Slow out there?...

[cfred]

Ugh..yep...slow. In the summer, when I was full, I was turning people away on a regular basis and had a wait list 5 deep. Of course, now that a client has given her 1 month notice, everyone's disappeared, back into the woodwork. Wait list? Already placed. Yep....thanks for holding the info that you were looking around so close to your chest....so I couldn't actually USE anyone on my waiting list. Grrrrrrrr........ Everyone's now looking for Jan, Feb, Mar....sigh.......

[Spixie33]

Ugh..yep...slow. In the summer, when I was full, I was turning people away on a regular basis and had a wait list 5 deep. Of course, now that a client has given her 1 month notice, everyone's disappeared, back into the woodwork. Wait list? Already placed. Yep....thanks for holding the info that you were looking around so close to your chest....so I couldn't actually USE anyone on my waiting list. Grrrrrrrr........ Everyone's now looking for Jan, Feb, Mar....sigh.......

My best prospects right now are for summer 2014. That is insane. I initially laughed them off but am now thinking I better keep in close contact because if things are slow like this then Summer 2014 might be the soonest I can do.

I have had the same issues. I had three on my waiting list in February and then I contacted everyone in June (for September spots) and they were all signed up elsewhere already

Buh humbug is how I feel right about now

[espresso33]

Well, although I'm glad I'm not the only one having trouble filling spots, I am sorry to hear that you're all having a dry spell as well! I've tried plenty of various advertising methods that worked without a problem for me in the past, so I don't think that's the issue. Mind you, where i am just north of Toronto, daycares are popping up around here by the day, in addition to the countless ones that are already running. This business is VERY competitive where I am. I guess I ll have to just wait this out, and hope that we're all once again busy sooner than later! Fingers crossed

[cfred]

It's very competitive where I live as well. Aside from the multitude of day homes in my neighbourhood, I back onto a school with daycare and there's another in the highschool on the corner. Yep....oodles and oodles of competition. I've done really well here so far, but worked my ass off to get here. Lots of looking at other daycares to see what's already being offered and mixing that up a bit, totally flaunting my ECE (paid for it, might as well make it useful) and aggressive advertising. It's soooo different working in a high density area opposed to rural. Holy cow....soooo competitive! I'm very, very happy to see another provider has moved in not too far from here and upped her fees to even be above mine (I'm $5 above the rest). FAB!!! It's time for our rates to go up On the upside, I just did my budget. Even with just 4 kids, I'm still financially ok....got a good chunk left at the end of the month....big relief! For now, I'll enjoy the easier days and wait for my perfect client to walk through the door.

Good luck to everyone else who're finding it slow. Hope you fill soon