Author Topic: Holiday slump (Read 9330 times)

Hongover · « **on:** December 28, 2015, 14:13 »

This is the first time I'm seeing the holiday slump and it's not a good feeling. Some weekdays feels like weekends and weekends barely have any activity. As much as I enjoy having some days off and relax, I secretly wish other people were working so they can keep downloading.

As we get close to the end of the month, I'm expecting roughly a 25% drop from November. How about you guys?

Shelma1 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 28, 2015, 14:47 »

I'd be thrilled with a 25% drop. Lol.

stockyme · « **Reply #2 on:** December 28, 2015, 14:57 »

December slump is a fact, I am was regular sales until 15 December now a days I barely get 1 or 2 sales in a day... Anyone have idea when this slump will be over?

Hongover · « **Reply #3 on:** December 28, 2015, 15:05 »

Quote from: Shelma1 on December 28, 2015, 14:47

I'd be thrilled with a 25% drop. Lol.

I'm being optimistic since we have a few weekdays left in the month, but the drop will probably be closer to 30%.

marthamarks · « **Reply #4 on:** December 28, 2015, 15:19 »

Quote from: stockyme on December 28, 2015, 14:57

Anyone have idea when this slump will be over?

Monday, January 4.

etudiante_rapide · « **Reply #5 on:** December 28, 2015, 18:44 »

yes, it's normal for drop during the christmas to new year period. but personally i am spot on my monthly average . we won't see much until mid January when the clients get their new year's budget.
but it depends too as some companies have different fiscal year for budget they can spend for 2016.

who knows, we could get a surprise this week with some client who has leftover to spend for 2015 and give me that single 102 dollar single earning

Hildegarde · « **Reply #6 on:** December 28, 2015, 23:00 »

Seeing a slight pick up but I have very few Christmas or holiday photos and more a matter of having more uploaded than when I first started so slowly building portfolio.

Yay Images Billionaire · « **Reply #7 on:** December 28, 2015, 23:21 »

I'm having my third best month ever on SS and I haven't sold a single seasonal photo. I hope this continues.

PixelBytes · « **Reply #8 on:** December 29, 2015, 01:50 »

Quote from: stockyme on December 28, 2015, 14:57

December slump is a fact, I am was regular sales until 15 December now a days I barely get 1 or 2 sales in a day... Anyone have idea when this slump will be over?

For me the slump usually lasts through the first week of January and then start to pick up second week of January and back to normal by mid month.

LesPalenik · « **Reply #9 on:** December 29, 2015, 05:14 »

Quote from: stockyme on December 28, 2015, 14:57

December slump is a fact, I am was regular sales until 15 December now a days I barely get 1 or 2 sales in a day... Anyone have idea when this slump will be over?

December slump is indeed a fact. That's just one established and logical cycle within each calendar year.
Another undisputed fact is the long term continuously declining sales curve. This is also logical and well documented.

An idea that one day this slump will be over and the sales levels will return to previous years is a pure fantasy. Not healthy for budgeting and development of a Five Year Plan. Medical professionals have a fitting term for it - they call it "poor prognosis".

Mantis · « **Reply #10 on:** December 29, 2015, 08:43 »

Remember, there are multiple holiday slumps throughout the year, Christmas season being the longest. Europe takes a 6-week (I think six, maybe eight) holiday in the summer, which really slows down sales. When school gets out in May/Jun sales slow while parents take time off for vacation, etc. Thanks Giving, etc. Slow times happen throughout the year. For Xmas, I usually don't see a pick up until week 3-4 of January...a slow ramp up. Don't let it get you down. Keep shooting and building your port.

stockyme · « **Reply #11 on:** December 29, 2015, 09:09 »

Quote from: Mantis on December 29, 2015, 08:43

Remember, there are multiple holiday slumps throughout the year, Christmas season being the longest. Europe takes a 6-week (I think six, maybe eight) holiday in the summer, which really slows down sales. When school gets out in May/Jun sales slow while parents take time off for vacation, etc. Thanks Giving, etc. Slow times happen throughout the year. For Xmas, I usually don't see a pick up until week 3-4 of January...a slow ramp up. Don't let it get you down. Keep shooting and building your port.

Thank you for motivation

I am working hard to capture more photos & prepare them to upload in next week....

Difydave · « **Reply #12 on:** December 29, 2015, 09:58 »

Quote from: marthamarks on December 28, 2015, 15:19

Quote from: stockyme on December 28, 2015, 14:57
Anyone have idea when this slump will be over?

Monday, January 4.

That makes sense, but in my experience it doesn't usually pick up "properly" until the week after. That is nearly the middle of January.
It seems to have got worse for that over recent years. I suspect that all the holidays have / are gradually extending, until by about 2079 there will be five weeks work a year, and 47 weeks holiday.
As I shall be 125, I suspect that I will have been on eternal holiday for some time by then!

DallasP · « **Reply #13 on:** December 29, 2015, 17:32 »

Well, if it's any benefit to any of you ... I have purchased 2 photos in the past week or so. lol

etudiante_rapide · « **Reply #14 on:** December 29, 2015, 18:56 »

Quote from: Mantis on December 29, 2015, 08:43

Remember, there are multiple holiday slumps throughout the year, Christmas season being the longest. Europe takes a 6-week (I think six, maybe eight) holiday in the summer, which really slows down sales. When school gets out in May/Jun sales slow while parents take time off for vacation, etc. Thanks Giving, etc. Slow times happen throughout the year. For Xmas, I usually don't see a pick up until week 3-4 of January...a slow ramp up. Don't let it get you down. Keep shooting and building your port.

correct . in fact in some countries as i know even have the whole office close from15 dec till jan 14 instead of staggering vacation time for each dept or each employee. to the bosses of these companies, it makes a lot of sense because most ppl prefer time off with families during the christmas season. this is more fair than say having ppl with less seniority having to go on vacation when they least want it because the unionized ppl with seniority get the pick of christmas to new year.

so from these countries you will see zero activity for dls.

roede-orm · « **Reply #15 on:** December 29, 2015, 19:00 »

Good to read your postings - I'm not the only one who is affected!

hartlet12 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 30, 2015, 01:56 »

After reading your comments I thought I'm so lucky I had increased in sales 2nd-3rd week of december before it drops this christmas holiday

Microstockphoto · « **Reply #17 on:** December 30, 2015, 03:40 »

chrisrmas slump is normal for many without christmas stuff but for what it's worth I am having a very good month just dipped since 24 december but I don't have much christmas photos

alijaber · « **Reply #18 on:** December 30, 2015, 09:02 »

Until 22th Dec it was supposed to be my WME, suddenly I've got huge number of sales and now it's my BME!!

sigalavaca · « **Reply #19 on:** December 30, 2015, 17:32 »

I'm not sure what is happening, but I had 15 sales on the 25th and another 15 today, all non christmas related editorials.
My port is really small and I'm quite new to this business, so it might be some noise, or maybe editors are burning their annual budget and stocking up for next year

DallasP · « **Reply #20 on:** December 30, 2015, 21:52 »

Quote from: sigalavaca on December 30, 2015, 17:32

I'm not sure what is happening, but I had 15 sales on the 25th and another 15 today, all non christmas related editorials.
My port is really small and I'm quite new to this business, so it might be some noise, or maybe editors are burning their annual budget and stocking up for next year

lol. I purchased a photo of a guy texting, and another of a woman being pulled over.

Both for a news related blog, both small from fotolia (as for some reason them and dreamstime are the only sites that allow me to use my earnings for purchases)

I've slowed illustrating down a ton, still getting a sale or two a week and the blogs have been making a buck or so a week ... I might illustrate more in 2016 but, not sure. Fotolia has jumped to at least on par with Shutterstock for my silly little things and waking up to a few extra quarters never hurts ... especially when you have nothing else to do.

Hongover · « **Reply #21 on:** December 31, 2015, 01:25 »

I bought some images for my company earlier in the month, but haven't downloaded anything recently. I did remember buying a couple New Years images a couple years back, but that's it. Half the company is out on vacation, 1/4 is barely working and I'm focused on creating project plans for the new year.

I've been uploading like 10 batches recently and they got approved surprisingly fast. Each batch took less than an hour. Looks like even contributors are on vacation too, not just companies.

Even though I have some Christmas images, they didn't sell well enough to offset the drop. It looks like my original estimate was correct...a 25% drop from November. Things should pick up in the first week of the new year. I'm excited.

Zero Talent · « **Reply #22 on:** December 31, 2015, 13:11 »

Even if my December SS sales are ~5% down compared with November and 22% less than my BME, I had BMEs on FT, 123RF and 500px, which compensated rather nicely these SS losses.
Overall December '15 is my second best month ever, far from the expected slump.

Happy New Year and Best Wishes everybody!

Hongover · « **Reply #23 on:** December 31, 2015, 21:16 »

Quote from: Zero Talent on December 31, 2015, 13:11

Even if my December SS sales are ~5% down compared with November and 22% less than my BME, I had BMEs on FT, 123RF and 500px, which compensated rather nicely these SS losses.
Overall December '15 is my second best month ever, far from the expected slump.

Happy New Year and Best Wishes everybody!

I had a great November on SS and FT and I knew there was no way I was going to top it this year with so many days off...perhaps next year. This slump was expected, so no harm done.

I can't express how much I'm anticipating the first sales month of 2016. I exceeded my own expectations in my first year in microstock and I know next year is going to be amazing.

Happy new year to everyone!

raclro · « **Reply #24 on:** January 02, 2016, 00:43 »

It has been the best year in the last few--- but almost no sales the past 10 days. Pretty normal for me over my 10 years doing this.

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Author Topic: Holiday slump (Read 9330 times)

Hongover

Shelma1

stockyme

Hongover

marthamarks

etudiante_rapide

Hildegarde

Yay Images Billionaire

PixelBytes

LesPalenik

Mantis

stockyme

Difydave

DallasP

etudiante_rapide

roede-orm

hartlet12

Microstockphoto

alijaber

sigalavaca

DallasP

Hongover

Zero Talent

Hongover

raclro

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