With Labor Day barbecues now behind us, the traditional summer season has come to an end. Many adults are heading back to work and children are going back to school. For some businesses, summer is a slow season; others see little seasonal variation. The Business Journal Forum asks:
Are you expecting a pickup in your business now that summer is over?
Tommy McGloin
General Manager
Digital City Inc.
Yes. I expect it’s going to pick up. Things have been really slow here lately. It’s like we took the month of August off. So many people were on vacation. I expect things to get more serious starting the morning after Labor Day.
Walter Quesada
HDR Engineering Inc.
I think that engineering and design work will remain at the same levels as it has been during the summer. Our business is not seasonal. With the Metropolitan Transportation Authority work moving forward, we expect a pickup there. However, the state employees union has put engineering and design work on hold, so we expect a slowdown there.
Albert Yeo
Vice President of Investments, Century City
Prudential Securities Inc.
That’s a tough call. A lot depends on how the market does in the next few weeks. Traditionally, the market tends to drop in September and October. If that trend holds, I would expect a slight drop in our business.
Molly Hobin
Senior Leasing Representative
Arden Realty Inc.
I definitely think business will pick up. A lot of people have been out of town this month (August). It’s time to get back to work and get those deals done by the end of the year. With the end of November and most of December slowing for the holidays, we now have 10 weeks to get a lot done.
Bob Bailey
Senior Vice President Marketing
Four Media Co.
Summertime is our slow time. The television segment of our business has already begun picking up for the fall season. I would expect to see the studio and visual effects portions of our business pick up this month as production kicks into high gear on the holiday releases.
Robert Mason
Controller
Pulse Entertainment
I don’t expect any change. We are not affected by seasonality.
