The past few years the paradigm in the tech industry has seemed to include expansion. Growing into the “new” economy. Rising compensation. A costant flow of new equipment.
Now I have seen several local business and home PC shops and consulting firms go out of business already and the rest are all saying it’s slow. I am constantly inundated by desperate sales calls with better and better terms to purchase new equipment. Last year we couldn’t find competant people to work for non-profit wages, and in the last two months we have had several unsolicited inquiries. I have recieved no unsolicited job offers at work this month (I was getting 1 or 2 every month) and I have recently been asking around on this topic with my local tech friends. Mostof them think we are in a temporary slump, but I wonder….
I can’t help but notice that in my circle of friends and family, the tech oriented folks are getting more technical. However, the non-tech people seem to be cutting off their DSL lines andeven isp’s or at least talking about it. They don’t plan to upgrade unless they are really into games, and are even cutting out other tech subscription devices like cable TV. They do seem to be keeping their cell phones, but with power bills nearly doubling, as well as gasoline and most other things raising the cost of living, computer technology seems on the short list of things to cut at home.
I also see this at a number of worksites. Although they are still planning to buy, they are becoming a lot more careful in actual purchasing.
It seemed like a year ago you could just say:”We have to get on the tech bandwagon” and people resounded with “Yes” and a quick purchase order. Now the quick response is usually: “Why?”
Will the new paradigm be “Bricks & Morter” finances first with careful growth into the internet? Or are we just in a little buying slump that will be over soon?