Are you tired of bad news from the economic forecasters, the fed chairman, the talking heads in the media, and your neighbor down the street bemoaning his problems or any other naysayer?  Here is a current update from the real world as I’ve been seeing it lately.

Yesterday, I was thinking about how busy I have been.  Over the last week I have been to Carson City, Minden, Gardnerville, South Lake Tahoe, Incline Village, all over Reno and Sparks and I am probably forgetting a place or two.  I called one of my fabric suppliers to place an order and asked how business was; he said that things had really picked up.  I stopped at one of my art suppliers and asked how business was; she said that things were picking up.  I called my drapery workroom and asked them how business is and they were happy to say that things are picking up.

I have no idea why things are changing, but if you are like me, you don’t care.  We are just happy that the phone is ringing and we are able to provide our services to the people of the area.

There are some benefits that come from these economic downturns, namely, a refining of the businesses that survive it.  When business was fast and furious from about 2002-05, it seemed like anyone and everyone was hanging a shingle and making a pretty good success of their business.  When things turned around, the opposite was true.  My manufacturer’s representatives were constantly telling me that their clients’ businesses were shutting down.  Only the strong survive.  Since we have been in a recession for quite a while now, the market has been sifted, and probably only those who are professional and responsible are still in business.

As a result, customers and businesses are well positioned to find each other.  The customers are finding a newfound sense of confidence in the market and the businesses are fine-tuned in their ability to really respond to the needs of their customers.  The market has adjusted from a price focus to a service focus, and smart businesses are making sure that they are providing the exact services that their clients want.

I am sure that the end of turbulent times is still a ways off into the future, but I for one am very glad that things are changing for the better.