Career move?

[pashley]

Wondering what you guys think of this idea...but first a little background.

I'm a stay-at-home dad, with two kids, 4 and 10; the wife works. Finances are a little strapped. I'd like to be able to do something from home to make money.

I also like to woodwork, and am pretty good at it (I think!). I also have a background in web development (but am growing tired of pushing pixels all day in a chair!)

I was thinking about making small furniture, clocks, whatever, and selling it online - but do people really buy it? Will they pay me $750 for a solid, quarter-sawn oak, mission-style coffee table with great design, and a iron-tough finish, or will they simply go for the $250 chinese import, made of solid MDF, with a finish that a dog can lick off?

My gut tells me the latter, unfortunately. Maybe I'm wrong - you tell me.

Leaving that aside, I was thinking of, instead of selling the actual product, instead selling the plans online - my web development background could certainly facilitate that, and I could enjoy woodworking by making new designs. The plans would generate future income as well, whereas with furniture, you have to build it, ship it, hope the buyer likes it...then go back to square one.

I'm just wondering your thoughts....

[dcarter636]

Ask yourself this question. Would you pay $750 or even $250 plus $50 shipping based on a picture of a coffee table that you hadn't touched?

[pashley]

>Ask yourself this question. Would you pay $750 or even $250
>plus $50 shipping based on a picture of a coffee table that
>you hadn't touched?


I might or might not...but the point is, some people do. Check out this guy on ebay...

http://stores.ebay.com/ARTS-and-CRAF...Q3amesstQQtZkm

He makes stuff I'd consider good, but I think I could do better.

[beamerweb]

Patrick,

First of all, I admire your intentions and by no means do i intend to discourage you. The last thing I want to do is dash anyone's hopes, at all. Take everything I say with a grain of salt. I've never gone pro, nor do I know squat about going pro. I may be completely talking out of turn here. :)

However, it's one thing to build a handful of things a year and be quite good at it. It's quite another thing to mass produce quantities of that handful of things and make a profit without running yourself ragged.

I mean absolutely no disrespect, but did you read the ebay seller's company description?

[blockquote]DRYAD STUDIOS,SINCE 1985,is a family run,5 person shop.We specialize in Quality Handmade, Custom,and Limited Production Arts & Crafts Reproductions and Original Design furniture.Cribs,Youth Furniture,Many types of Beds,Tables of all sorts,Settles,Chairs.WE TAKE OUR TIME,AND GUARANTEE OUR RESULT[/blockquote]

Now, I hope I don't offend. Please take this all as constructive. But as a consumer, if one guy told me he could outdo a 5-man operation that has been going for 20 years, I'd have to be more than skeptical. Maybe I'm all wrong and you are able to do as you say. But it seems a little tough to swallow to me. Now, confidence is a great thing, don't get me wrong.

But realistically speaking, these guys turn out what looks like about 75-100 pieces a year with a level of quality that (albeit from just the pictures) appears to be pretty dang good.

I'm not taking your statement as an intent to compete with these guys, obviously. Unless you are an exceptional insomniac! :P

Now - if you're just thinking of making a little spare cash, sure! Give 'er a go. From what I hear, it's a tough business to get into and make a profit on. But once you're in, you tend to keep some pretty loyal customers. But the wood is only part of the task. Marketing, and general business development take up lots of time, too.

I apologize in advance if anything I've said rubs you raw. I had no intention of doing so. Maybe I'm just projecting my own "voice of reason" that comes up whenever I think of going pro, too.

I wish you the best in your endeavors :)

[pashley]

Jason, no offense taken, I appreciate your candor and insights.

You're rights, he does have a "presence" - "family-owned", milling their own stock, etc.

I'm a guy in a basement shop :)

I do believe my designs would be better - a new edition of mission style, in a sense - not the heavy, bulky look.

[cabinetman]

Patrick

WELCOME TO THE FORUM

Here's a suggestion that could be the best of both worlds. It is less physically demanding to do plans and sell them on the internet, than building furniture to make a living. Do the plans thing, and at your free time build quality furniture, and sell it as you go, getting a feeling for the market.

There's a jewelry chain in this area that used to have a full page ad on Sunday with a real expensive piece, like one ring for $20K, or a gold and diamond bracelet for $15K - $20K. They would only have one piece in the ad. Their market was for the few who spend that kind of money. If they sell one or two, that's better than pushing items for $100 - $500.

So, my point is that you can make items, not with volume in mind. When selling what you make your description should include emphasis on "solid wood", "hand crafted" etc. While you are having fun doing that, your bread and butter may be with the plans. At least you'll be able to test both markets.
:)
:)
:)
"I'M NEVER WRONG - BUT I'M NOT ALWAYS RIGHT"

[pashley]

>Patrick
>
>WELCOME TO THE FORUM

Thanks!

>Here's a suggestion that could be the best of both worlds.
>It is less physically demanding to do plans and sell them on
>the internet, than building furniture to make a living. Do
>the plans thing, and at your free time build quality
>furniture, and sell it as you go, getting a feeling for the
>market.

Yes, that's what I am leaning towards. The great thing about plans is they sell not just once, but hopefully, hundreds of times. Automatically. I have a very strong suit on implementing that plan; I've been doing web development for quite a while.

>There's a jewelry chain in this area that used to have a
>full page ad on Sunday with a real expensive piece, like one
>ring for $20K, or a gold and diamond bracelet for $15K -
>$20K. They would only have one piece in the ad. Their market
>was for the few who spend that kind of money. If they sell
>one or two, that's better than pushing items for $100 -
>$500.

Two thoughts about that - a fast nickel is better than a slow dime, and a higer price is not always a bad thing. Let's say I made the same coffee table that guy on ebay makes - but I sell it for half the price. People may think it's junk, at that price, and end up paying the higher amount because it means a better product...even when that is not the case.

>So, my point is that you can make items, not with volume in
>mind. When selling what you make your description should
>include emphasis on "solid wood", "hand crafted" etc. While
>you are having fun doing that, your bread and butter may be
>with the plans. At least you'll be able to test both
>markets.

And another thing...to make the plans, I'll have to make the product...probably a couple of times over to get it right. I don't plan on doing the same old thing, like jewelry boxes, etc, but rather new stuff - or at least new takes on old stuff.

Thanks so much for your imput!

[WWAtty]

Perhaps you could "put your toe in the water," so to speak. Build a few items and post them online. Since you're a web developer, you already have the online marketing skills to get traffic to your site. Next step is to see if you have any takers for your WW creations. Maybe offer a few pieces of furniture for sale, and also sell plans for same for those who would rather build it themselves. If you sell more plans than furniture, go that route. And vice versa.

Good luck in your venture!

Cheers,

Kevin

[maxwell_smart007]

You say you have the skill. YOu certainly have the drive. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Give it a go. If nothing else, you can sleep well at night for having tried.

Just don't jump whole-hog into it...go slow, and see where it naturally leads you...i find that life has a way of directing you where you should go, if you slow down and listen to the clues and watch for the signs...

Best of luck, and best wishes!

[rrich]

"Will they pay me $750 for a solid, quarter-sawn oak, mission-style coffee table with great design"

In a word or two, I really don't think so.

Yesterday a friend of LOML's was over. She was admiring the entry way table that I had just built. She inquired if LOML thought I would buid her one and the cost. LOML told her that the cost of the Oak was about $250 and her friends answer was, "Nevermind".

I told LOML that it was good that she didn't want to spend the money because the price would have been $900 for a commision but $800 for a friend. LOML asked where did the numbers come from, I explained, materials one third, labor two thirds. (And if it was the only source of income we would starve to death.)

My only advice would be to have the customer order, arrange for shipping and pay for the lumber in advance. That way you're still a wood worker and you don't have any financial input to the project.