Fun you can have as a result of a shopbot!

[harryball]

For the first time we decided to not only sell our kits at an event but let people build them there as well. We setup a table with the tools and when people purchased one of our bat house kits we let them walk over and build it. We've never done this at this type of event, only at purposed workshops. We did well and it was fun and "fun". :rolleyes:

Here is a brief video that doesn't do justice to the experience...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO92T5pf6z0

Feel free to watch this video too, it gives you the context of the evening, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTbnwECNeUI


We ran out of kits. About half of those that bought built the kit there. I'm undecided about setting up the build table on Oct. 13th at our next event. Everyone was able to assemble the kit, no one had a lot of trouble but it did consume more time than expected. It seems those with the least experience were the ones that wanted to build them there. So I'm thinking... if we hadn't let them build there, would they still have bought one?

Here are a few troubles...

1) conveying the "how to" over an over was numbing. No one wanted to read the instructions but wanted me to tell them. A video might help, but how to present it?

2) caulk was wasted. I've learned smaller tubes reduce waste and the mess but I'm unable to find the small 3 oz tubes any longer. If you give them an 8 oz tube they seem to think they have to use it all.

3) sharing. Believe it or not we had some instances where I had to TAKE the drill away from someone to give it to someone else because they stood there holding one drill waiting for someone else to put in the screws with the other drill while another person stood there not able to work on their kit. These were the ADULTS too.

4) discipline. I'll have to say most did very well and I don't want the few undisciplined kids spoil it for everyone but... I considered a tazer a few times but that might upset somebody. :D


There may be no solutions, but anyone with experience doing this kind of stuff, any ideas you could share would be welcomed. I'm leaning toward the idea that the build table helped sales.


/RB

[genek]

I do shows from time to time the shows THAT I do demo's or teach I bring in about a 1/3 to 1/2 more money.. You have a gold mine this way.
This added more sales to your event than you may know. Not only at that event but events and sales on down the road.

1. You had people in your zone working, this brought more people over to see what was going on.. More sales,,, then and on down the road.

2. You gained more sales because some could not have done it with out your help and tools.. Again more sales then and on down the road.

My suggestions is to buy a couple of more drills you can pick them up at yard sales for a few buck... one drill bit and driver per drill not drill dedicated to drilling or driving screws... tape chuck to cord near the plug this way they have to unplug it.


Have someone to handle the sales you handle the projects.
Start say all four people at the same time.. While you show them you could be putting one together and placing it up for sale at the show. People will buy something they have seen be made quicker than one that comes out of a box... By doing this you allow them to do as you are doing.. And building inventory at the worst.
This to me is a win win show.

[chiloquinruss]

Following along with your thinking suppose you put up a "NEXT Build At 3:00" type of sign and then do as you suggest, do a group build. Just thinking out loud. Russ

[myxpykalix]

I was going to say what Russ said...have a specified time so people have time to purchase the kits and you have time to make more sales THEN you have a kit building session where you are telling all at one time instead of repeating yourself with each kid.

Either you or someone else be appointed to do the kit building so someone is left to do the selling. There is no doubt that the building sessions sold you more kits.

It might be good to have corded drills so people won't cabbage up on them or walk off with them. Go down to the pawn shop and buy yourself about a half dozen more.

Not sure how you do this but you should have a specified tube of caulk with each kit rather then supplies just there, so they know this is yours with your kit and this will do your kit, use it wisely.

[harryball]

Eugene, Thanks for the comments. That is very useful and gives me something to think about. I’d not thought about “formalizing” the process as THE program but was thinking of it as an aside to the program.

Russ, great idea… I bet some people would just come watch then take the kit home and build it too.

Jack, I can’t use corded drills, no power close by most of the time. I have some cheap B&D drills I paid $20 each for a few years ago, but those batteries are about gone now and I can’t replace them. I’ve not had a problem with people taking them though, even my DeWalt stayed put. I wish I could find the 3 oz tubes of caulk, we use to put one with each kit. But I’ve not been able to buy those for some time. Most are 6oz or more. Guess there wasn’t enough demand for the itty bitty ones.

I'll keep you posted of what happens on the 13th.

/RB

[hh_woodworking]

Found this not sure if it will help 3oz silicone caulk:http://compare.ebay.com/like/170882296724?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar

[genek]

you can get cheap battery powered drills at harbor frieght... the batteries sometimes can be rebuilt.. check for a place that sales only batteriers.

[supertigre]

You may try setting up stations where the people take their project from one station to the next. Each station has it's own dedicated tools for the step being performed (color coded to the station, blue station - caulking, red station - drilling, yellow station screwing, etc.) and a laminated drawing describing the step being performed at that station is taped to the table / bench at the station. As each person finishes at a station they move to the next (leaving the tools for the station behind). At the end they get a little gold bat sticker, an 'atta boy / girl, and their bat house.