our least profitable sales channels so profit wise we are doing about the same as last year.

[mbuszu]

Going well for me, but this is the season I would expect that, and like you, we've worked to maintain profit through some sales channel and operational tweaking. I have been preparing for some tough times ahead as all the media reports about a global economic crisis may spook potential customers and in general those who have decent income but are worried of the future. Overall, I'm remaining optimistic that with new US Fed Govt leadership taking over in early 2009 things will finally be put back on track at the Government level which will aid the economy.

From what I can tell nearly every business owner is experiencing some sales shortfalls compared to last year, but many feel that things will be bottoming out shortly. The ones hardest hit appear to be the mid to large sized businesses who didn't see the sales slowdown coming (and who count on continue growth and expansion to keep stockholders or stakeholders happy).

[forest beekeeper]

We have not seen any drop in gross yet. That has been very steady for us.

[Driller1]

Just about the same as last year. The good news is one of our biggest competitors didn't make it.

[bale002]

Suffered a slowdown in September and October, the peak of the crisis, rebounded to a new record for the month of November, December at or slightly above last year's record pace for that month.