Red Sky Mods - Part Two

[fright88]

Wow I am very sorry to hear this. I hope you are able to find a way to keep the shop going. I know I talk about buying a couple Cutlass II's soon I am just waiting for my decision from Disability. Hopefully when it comes in I will still be able to order the pair I want.

As for ways to increase profits.
1 I think a price increase is reasonable. Just doing quick research the 2 VV wood mod makes I know of both seem to start at 205 and 210.
2 Stock more stuff. Since there is such a huge assortment of attys and cartos people like I think if I were you I would look into batteries and Chargers. Batteries would be great I know I have seen some of the group buy batt prices and it looks like there could be some decient profit in them. Only big issue I can see is the cost of the investment. Smoktech Carto tanks might be a good thing to stock as well as a kinda starter tank.
3 Contests. I agree I would try to make them longer. I like how fast they normally are but longer contests are free advertisements. I think I read somewhere that contests can go up to 1000 posts. If you make contests where people could post once every 4 hours or something the contest would last longer and hopefully get more interist. Also I agree about making more caddy and other less time consuming prizes.

Anyways as always I hope you get it figgured out and we will be able to continue getting your latest mods for years to come.

Also if anyone wants to start a Bandsaw for cappy fund please let me know. Or I would be happy to start one if no one else wants to.

 

[rtrain99]

Parting shot from the Pacific. Today is a show of solidarity of the crew and are willing to do whatever it takes to keep the ship afloat. We will persevere. G'night maties

 

[Capt' Brian]

Well, the end of another day. I'm sure a plan that works can be found, it has to be. For the first time in my life I am not only working to feed a family, pay for schooling and mundane bills, but doing something that can actually and directly contribute to a better and longer life for people. Even all my military time never gave me a feeling like this, it was just a job.

Thanks for the support and suggestions, I will keep hammering at it until it comes into shape, I promise.

Night all, arrr

 

[aidreon]

Cheer up Cappy, you'll come up with a solution that suits us all and Red Sky will live on. You've got a great supporting community to back you up here

 

[aziffel]

Good afternoon everyone.

I'm afraid I have a pretty big problem here at RSM. I've refunded the couple of Pre-orders I have and have put mod making on hold until I can figure out how to solve it.

Here is the problem. Every month I make a batch of mods, I work 80 hour weeks on average. Half of everything I make goes back into overhead, parts and supplies or something and I don't think of as income.

What I have left to pay the rent is what I consider profit.

Last year in August I was making about $1600 per month in profit, $1400 went to rent and bills. Average $5 per hour worked times 80 hours.

Then I dropped the old style of wider mods and started making the next generation of taller mods, more work but a more refined mod that was very well received. I kept the price the same. Profit dropped from $1600 to $1400 per month, $4.37 per hour.

A few months ago the summer slump hit, there were more cheap but good tube mods available and interest in RSM's was dropping, so I came up with the next upgraded design trying to keep from going under.

Very well received I must say, even I love the new look but there is the problem.

I again released a mod that takes me longer to make with high detail and didn't really raise the price.

Profit dropped to $1200 per month for 80 to 100 work weeks, $3.75 per hour.

Oops .... looks like I've painted myself into a corner here, I'm sure the other wood mod makers will laugh at my ignorance. I've never claimed to be a good businessman though, I don't have the heart for it.

I've gone from averaging 30 mods per month to 16 to 18 mods per month.

If I double the price of each mod to $350, I could work 40 hours per week at $3.75 per hour.

If I double the price I could work 80 hours for $7.50 per hour.

From every indication I've picked up, I really don't think I can ask much more for my mods. People just don't have that much money to spend, so yup, I have a problem.

I have no real advisers or consultants, perhaps if I have some thoughts and ideas thrown at me from other sources I can see a course to set.

The profit from desk caddies and the little Cruiser II's is much better as they take much less time to complete.

Once you give something you can't take it back. Perhaps I could make less of the Cutlass/Destroyer II's, charge a bit more and try to increase sales of Desk Caddies and the little Cruisers II?

It may seem strange to bring all this up, but in reality I have two sons without any practical experience or useful advice and I live in a area that is new and I have no friends or associates that I could take advice from. All BS aside, I would rather humble myself a bit in public than simply shut down.

Brian

Cap'n,I really hate this and as a RSM plankowner,wish I had the magic solution for ya.Just know whatever your decision,you'll have the support from the folks on this thread.
Arr

 

[Waho]

Good morning crew! Friday looms on the horizon through the spyglass and should be here soon enough!

I'd like to thank the crew for their kind words and thoughts. I've only recently signed on compared to some of ye' scalawags, but I feel like I've found home and family here in this giant sea of threads and posts. If the helpful thoughts make me feel a little better, I'm sure Cappy and senior crew appreciate them even more

Emotion over Have a good day crew!

 

[doubledown]

Good morning crew! Friday looms on the horizon through the spyglass and should be here soon enough!

I'd like to thank the crew for their kind words and thoughts. I've only recently signed on compared to some of ye' scalawags, but I feel like I've found home and family here in this giant sea of threads and posts. If the helpful thoughts make me feel a little better, I'm sure Cappy and senior crew appreciate them even more

Emotion over Have a good day crew!

(an approving) Yaaaarrrrrr!!! Fine maarnin' ta ya all! May yer wind be brisk in yer sails and yer waters smooth as rum! Set course fer tha weekend! Yo ho!

 

[rtrain99]

G'morning maties. Happy Thursday. Time for some positive energy to power us towards the weekend.

 

[Waho]

Oh she's a true beauty and fits so well in the hand. Got a 1.7 ohm shorty carto on her full of VapeDudes vanilla tobacco. My first time using a carto on a bottomfeeder

This one, someday, may be able to leave the house with me

 

[pchela]

Here's some stuff I use on a regular basis off the top of my head - I'm sure I'll think of more stuff later.

Unique drip tips - acrylic, ceramic, aluminum - different colors, shapes and patterns.
Joye 510 atomizers - lr and standard.
306 atomizers - not sure on brand - joye? or cisco maybe.
Cartomizers - Boge lr and standard - there is another brand people like but I can't remember the name.
Prepunched cartomizers (popular - I don't use them)
Ressurector cartomizers (popular - I don't use them)
Carto Tanks - there are several pretty ones that fit the Destroyers.
Batteries, batteries, batteries. - AW IMR batteries are in high demand. IMR seems to be the way to go and the future of vaping. 18350, 18650, 14500.
Rebuildable atomizers - there are more and more of these entering the market and I do believe they are the future of vaping. There are some that will fit the Destroyer. I've actually been on the lookout for a genesis style rebuildable atty that will fit mine.
Affordable VV tube mods - the Vmax is popular and the Lavatube. Vario is a new one coming out.
Battery Chargers

Have you ever thought about an exclusive line of Piratey juice flavors?! Grog, grog and more grog!

Also, I know mod makers don't think they're efficient but I do believe there is a market for a small 14500 or single 18350 battery mod - I mean small. The ladies like to have tiny mods.

 

[doubledown]

Wow, pchela, you've really got your finger on the pulse it seems. Great list. When you find a rebuildable genny that fits please let us know around here. In the future a D2 w/ rebuildable genny tank is one of my dream mods. I've got my eye on that AC9.

 

[cherewine]

When you get the angle figgered out, you should post that beauty here for others to drool over

@Waho....that goes for the latest addition to your fast growing RSM family too! Very clean and nice looking!!

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/new-members-forum/225727-pictures-your-setup-559.html

After a brief journey on the waves of the USPS, my Cutlass II has arrived!

It is absolutely perfect. PERFECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I threw in some batteries, checked the voltage, threw on a cartos and I am vaping my brains out. I can barely see the laptop through the fog in here.

I'll get some pics up when I can figure out why they are sideways online and correct in my viewer...

 

[pchela]

Wow, pchela, you've really got your finger on the pulse it seems. Great list. When you find a rebuildable genny that fits please let us know around here. In the future a D2 w/ rebuildable genny tank is one of my dream mods. I've got my eye on that AC9.

Give this thread a look. http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...-scuba-gen-v3-native-510-connector-co-op.html

I was on the list to get one but sadly, had to drop out because I couldn't spare the $50 when it was time to pay. But, it should fit the Destroyer and would look very nice I think. Once people in this co op start getting them, you can expect to find some in the classies. Rebuildables aren't for everybody - some people just lack the patience for them. I haven't seen the AC9 - I'll have to check it out!

 

[doubledown]

Give this thread a look. http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...-scuba-gen-v3-native-510-connector-co-op.html

I was on the list to get one but sadly, had to drop out because I couldn't spare the $50 when it was time to pay. But, it should fit the Destroyer and would look very nice I think. Once people in this co op start getting them, you can expect to find some in the classies. Rebuildables aren't for everybody - some people just lack the patience for them. I haven't seen the AC9 - I'll have to check it out!

Thanks pchela. I'm actually 1st on the reserve list! I was specifically hoping it would fit but figured I'd be able to use it even if it didn't.
You can check out the AC9 here AC9PromoPoster. (Cappy, hope you don't mind me posting link. If so let me know and I'll be happy to remove it.) You can also google it and the developer is posting on you tube. It is set to release in 4 to 6 weeks.

 

[Dmorr123]

Wow, pchela, you've really got your finger on the pulse it seems. Great list. When you find a rebuildable genny that fits please let us know around here. In the future a D2 w/ rebuildable genny tank is one of my dream mods. I've got my eye on that AC9.

Hey doubledown, I've put both genesis mini and DID in my destroyer and Marauder and they work really well.

 

[doubledown]

Cappy, I see my caddy is on its way Now my C2 will have a port! Caddies look great on the site!

 

[Capt' Brian]

Ahoy and good afternoon. I hit the day running, doing paperwork and shipping, need to pause though and say ahoy.

I have a Genesis Maxi I was sent, I don't use it because my juice would kill it, but I did design the new Destroyer II and Marauder II to hold them. They even have a bit of spare room, the tank well is .825" and the Genesis maxi is about .8".

 

[doubledown]

Looking to sell it?

 

[Capt' Brian]

Cappy, I see my caddy is on its way Now my C2 will have a port! Caddies look great on the site!

Thanks! I've always liked making caddies and I've had some good input recently for designs. I'm also doing a small redesign of the two level desk caddy to make it better looking by using galley spindles and button tops for the standoffs instead of cut down dowels. Should be up by next week. I'm also working on a final design for a night stand desk caddy with a cell phone holder such as it is, will have pics later today or tomorrow. It's something I've wanted for myself for a while too.

Soon as the band saw problem is resolved I can also make some more mods too although I do have some Zebra wood Cruiser and Marauder bodies already cut I could do in the meantime I suppose along with a bit of other wood types. Yeah, I should make what I can while I wait...hmm...

 

[DukeBlue]

Hey doubledown, I've put both genesis mini and DID in my destroyer and Marauder and they work really well.

I ordered the standard size DID last week and it shipped out today. Glad to hear it fits in the Destroyer II, was a little worried it may be to big.