Battling the slump with beer and barbeque

From Charles, Hickory NC

As the economy gets worse, people will have to focus on things that are NEEDED, not luxuries.

A recovery is supposed to be in the works in the midst of increased savings, declining debt balances on credit cards, more bankruptcies, higher unemployment and new wave of foreclosures. Consumer participation in GDP is down from 72% to 70.4%. Bank and other financial firms’ balance sheets are what they say they are and we have a stock market bear rally built on sand just as we had in 1931. And, lest we forget, bogus government statistics calculated to confuse professionals and investors alike.

What an upside down world. How do you make money when you are losing money? Wait until late July and in August when the second quarter earnings are released by financial firms. They won’t be pleasant reading. The market rally and much of the earnings are simply fraud. Wall Street and investors simply shrug their shoulders and look away. They know but they do not want to know. Ever present in the scams is the SEC, which has never seen a major firm they did not like. Acting on violations only when forced too at large firms and perpetually pursuing the small and medium sized brokers and brokerage firms and newsletter writers. Then there is the veracity of our government for which few have any respect, trust or confidence.

With that in mind, and on the table… I say, beer and barbeque are great, but will they pay your bills? If not, kill the ranch, and concentrate solely on the things that bring you the greatest amount of profit, with the least amount of expense. Diversify your product line, and sell directly to large distributors such as walmart, and charge enough to make a profit.

Otherwise, close down operations, and find useful uses for your property… like creating a farm, etc… whatever cost you the least amount of money, and nets you the greatest profit… and rip out everything else.

From Delmer Newton Choctaw, Ok. 73020

Shut it down until things get better….go on a vacation and when you get back re-open with bigger website and attitudes. Or sell out and move on!

From Mark Olson, Pasadena, MD

Since times are lean, market the ranch as not only a corporate getaway, but as a place where you can bring your family during a business trip (a vacation/business trip all in one). I'm sure many kids would love the ranch experience. You could provide special deals like 'kids under 5 eat free', etc. If the kids like it, it's likely the parents will too. Also, if the companies that would typically attend the ranch meetings are having financial issues, the companies could ask their workers to give up one week of vacation for a paid business trip/family vacation…taking some financial stress off of the families and companies. That is, a company paying for a one week business trip may actually be spending less than paying an employee for one week of paid leave…and the employees wouldn't have to pay for their stay. Of course, employees would still have to do some work, attend meetings, etc…but it would probably still be fun for the employees, and definitely a good time for their families.