We are one of the "lucky" ones.  In an industry that has been

decimated by the downturn in housing, we are actually posting double digit

gains this year.  We use no bank financing and have no debt.  After the boom years of 2003-2006, businesses should have been able to sock away some money for a rainy day.  You gotta run your business like you run your personal life.  Have some cash ready for when the deals come or the slow down starts.

Having done this allows us to ride out any slow times without significant worry.  And even

with gas prices increasing 50% this year (and at the gas station down the

street here in San Francisco, it is still $4.39/gal.), we are still able to provide free delivery to

all of our San Francisco Bay Area Clients.  We achieve this by spending

close to $100,000 a year advertising our showroom and website BuildASofa.com

Our 3 block long furniture district in San Francisco

had 19 showrooms 3 years ago.  Now the same area has 8.  We are

unique in that we only handle custom built sofas, and we have ZERO imported

goods.  Everything is made by hand in California.

I know that is hard to believe but it is true.  There is no reason to ship

all those jobs overseas, the cost differential just isn't that great

anymore.  Better quality products can be made in the U.S.

with faster turnaround times.

I think that if small companies just watch their inventory and don't

spend where they don't need to, but continue to advertise, they will weather

this downturn.  It may get tough, but it is still better to be self employed than be working for someone else...