Replies

1. 
   GRW | Jan 19, 2005 02:37am | #1

   Tinknocker,

   I too am in a transition to an official startup. I've been woodworking for many years. I have formal and informal training in this vocation, a shop, and tools, but I need more business and marketing skills. I won't be much help to you, but thanks for asking the question. I'll be tracking this thread for some tips to help me out too.

1. 
   BArnold | Jan 19, 2005 02:49pm | #4

   GRW,

   ScottD is on the right track, I believe.  I'm at the other end of life from you -- beginning retirement.  Partly due to the events of 9/11 and partly because I knew what I wanted to do in retirement, I went to work in a cabinet shop.  The first shop went backrupt because of their business practices, but that was something I recognized and tried to discuss with them.  After the first shop went down, I immediately got on at another shop.  In both cases, the time at the shop taught me production processes as well as different techniques for constructing cabinetry and fixtures.  I have no real desire to build some of the elaborate items we built in the shops for motor yachts, etc., but the experience was invaluable.

   Good luck!

   Bill Arnold - Custom Woodcrafting Click Here if you're interested in a good,inexpensive website host.

   Food for Thought: The Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.

2. 
   damschrs | Jan 19, 2005 02:50am | #2

   Go to work for a reputable cabinet shop, or furniture builder, to refine your skills. After a five years of full time work building the pieces to want to build a career on, ask the question about the business end again. By then you may be ready.

   While you're there, watch how your employer markets, deals with customers, and prices projects. Learn about overhead and expenses, taxation, inventory, and operations. Be a sponge. If you're really talented, you're employer may find a great partner, or you may be in a position to buy the business when he/she retires, with an established customer base with whom you've already worked. A huge bonus.

   Also, save your money. You'll need your financial resources to get started up and maintain your lifestyle while you're in start-up mode, if indeed, you do strike out on your own.

   thnx
   scottd.

    

   scottd
   Damschroder Scott Furniture
   [email protected]

   A craftsman needs three things: Accuracy, Technique, and Quality. Accuracy can be set; technique can be learned; but quality must be bought and built.

3. 
   WayneL5 | Jan 19, 2005 03:21am | #3

   If you can swing it, there are many colleges that offer programs.  A full associates degree would include business and art courses as well as woodworking per se.  If you've already had some college you could probably skip the math and English.

   Colleges offer shorter programs as well, without the degree.  You could even cram a bunch of courses in a single semester.  Lots of schools, not only accredited colleges, offer short courses for a weekend or a few weekends.  You could go a-la carte.

   Even if you could not travel to a top-notch program, local community college programs that could get your skills up to a functional level.

   I don't know where you are, but the North Bennet Street School in Boston is one of the best in the country, and Boston is a wonderful city.

4. 
   JHarveyB | Jan 20, 2005 01:36am | #5

   Hi, Tinknocker!
   Here are some thoughts:
   1) make sure you are out of debt!
   2) make sure you save some money (there will never be enough)
   3) learn to live on very little money
   4) don't borrow a bunch of money to get your tools; buy them over time with cash; I've bought all used stationary tools at auctions (school surplus auctions have been very good) and such; learn how to fix them up. That way you can keep them running.
   5) try to start organically; do it evenings and weekends while you accumulate tools, experience, and a growing reputation/customer base. Word of mouth is the best advertising.
   6) plan the process of acquiring tools and such, but you can occasionally snatch up a bargain down the list of priorities. If you hear of some machine that sounds great and might be a bargain, show up with cash as soon as possible, preferably with a truck.
   7) if you're only going to do simple cheap work with pine, buy cheap tools and be frustrated ;-) Otherwise, buy quality tools.
   8) I spent my first 2 years of evenings and weekends (while I worked as a bicycle mechanic) working only with hand tools (non-electric), most of them bought at farm auctions. I knew it was not economic to use only hand tools for the long run, but I wanted to be able to do whatever I wanted; machines and routers are wonderful ( I have lots of both) but they are very limited in what they can do, tho they do it quickly and accurately (if you know how to maintain them; see 4 above.)
   9) learn how to be a better woodworker than the average guy, and specialize in work that requires that kind of skill. There is no money to be made in competition with guys who have a tablesaw, belt sander, and router and think they are cabinet makers. They are bidding low enough that they are going out of business and don't know it yet.
   and 10) never let shoddy work leave your shop!

   There is of course lots more; feel free to ask more questions.
   JHarveyB

1. 
   nohrn | Jan 20, 2005 05:34am | #6

   keep your dayjob and do cabinet work on the side.. you will gradually improve your skills and reputation. eventually if you are any good( which is as necessary as  a desire to do cabinework full time) you will be able to transition from your day job to cabinet wook full time.

5. 
   cherryjohn | Jan 20, 2005 11:37pm | #7

   Remember one thing and dont ever forget it.............no matter if you are making fine furniture or base cabinets......you are a salesman!  Dont be afraid of the word and embrace the notion.  If you think that you work will speak for itself, youll be sitting on a lot of unsold work!  If you happen to be the timid sort, you are going to have to find someone who offsets that and push your products.  I know of a mild mannered guy who sells high end furniture......very high end.  You walk into his shop and you better be thinking 5 figures to start.  He is like the NBA All Star.  For every one of him there are 5,000 of us.  So to compete you better be a good huckster!

   Wicked Decent Woodworks

   Rochester NH

   " If the women dont find you handsome, they should at least find you handy........yessa!"