Sad News CHampaign Il

Re: Sad News CHampaign Il

Mark Nowicki

Their website is still up, there is no mention of not re-opening, and the " Add to Cart " link is still functioning.

It might be advisable to verify your source or contact the company owners before

announcing their imminent demise.

Re: Sad News CHampaign Il

Sam Force

Sad news indeed, unfortunately many more small businesses will not reopen. CUWoodshop had some great employees.

Re: Sad News CHampaign Il

Thomas Skaggs, Foothills of Mount Level

Sorry to hear that. Perhaps this area does not have enough consumers to support a woodworking business like that? All I know is that, as a professional, I could not afford to shop there. I went there for things I needed in a hurry. I will miss that.

They never offered any discount to professionals. I cannot afford to buy tools or materials at full retail prices. Their lumber was super expensive. I'll never forget seeing a cart load of walnut shorts. Most boards had end splits and sap wood edges. They offered it at $12.50bf. If I bought lumber from them I would never be able to make a living!

None the less, I sympathize with anyone losing jobs. This will be a blow to the local hobby folks too.

T.

Re: Sad News CHampaign Il

Michael van pelt

When I emailed an order in, I got a reply from Dennis Coleman, Founder, President, and owner of CU Woodshop Supply. Mr Coleman told me the sad news. I believe “my source “ is validated.

Re: Sad News CHampaign Il

Mark Nowicki

Then tell Mr. Coleman to update his website so people are aware that they might be placing an order for thousands of dollars worth of machinery with a retailer that might not be around much longer.

Re: Sad News CHampaign Il

Michael van pelt

Hey Mark.

I was just passing on some sad news to my local woodworking network. Why just an abusive attitude?

CU Woodshop did not accept my order so I do not think they would process someone’s order for “$1000’s” !

Re: Sad News CHampaign Il

Mark Nowicki

Hey Michael.

Your original post did not mention that the information originated with the owner of the business.

This is not your "local woodworking network." It is a public (moderated) woodworking forum and your original post has so far 240 views.

Once you post, you have no control on who reads or responds or the tone of the response.

I don't believe that my attitude is hostile, it might not be "friendly" but I am willing to admit that I don't come here to make new friends.

Regardless of your thoughts, it is irresponsible of a business owner to leave the online purchase button active knowing that the business is shutting down.

Re: Sad News CHampaign Il

Michael van pelt

Mark, I do come here to meet and make new friends and yes I have felt that WoodCentral is a small family

I was saddened to be losing my l9cal source of tools, supplies, and the friends I have met through CU Woodshop. I have met my three best friends through CU Woodshop. I can not understand your “hateful” remarks. Just be nice please. Rubbing salt into a wound helps no one.

All?

David Weaver

I suppose this is the condition for all brick and mortar stores at this point?

I started (hobbyist only) about 15 years ago and the local rockler didn't have necessarily great prices, but they did have a lot of typical hand tools that someone starting might use (replacement plane irons, several different chisels, etc). Lots of wood that looked like it may not have made grade and then nice wood around the perimeter of the back area (that was generally very expensive).

It's 2 miles away for me and I have had difficulty finding a reason to go there more than once every 2 years or so.

Today, I see a sign on the front of it that it's moving somewhere about 20 miles away. It's a shame to say it, but I'm more curious about what will go in the store space than I am about why they're moving.

I can't even keep track...

David Weaver

So, rockler is moving, but they've become a store that I just can't justify shopping at much locally as most of the things they carry that home depot up the hill carries are more expensive after a coupon than they would be just walking in the door at home depot.

The lumber is there if you get in a pinch, but I'm not a pro, so that doesn't happen. Any tools that I'd use are generally gone, except for router bits.

At any rate, woodcraft was near the airport here in PGH years ago and abruptly disappeared. What I can't keep track of is that there's now one in canonsburg, which is practically mexico if you live north of pittsburgh (there's no quick way to go through the city - i'll probably never see that woodcraft in person).

I did enjoy hunting the shorts bin at rockler early on as once in a while, you could find something like kingwood shorts or something of the like for cheap, but that seemed to disappear over time. Perhaps for all of us, it's also a matter of becoming far more familiar with the hobby and knowing where to get stuff.

The strong cry of patronizing brick and mortar stores has mostly died down - I think the chains can live on with folks initially outfitting their shop, but otherwise, they are like the corner general store to me now.

One last blurb in all of this stuff - there as a manager named Dan at the local Rockler. I don't get to know people, I never really got to know Dan, but early on, I was in rockler at least once a month. If there was ever a manager more conscientious and responsive than Dan and with a better temperament, I've never met them.

Still more curious what will be going in where Rockler is - I hope it's not another low quality auto parts store or dollar store.

Re: I can't even keep track...

Thomas Skaggs, Foothills of Mount Level

It is sad to see brick and mortar places go. Same with other types of B&M stores. Woodworkers can now get most anything on the internet, and often at better prices.

So why buy from brick and mortar places? Service. Moreover, knowledgeable staff who can provide woodworkers (especially hobby folks) with advice about tools and techniques. Unfortunately, over the years I have encountered woodworking stores with staff that will help find things but have little knowledge of the products. Sometimes they have little knowledge of woodworking at all. Sadly, such was the case at our local store.

A noteworthy exception seems to be Highland Woodworking (formerly Highland Hardware) in Atlanta. I have been there 3 or 4 times and each time it has been an enjoyable experience. The last time I was there I was given great information about Japanese rasps. Highland Woodworks has been around for decades and I think they serve as a good benchmark for brick and mortar woodworking stores.

T.

Re: I can't even keep track...

David Weaver

I went to highland in 2008 and encountered the same thing. It's completely different from the branch location / franchise type stores. You get the sense that the people you're talking to didn't pick up working there as a semi-retirement job in something else (retired shop teachers, etc, are common at rockler here - at least when I went there, and sometimes you get retired coatings engineers or something as PPG is a local company here).

The turnover at the counter at rockler is high, and if you're looking for something specific, it's unlikely that anyone knows much about using it. I understand their cost structure makes it difficult to run it any other way, just like it makes it difficult to put up high quality high cost but low turnover items on floor space in the stores.