Do peppermills sell well?

10/15/04, 2:17 AM #1

Joe Pack
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Registered: 1/13/04

Do peppermills sell well?

Joe Pack

>Always looking for another doodad to add to my basic pens at shows, I have thought about peppermills. The kits cost a bit, and I have wondered about how well they would sell. What are your experiences?

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Officially retired on March 1, 2007 after 35 years as a teacher, class advisor, coach, athletic director and high school principal. I miss working with my students, but fishing and my feeble attempts at woodworking keep me busy. Plus, my sweetheart (still working full time...a "stay at home mom for a bunch of years, so a few more years before she earns any sort of retirement) "lets" me do laundry, cook most of the meals and do dishes anytime I get the urge. I am very good at buying tools and materials, but not quite so good at getting around to using them. Still, I have done a little bit of flat work, and am learning how to make toothpicks on my lathes. I have pretended to make a little bit of money by doing a few craft shows for the past 4 years, selling pens and other small turnings. I'm not getting rich, but, after several hundred kits, I'm getting the hang of long and round. Bowls are next, but I'm still learning. I don't pretend to do much of anything well enough to brag, but do most things well enough to not have to pay someone else too much to make it right. After working my way through school a good number of years ago as grunt labor on a summer carpentry crew, factory service guy, hardware store clerk, etc., I learned enough to pound every nail, run every wire and connect every pipe in the house I built. Heck, I even designed it myself...took my "blueprint" (a pencil sketch on an 8 1/2 x 11 piece of paper) in to show the lumber yard folks when I ordered materials! Jack of all trades, master of none is not just a saying, it is the truth in my case. I visit WC regularly, usually only reading, sometimes posting. I toss in my 2 cents worth when I know what I'm talking about. I toss in my 5 cents worth when I only think I know what I'm talking about. When I really try to impress people with what I think I know, I can start some really good arguments or completely make a fool of myself, or both. Visiting WC has usually been one of the higlights of my day for the last couple of years. I appreciate the folks here, and consider them my friends, even if I have only ever met two of them in person. I look forward to meeting many more down the road.

Re: Do peppermills sell well?

10/15/04, 2:48 AM #2

Jim Shaver Oakville, Ont
Guest

Re: Do peppermills sell well?

Jim Shaver Oakville, Ont

>Hi Joe,

I'm taking a Lee Valley course on Pepper Mill making in November, partly to say I made one and secondly to do like you, see if diversifing my inventories to be more than JUST pens and bottle stoppers and key chains and Christmas Ornaments.......

One thing I have learnt in this pprocess, holding inventory is not profitable, pens always sell well, my new favorite is stabilized dyed woods, they really finish nice and give a higher end feel to my kits.

Take care,

Jim

Re: Do peppermills sell well?

10/15/04, 1:01 PM #3

Joel Hunnicutt
Guest

Re: Do peppermills sell well?

Joel Hunnicutt

>I did a show this summer with a guy selling nothing but tall pepper and salt mills. His finishing was perfect and his shapes were very nice. He had them prices at $125 ea and I thought "No Way", but he nearly sold out! I think they would be a nice addition to your pens.

Re: Do peppermills sell well?

10/15/04, 4:09 PM #4

Edward
Guest

Re: Do peppermills sell well?

Edward

>Joel: Was that $125 US or $'s Canadian. Hmmmmmph, no way!!!!

Ed

Re: Do peppermills sell well?

10/15/04, 5:08 PM #5

Joel Hunnicutt
Guest

Re: Do peppermills sell well?

Joel Hunnicutt

>US! I thought the same thing. His work was very nice but I would have never belived people would pay that.

Re: Do peppermills sell well?

10/15/04, 5:21 PM #6

BubbaBob
Guest

Per piece or per set?

BubbaBob

>

Re: Do peppermills sell well?

10/15/04, 8:26 PM #7

Andrew Hilton
Guest

Re: Do peppermills sell well?

Andrew Hilton

>Not too bad but, at least in the fairs, shows, etc. that I do, they're not the best sellers. The price point of any mills that I make aren't in the range of fairs or shows either. It seems that the $25 - $80 range and the over $200 range sell best for me.

I don't make a mill for less than $100 US. It's not worth the time or effort. Mills over $200 get the "WHAT THE #!%#@!" look at those shows.

I'd say give it a shot. Can't hurt to add it to your booth.

Do peppermills sell well?

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