$$ Absolute-Wood Tag Line Contest $$
- Thread starter renderwerks
- Start date
- th_trl_thread_readers 0
- Status
I understand what you're saying - but, in order to have this business as a one man show - think about this
I have to use my skills as an engineer and designer to design the products I make. Engineers with a BS don't come cheap. I have to account for one of the stresses that wood is capable of - tortional distortion or twisting, and understand how to deal with it so the laminations don't come apart eventually. Many good woodworkers account for this, but may not know the physics involved - and that gives me the advantage, as I can work past complicated multiple combined wood types and characteristics, and have a better understanding of how they interact together as a unit.
Before that, I was a drafter for many years, and used to produce pictorial illustrations for parts manuals - that's where the CAD drawings with the isometric pictorial views come from. So we have a drafter in our employ.
Of course, there's the woodworking part - if I'm asked to make a piece of furniture, while planning things out I figure my hourly rate at $75 - which is a bit low as discussed with fellow woodworkers.
My custom holder designs are somewhat of a "secret" value - they're free... That's right, nada - nothing - zippo
You only pay for the guy in the shop to make it. You had the use of a designer without cost. But there's a catch - for me. I get a new design to incorporate into my line of products. I get value out of not charging for design work because I have a new product to show off, and it's always easier to make it the second time.
Then there's the need for good photography - major sales tool. Having worked as a pro photog for years, I don't have to hire one.
The building of an e-commerce website is a new skill - I crawled into Google for some time, and learned enough to develop the website you see now. Thank goodness for the software and resources that are available now. It's much quicker to learn now without having to go to the library, research, rent videos, etc...
So, I've enlisted the services of an Engineer/Designer, Drafter, skilled Furnituremaker, Graphic Artist and Photographer, as well as a website builder for a "simple" sales website. Plus all the time dealing with the purchase and hauling of materials, paperwork, taxes, etc...
My most inexpensive product is a 6" Oak Holder for $20, and you can customize the holes slightly. It comes in several colors of stain, and also receives the hand sanded clear finish that a $500 holder does. I've engineered and built tools and methods that streamline my process so I can sell a $100 holder that should have 5-6 hours of labor at $75/hr. I can make it in 2 hours. The first one I built took 6-7 hours. $50 for a holder buys quite a bit of woodwork for your money.
Plus - as a former Graphic Artist, I've made lots of logos and banners for $50 or less. The market is not what it was just 10 years ago. I think $50 for coming up with a single sentence is pretty good work if you can get it.
So, lots of my fellow woodworkers say my business is "not cool" because my pricing is "degrading the value of skilled woodwork". I just look at it as skilled woodwork done in less time - period. I figured out how to do it for less. At least with the relatively simple products that I make.
Great job everyone - some great lines coming out of this.
Rick
Last edited:
1972 gibson les paul deluxe,eat your heart out.............
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm - damn you! jk - I'll have to dig up some pics I took of an Ovation 12 string Balladeer Electric/Acoustic I used to own. I miss it, my fingers don't!
Everything you said is true renderwerks and 50 buckd is great for a one liner. Plus it makes it more affordable and us poorer people can still buy a great stand. I hate it when people start out selling affordable then a few months later their prices are triple and pushes hard working low/middle class folks out of the buying circle.
you know it's old when the picture is a polaroid.LOL My favorite was this and the LP standard tobacco stain but the 58' firbird sounded great also.well I guess all had their merits and specific sound.
It's not over yet... read the OP...
(I think everyone just ran out of "woody" jokes - ha!)
Happy Thanksgiving weekend to everyone!
The contest will end this Saturday, 11/30 at 11:59pm PST - good luck to all the contestants!
The contest will end this Saturday, 11/30 at 11:59pm PST - good luck to all the contestants!
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
- Locked