A heated discussion recently erupted in the office, centering on which businesses within a Shopping Centre/Main Street setting are weathering the recession storm well, and it was suggested that gambling is one of those rare sectors which actually thrives while other businesses flounder due to a bad economy. I had to check this out to settle a point and I though I’d share what I found…

In the US there are reports that casinos are seeing a steady footfall but some customers have cut their spend by up to 50%.  In Vegas for example, casino gambling is said to have fallen 15% last year, and shares in the MGM Mirage and Las Vegas Sands fell 95% in the year to March.  Lotteries in the US report a fall in the region of 5% – so it seems that consumers in the lottery habit are more reluctant to change their ways.

Back home in Ireland, it would be reasonable to assume that, given our extreme difficulties compared to international trends, our gambling indutry may be feeling more of an impact.  Indeed as early as July 2008, The Irish Examiner reported that Bookmakers takings were down 17% on the previous year.  The tote’s figures also declined but by a smaller amount, down €279000 to 25.7 million.

In the case of arcade gambling, Pachinko, the wildly popular slot/pinball game found on every Japanese street corner, positively thrived in the 1990s recession there, and evidence suggests that despite a 12% contraction in the Japanese Economy in the final quarter of last year, Pachinko takings rose by .5% in the same period, and by .9% this January alone.

So perhaps gambling is not the worst business to be in at the minute.  But what are the other industries thought to buck the trend in a recession?

Some are predictable, such as:

• Second Hand Selling
• Debt Collection Agencies
• Repair Services
• DIY supliers
• Education and Retraining/Reskilling services
• Healthcare & Counselling

Some seem less obvious though:

• Video Games – perhaps because people are staying in to save cash – I have heard that takeaways and DVD rental is booming but the video games one is news to me!
• Ultra Luxury Items – the thinking is that the ultra-gazillionaires who buy these items are not necessarily affected by the recession, so private jets and private islands etc. are still in demand
• Motor Vehicle Towing – perhaps people skimp on maintaining and servicing their cars so they suffer more breakdowns
• Self Storage – people downsizing their homes need to store their belongings until things pick up

Read the full lists here, here and here and let me know your thoughts.

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We are now closed for the Christmas and New Year break! Have a great festive season.

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12 months after our first e-newletter was published, you can access an archive of our newsletters below…

December ‘07
January ‘08
April ‘08
June ‘08
October ‘08
December ‘08

And you can join our mailing list here…

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As regular readers of this blog will know, on Friday 27^th June we celebrated 20 years in business with a bit of a party in our new showroom in Clonshaugh Dublin 17. The purpose of the event was three-fold: firstly, to welcome customers, potential customers and suppliers in to our new premises and show them around. Secondly, we wanted to show off our new Modular Custom Build showroom display, which we feel is worth shouting about, as it is totally reusable and customizable, has fabric, graphic and backlit panels, and incorporates a lockable room, a canopy, bar area with seating and plasma screens, as well as more traditional display elements. Finally, we wanted to have a little bit of fun as a ‘thank you’ to our customers, suppliers and staff.

The run up to the event was extremely busy, with invitations to design, print and send, goody bags to fill, and the showroom display to erect and perfect. On top of these tasks we also had to finish off general painting and decorating which had been outstanding since our move in January.

On the day itself, preparations started early, with the caterers and band arriving to setup in the early afternoon. Nicola Watkins, our PR consultant, and Michael Chester, our photographer for the event, arrived around lunchtime, and soon after that customers, friends, suppliers and interested parties started to come through the doors at an fairly hectic pace. People were free to relax with a glass of wine, or to take a tour of the building, or to have a giggle at our display of old photos, ranging from staff members in their bell bottoms to the first ‘button and band’ Pop Up displays – (they both seemed like the height of style and technology at the time!). Further entertainment was provided by Caricature Artist, Mark Heng, who had people queuing up for a ‘flattering’ caricature drawing to take home. Company Owners Colette & Larry were presented with flowers and a John Rocha Waterford Crystal Vase by the management, and the hardcore customers and staff members continued the party late into the night. Thanks to everyone who came along to make it such a special day for us.

Thanks to:

Nicola Watkins, of Nicola Watkins PR.

Michael Chester, Photographer, http://www.chester.ie/

Mark Heng, Caricaturist, http://markheng.com/

Little Bites Catering, http://www.littlebites.ie

Jim Farley & his Band

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Well, we are well and truly moved in now and impressed by the newness and size of the new place. However we have had continuous problems with our broadband lines. Each time one problems is solved, a new one crops up it seems. So please if you are having any difficulty sending emails to us or receiving mails from us please pick up the phone and let us now. Our new phone number is 01 8712300.

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Applied Signs & Display have finally relocated to a new purpose-built premises in Clonshaugh’s Whilsborough Business Centre. The move to the 8000 square foot property will allow us to streamline printing and finishing processes and to increase production levels as well as diversifying our product and service range. A third of the building has been dedicated as show room space, where a 30 square metre reusable Custom Built exhibition stand will be on permanent display. The new property also boasts a state-of-the-art design studio and a multimedia training area, so these are aspects of the business that we will be looking to ramp up in the coming year. This move coincides with the 20^th anniversary year of the establishment of Applied Signs & Display, which was set up in Dublin in 1988. Click here for a map to our new premises.

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Applied Signs & Display will reopen after the Christmas break on Wednesday 2nd January. We will be preparing to move premises the following week, but work will continue as normal throughout to move. Further details will be posted as they arise. Happy New Year!

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