stackpoole77

About payments:
From the sart what you have is a credit problem. You are giving too much credit to your customers. I know the problem but I think you should ask your accountant for advice, mabe hire a local accounting service to know how much credit you are able to give.

About the markets:
Better you ask at Marketingprofs Those guys can give a lot of help identifying market potential.

From my experience:

Architecture is a fashion business. You could start selling decorative stamped metal like hotcakes and be forgotten in 3 moths. Only warehouse/silo construction is stable. Check if the market is growing or if it can take one more in the fight. With low prices or some new twist you could make it.

Agricultural equipment is very expensive in USA. Buy some agricultural magazines and see if you can make any of those machine sor parts.

Going overseas is always a good option. I think you probably didn't even go over-state. Look for more customers of the same kind. Contact the Secretary of Commerce for assistance. Hire someone who speaks spanish, someone who speaks portuguese, someone who speaks french, and start making phone calls and sending emails to all America. Open the Atlas and check which countries have good automotive industries. I think only Argentina, Mexico and Brazil manufacture cars. Here in Uruguay there is only one small manufacturer.

Thanks for the input! We have been looking out of state and we have some good customers out of state. They all pay in 30 days or less, that's unheard of in the current Detroit market!

stack, I dont know how much you know about construction. But, if you could design a pan for pan and deck slabs that was inexpensive enough to leave in place and not have to be torn out, you might have a gold mine. Next time you are in a parking garage, or have a chance to visit a cast in place construction site, look up. I had thought of doing something simular with recycled plastic, but the fire codes stopped that thought. You might talk to a local engineering and architectural firm and get their thoughts on the subject.....currently when building a cast in place project, the pans have to be installed and then after curing they have to be torn out again, making the life span of pan forms very short....a little r&d could go a long way on this one.....also, there are a million stamped products in the construction industry. What about a stamped form with architectural details included? like I said...r&d....good luck...zzzgrinch

Searching for a lasting product line is a great idea and a high priority goal. I will be looking into your suggestions and any additional suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!