Retirement career change, advice needed

Re: Retirement career change, advice needed

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native now in Jax Fl.


>Roy,

this is going to be way off base from your ideas of making "high end" stuff targeted at wealther folks, but it's only an idea.

How about hooking up with a local environmental group and see if they need anybody to make habitat boxes for them. Surprisingly each critter requires a different style "box", which should procide you with enough variety to keep you interested. Now granted it's not going to be all fancy-smancy, but none-the-less it should be interesting, put a few $$ in your pocket, keep you busy, and you'll be playing a part in helping a troubled spicies recover.

Todd O.

Re: Retirement career change, advice needed

V Parisian


>How about upscale versions of the plain pine coffin? Warranty work shouldn't be an issue. Few if any customer complaints. How to market? Internet I suppose.

Seriously, my father in law wanted a pine coffin, finally found a very nice one. BIL never did say how much it cost. From that I gather it wasn't cheap.

Victor - In Houston where the temp and humidity should be about 90 today.

Re: Retirement career change, advice needed

John Hoffman


>Hi, I just had the good fortune to speak to a great and sucessful woodworker who knows what he is talking about. The bottom line on this issue is the ability to market yourself and get any product out the door and cash in the door. He said it made know difference what you made the only thing to do was to be able to get it done quickly and get it sold. This was great info and a wake up call from the idea that building quality items is the goal. Getting it sold and getting paid is the goal. Hope this helps.

John H

Re: Retirement career change, advice needed

Edward in Vancouver


>My Dad did what you are thinking about 20 years ago. He and a buch of buddies started up a little factory making only one item: Coffins!

Re: Retirement career change, advice needed

Richard Rerra


>Dell computers (the ones with the fire starting batteries seen on the Today Show Tues 7/11) had the philosophy of mass production in the quantity of one. Huh ?? Start with your typical plywood box kitchen cabinet, (make a couple of dozen of them) and then be able to customize the interior design (cabinet exterior) to the desire of the client , probably the lady of the house. What do ya think ?

Re: Retirement career change, advice needed

V Parisian


>Actually there is a franchise out there that pretty much does the on site custom cbnets and drawers with some very nice looking hardwood products. The advantage of the franchise is that they take the learning curve whether it be marketing, advertising or production out of the equation. Watched a team of two guys doing a custom buildout in a very upscale neighborhood here in Houston. The wood was sycamore but it sure looked maple. All lumber prefinished in a factory in Waco. I picked up a couple of cut offs to take to the house. This was one sweet operation.

Exploring and ramping up.

Thomas Skaggs, Foothills of Mount Level


>Roy,

I am now about a year and a half into "professional woodworking" I make studio furniture and sell it thru high end art galleries. I also do commission work. But there is a catch, I have not quit my "day job". I still have about 3 years before I can change my status at my job, either very early retirement or go part time.

For me I decided to ramp up to to my future as a woodworker. Rather than quitting and not having a safety net I decided to explore the market first to determine where the market is and what kind of income I can expect.

There is a downside to my approach. The downside is long hard days. For all intents and purposes I am working two jobs. You have to treat the woodworking as a serious job. There are days when I am tired but if you get into a routine then it helps. For me I think the hard work and long hours will eventually pay off.

You might consider doing likewise. As long as you are still working your day job you can't really get hurt. Now would be a good time to explore.

Tommy

I like the book idea

woodburnbob


>How about something like: "How you too can supplement your retirement by turning a woodworking hobby into a money-making business". Subtitle it: "The booming boomer quest for a niche -- where the real money is". Or, swap the subtitle for the title.

Or, what about: "The New Alchemy -- Sawdust Into Gold".

Or, what about: "The Pot of Gold at the End of a Mahogany Rainbow".

One of the early chapters could focus on something like market research into what have been the most recent 5 wood objects purchased by a representative sample of the 8 million plus millionaires in the country.

Then you could rent the mailing list from You-Know-Who or their competitors.

Once you had the book, it should be a fairly easy segue into Tony Robbins-like seminars at various airport hotels around the country. As well, you could probably get paid well to do various weekend gigs at Woodcraft and Rockler franchises around the country. Not sure what the franchise count is. You might have to hire help.

Ultimately I imagine you'd have to decide for or against a Norm-like weekly TV show. But, again, I imagine the machine and tool vendors, the woodworking supply conglomerates, and retailer of all stripes would consider you a godsend. There'd be so many advertising dollars thrown at you that you'd probably have to require they draw lots and take turns.

At some point, you'd have to be careful you didn't become a sort of Ross Perot figure and mix up what has a market with what doesn't.

Re: Retirement career change, advice needed

Thom D


>I agree with the self-marketing ability. I've had friends who met me, thought woodworking was cool and before you know it they are selling furniture to people. Getting great money, guys who couldn't saw an MDF board in half into equal parts.

Surprisingly, for the rest of us that actually are woodworkers, I have found that the craft organizations can be helpful. Some of them actually run galleries that are short on product, and are in need of good stuff. Others have good entrepreneurship programs. Worth a look. If I lived in Berea, I probably would at least see if there was someone who might help, or along the West Coast, the myrtlewood thing.

Two best books I have read on the subject are Working at Woodworking by Jim Tolopin, might be a little out of date, so check library first. Also look in the archives here since he has been a guest here. Strength of this book is he talks about his focused approach to producing cabinets out of a garge shop, and he combines it with info on how to check for the size of your local market, going nomadic if you have to etc... It's basic stuff but it's written from a practical integrated perspective. Most of the names one Knows of liek Tolpin are a little disconcerting since they basically connected the dots by writting books which is a different craft.

A little more crafty is Make Money from Woodturning, by the two Phillip's. It goes through the craft marketing, and small business details pretty well... from an Australian perspective.

I've always had a hard time believing in the whole idea of a woodworking business. When I identified the need I was trying to fill, the commercial capability I had, and the woodworking I like to do, it always seemed like there was a better business there when left in parts, than integrated.

Re: Retirement career change, advice needed

Steve Mackay


>Hey Dude ! Go for it ! I found (while hanging out in Iraq ) I could fashion models of millitary equipment out of crates & skids. When I retired I tried a "real job". Just could'nt hang !Started lugging some of my stuff around to shops and got them in on consignment. Once you've got your foot in the door just write off the original stuff and "re-supply" as needed. Pepole then send you checks in the mail ! I too am "up-scale" and WONT compromise. Once you get a reputation folks seek YOU out. The biggest thing to remember is that you'll get nine "no"s for every yes ! If you hand out a hundred business cards you'll hear back from five. Out of those five you'll get one order. AND . . . that person will have writen your name on the check BEFORE they ask "How much?". It CAN be done !

Re: Retirement career change, advice needed

Mike Hamilton


>I got the best of my woodworking training from working in a 25 man shop in Durham. After May or so, all the 70 and 80 year olds quit for the year because they'd earned the max before stating to forfeit Social Security dollars (different rules then). The rest of the year, it was a 10 man shop. I thought that was a pretty good 'retirement gig.' I'm tempted by the thought of moving to Nashville and seeing if Gibson would take me on part time in their shop making banjos and mandolins. That'd be a few years down the road. Don't tell SWMBO yet.

Regards,

Mike Hamilton

Plainfield, IN

Humor ?

Steve Mackay


>Pulled funeral detail here in El Paso TOO many times. In August. And no, a wood box DOS'NT "get it".The government supplied coffin is obscene! BUT $ are the issue for most. Sorry, Vet's rant !

Gas Fireplaces

Jim in Burlington On


>Everyone wants a unique surround and have one installed. There's a huge markup.

no disrespect intended...

Victor P


>Steve,

I was Military Police back then, and knew a few guys at Fort Sam Houston that had the honor of funeral detail. It certainly takes a special person to deal with death day in and day out.

Father-in-law flew off of the 2nd Yorktown (CV10- Flight VF1 for you in the know) during WW2. We buried him in the National Cemetery at Fort Sam last summer. He was studying to be a forester at U of Michigan when war was declared. He and his classmates all enlisted the same day. Never made it back to U of M for his forester degree. Therein lies the desire for the pine coffin.

Victor

Re: Retirement career change, advice needed

Bob Hutchins in central TX


>Howdy Viktor!

Do you know the name of the factory in Waco? I might be in the market for some cabs in the future and my daughter lives in Waco. Might drop by and check 'em out when I'm in town.

BobH

I have their business card somewhere....

Victor P


>No, haven't a clue as to the name of the company.

If I ever find the business card will email you.

Victor

Re: Retirement career change, advice needed

Bob Hutchins in central TX


>Howdy Roy!

Do you live in or near a large university? When my daughter moved into a dorm room, storage space was at a premium. I made a couple of base cabinets with a bridge and shelves above that fit between the built-in beds in her dorm room. The whole thing would knock down and fit in the back of a Suburban with the 3rd seat out. It gave her and her roomie a place for the TV and stereo plus a couple of base cabinets with doors and shelves. I custom fit it with some special angled geometry to avoid blocking the bunks. I must have had 25 moms ask me if I'd make one for their kids' rooms. I was still working in those days and didn't have the time to pursue the possibilities, but I've always felt that it had potential as a little business. Mothers about to be empty nesters tend to throw money at things that make darling happy.

One cautionary note: Universities have rules to ensure that kids are safe and that the schools don't incur any unnecessary liabilities. You have to look into this aspect before gearing up. All dorm rooms obviously aren't the same, but modularity and little legwork lookng at them can give you some standards that could ensure multiple sales. A little roadside or parking lot stand on move-in day would be about all the marketing you'd need after a start-up period.

BobH

ps: I expect royalties!

Re: Humor ?

Don in Northern Arizona


>Steve,

Some people prefer the simplicity of a pine box or at least a coffin made of wood. My grandmother insisted that my grandfather be buried in one, so I buried her in one also.

My friend and neighbor recently lost his mother, and he and his two brothers built her a simple wood coffin with their own hands. GI pine boxes are honorable for the remains that occupy them, not for the fancy joinery.

I don't envy you having to pull that detail. I had to assemble and pack up the belongings of a kid that died in basic training while I was in the Air Force and was there when his folks came to pick them up. That was enough for me.

Don

Re: Retirement career change, advice needed

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX


>Be sure and sign up with a credit rating service when/if you start doing custom work. Let's face it, most rich people didn't get rich by accident, and very few got rich by paying full value. In fact, many will consider it an advertising kudo for you to have sold to them; therefore, they can rationalize not paying you at all.

And be sure to establish a down payment scheme with which you are comfortable, as well as milestone and delivery payments. Oh, yeah, and then there are the contracts...

Pam

Roger that. My bad !

Steve Mackay

Good Idea. How to impliment?

Roy Anderson


>Richard,

I like the idea of mass producing in a quantity of one. Certainly a one person shop ought to be able to change the product line instantly to suit a customer's individual needs.

How to impliment this, that is the question.

This is a good approach

Roy Anderson


>Thomas,

How do you market, sell and distribute? Do you have outlets or do you just go sell direct?

You have a flair for the creative

Roy Anderson


>I love your concept. Actually, it might work.

I will send you all the royalty checks you deserve

Roy Anderson


>Thanks for the idea, Bob. I do live near a University. I can see me camped out in the dorm parking lot on move-in day selling items that custom fit in the standard dorm room. I'm sure something with an integral beer cooler hidden where the R.A. can't find it is part of the design criteria.

By the way, what part of the great state do you live in? I was born in Freeport and used to live in Austin, Houston and Lufkin before I moved out.