Michigan - Paint Talk

crash1 · 02-08-2010, 08:23 PM

Can anyone tell me how business is in Michigan? I live in Sacramento, CA and I am thinking about moving back to MI. I hear its bad but so is California. I do mostly commercial & industrial work.

Thank you

**Workaholic** · 02-08-2010, 08:30 PM

Not my area but I imagine it is much like anywhere. Some are thriving while others are dying.

Wolfgang · 02-08-2010, 08:57 PM

There are a few members from Michigan on this forum on a regular basis. Be patient.

michfan · 02-08-2010, 09:04 PM

My .02 would be if you are doing fine in California and keeping your head above water, stay put. It's not a good time anywhere in the country for construction or skilled trades. Combine that with the mess here in Michigan and its downright scary. I love Michigan. I consider it "home", but it is tough. Now I'm not saying it can't be done by any means, but its not easy. Then again, whoever said running a business was easy, right?

One Coat Coverage · 02-08-2010, 09:18 PM

I would take Cali over Michigan any day! No disrespect to the Mich guys, I'm from Cleveland, pretty much the same place.

DeanV · 02-08-2010, 09:37 PM

Right now, I would not move here. We have a ways to go to recover. The east side is worse than the west, but neither is good. Where I am is an odd market that even the national paint manufacturers know is an odd market where people want quality for cheap (I know, everyone thinks that is everywhere but it is worse here than most places in the country). Commercial has been affected as much as residential with the downturn in the economy.

johnpaint · 02-08-2010, 10:22 PM

Who in the hell would want to do that?

high fibre · 02-08-2010, 11:39 PM

i would not move to michigan an attempt to start a painting company at this time.

that sounds like a tough gig.

the phone calls here have slowed down 70%

NCPaint1 · 02-09-2010, 11:52 AM

Right now Michigan =

johnpaint · 02-09-2010, 12:18 PM

Don't you have to carry a piece to live there?

crash1 · 02-09-2010, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by high fibre

i would not move to michigan an attempt to start a painting company at this time.

that sounds like a tough gig.

the phone calls here have slowed down 70%

I have some old contacts there and friends in the construction busines.

crash1 · 02-09-2010, 04:50 PM

I carry a piece here in sacramento......

crash1 · 02-09-2010, 05:03 PM

I don't think people understand how bad CA is. I used to keep 6/7 people busy 7 days a week, all year long. 90% of my business was repeat business-I thought that would keep me busy whene others were dead in the water. From just a year ago, I have done absolutly no private work, and my phone stopped ringing. All I have is government work going rite now. If it was not for the court and jail system , I would be in big troubble. I miss the industrial work too.

crash1 · 02-09-2010, 05:06 PM

Thank you for all your posts!!!

WisePainter · 02-09-2010, 05:20 PM

Originally from Cali, lived in MI. for 6 years...stay put. Left MI to scope out Florida due to lack of work.
Michigan economy is based entirely on the auto industry, they are not doing well at the moment.

crash1 · 02-09-2010, 05:33 PM

I'm assuming Michigan is just as bad as California, however here taxes went up and prices are quite high. How is Florida?

crash1 · 02-09-2010, 05:37 PM

I don't know of any contractors currently thriving in Sac --what type of work do you do?

crash1 · 02-09-2010, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michfan

My .02 would be if you are doing fine in California and keeping your head above water, stay put. It's not a good time anywhere in the country for construction or skilled trades. Combine that with the mess here in Michigan and its downright scary. I love Michigan. I consider it "home", but it is tough. Now I'm not saying it can't be done by any means, but its not easy. Then again, whoever said running a business was easy, right?

I hear ya.......... This is a tough business. Michigan is and always will be home to me too. Thank you for your reply. I need to call the builders exchange in MI. They usually can guage how much work is going on. I glad I posted here I am getting alot of feed-back. You guys are great........ ty.......

painttofish · 02-09-2010, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnpaint

Don't you have to carry a piece to live there?

Yep. Here in N MI it's called a 30-06 semi automatic aimed at you stinky hippies in Portland

painttofish · 02-09-2010, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crash1

I'm assuming Michigan is just as bad as California

I think you may be under estimating Michigan's badness. I think we've got like 58% unemployment.

Move to Houston. Good strong economy and Brian needs the competition.