You guys are gonna have to be real careful on this one. After our last little kerfuffle we're back to "Anything even remotely political will be shot on sight!"
So far, so good, but tread carefully.
Bob, I understand your concerns. I won't be drawn into a political debate, especially on this topic.
Politicians did not create this virus. Nobody is certain what the right way to handle this is. Pointing fingers during this crises is counter productive in my mind. Let the experts debate what we should do, in private, not in the media and certainly not on this train forum! All we can ask is politicians heed the consensus of experts and I think they have
all done pretty good with that.
Maybe I should have asked "How will the Pandemic impact us as model railroaders?" I was more interested in us as individuals than the industry itself.
Personally, I have been spending a lot more time and money on my Toy Trains!
As for the business aspect, for me being self-employed for most of my adult life I never worried much about economics. All I could do is cast my vote. I didn't have the resources to lobby congress or even my local representatives. All I hoped for is they don't keep changing things. I'll find a way to make it work. Or should I say Capitalism will find a way.
Also I did not have the time or luxury of whining and crying about economics in my professional life. I had to make ends meet. I had to find a way to turn profit every month. I did pretty good with that.
There is always many excuses why you can't make it. All you need to do is find one way to get it done! My go-to answer was service, be better than the other guys.
Not to mention, quality service usually provides a higher gross profit. If not? You are doing something wrong.
In business you always have to be looking to sell or do something different. "If this doesn't sell, try that!"
If you do what you have always done you will be lucky to get what you have always gotten.
I can't be certain how this will impact the model railroad as an industry.