Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Let's talk the busy season

First off, I know everyone's really busy this time of year but please submit your best, most ridiculous busy season stories. You'll find my email address at right.

Secondly, I got an email from a reader that asks "I'd really like to know what the company is doing on PRS, Sales, and Sits. My old studio is down nearly 70k so far, and the sits are WAY down. I was terminated because my studio was down for the first time in 13 years. (I nearly killed myself trying to "fix it")."

It's something that I, too, am interested in. I know I was catching a lot of flak when I was at SPS because I had a slump where I was at $100/month. Now I hear they're running a 70% custom conversation rate and a PRS of 90 to 95 dollars. How are things looking in your studio. Are people worried that the end is near?

And remember to submit those stories!

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

What busy season? I've been to two studios in two different states on the weekend and both had just one family in the reception area. One of those visits was the Sunday after Thanksgiving. I spoke with a 16 year manager last week and she said she's never seen anything like it. You're going down, CPI.

Anonymous said...

This year retail, in general is WAY down. It's not just CPI. Spending is extrememly less than previous years. I am no longer with CPI--I manage a chain store for company that is nationally known and we are seeing low seasonal numbers like never before. It hasn't felt like Xmas this year except for maybe 2 days. Not even black Friday. We're going to end the year with a serious deficit due to the Xmas season being so different. The next year is going to be tough for a lot of companies.

Anonymous said...

One of my favorites was the family of 5 who showed up with 3 outfits for each family member-one of those outfits being matching pajamas for a "cozy" shot of them on the Traditional Christmas bkgd. reading a book. Aww...problem was this was the last Sat. in November at noon. Needless to say, it was a 2 hour ordeal for everyone involved. All for a $9.99 pkg. and a proof sheet. CHRISTMAS ROCKS!!!

Anonymous said...

Our Studios PRS last week was 90 something.

My personal PRS was 191 and then below that was 120 and then they went down from there going all the way down to an assosciate with a $30 PRS.

we are up for the year over $9000 and our sits are up too. Weve been busy as last year, just ran more efficiently. But, I think its safe to say our last Official Christmas week was last week.

Anonymous said...

It's bad. In all the mid to low volume studios, they are eliminating the assistant manager and key associate positions. All assistant managers in those studios have the option to stay on as regular associates on associate pay.
Our sitts are up, but people just aren't spending as much. We as a studio are down over 10k for the year, and we are considered as doing 'well' compared to others in our district.
I keep my prs up around $110 minimum, but I have to fight for it, hard.

Anonymous said...

Where have you heard that they are eliminating those positions?

Anonymous said...

im asst manager and if they eliminate my Pos then im only making $1.50ess an hour LOL........ not really a huge loss.

Anonymous said...

A $1.50 an hour can add up fast especially combined with the fact that you will not be getting full time hours.

Anonymous said...

If so, then they will eliminate benefits for the assistants as well which will save the company a lot.

Anonymous said...

Ill still work all my hours. even tho ill be lower.... The Manager will still have to have someone to count on and weve been a team to long for me to just let her have all the burden. Plus, she cant work all those hrs alone like the company would expect her to do.

I dont have any benefits either.... just the $1.50

SPS said...

Conversation continues at other topic. (Or here, whatever you like best)