I'd like to hear your SB success story

[80grit]

I'm planning on getting a SB soon and, hopefully, using it to transition into a full time thing. I'm nervous about what direction I will go with it and the unknowns of running a business. My experience is in furniture, but I want to keep an open mind.

For those of you who have a solid business using a SB, if you are willing to share, I'd to hear about what worked for you as far as what you make and how you built your business.

How did you come about finding a product in demand?

Did you advertise?

Is most of your clientele local or beyond?


I would also like to hear any tips about what didn't work for you. Any golden nuggets of wisdom will be appreciated.

[twelchPTM]

there are a lot of storys on the forum, especially in the show and tell, here a link to a thread a posted a few months back...
http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17301

[Bob Eustace]

Andy just do a search of Eugene Kings posts as he sums it up pretty well and also sells plans for some of his products to get you kick started. Eugene also teaches one to use up every bit of time whilst the bot is cutting. Truly you can make just about anything on the bot and your whole manufacturing concepts and methods will change. As you already do furniture why not think of value adding by incorporating lots of v carving? Yesterday I took a crappy chest of draws, took the top off and v carved the top of Mike Tylers Paradise box by scaling it up. Looks absolutely stunning and took 26 minutes!

[MogulTx]

I was buying machined components from a company in another state. They kkept raising prices and their quality control was terrible- and their performance to their quoted lead time was even worse. We got to a point that we had a major quality failure of a part that slipped past MY people. I decided-that day- that I was going to fix that problem. I already knew a guy local to me that did CNC cutting on a ShopBot. I showed him the kinds of parts I needed to have cut. He said: "sure. I can do that." We took him several jobs, but he was 35 miles from me. I eventually bought a machine and started learning how to cut on a 4x4 PRT. It was "OK". Within a couple weeks after getting it ( with NO idea how to run it)... I got a rush need for my shop, to cut a precise template. I told my partner I could do the job (in my garage. on my used shopbot!) I went home that night with a drawing and an idea and cut the most perfect template our company had ever used. When I saw the look on his face, I knew I had a winner.

After that, we started cutting a lot of our own materials. I sold the PRT and bought a 48x96 PRS Standard. Last year I saw a PRS Alpha in a 60 x 120 and I sold the 48 x 96 in a heartbeat. I have learned a lot in the last 3 or so years... I still don't know nearly enough. The three machines have all been fantastic.

The thing is: I started with a NEED. And I went into shopbotting without an expectation that this would replace my daily income. My big machine gets used about 8-10 hours on the average week. I do not have a full time employee, I did nearly 100% in my evenings and weekends. It has built up a nice little extra nest egg for me. But I had a plan, and I followed it. I didn't just buy it to se if I could learn CNC. It has come at an expense to me and it was worth every penny and every drop of blood I have put into it. ShopBot is the way to go, because of the simple, sound platforms that are available and the awesome customer service. Don't hesitate. But DO have a plan and a reason to succeed... and then go do it. Learn all you can. Be polite. Ask many many questions- with the goal of understanding. Then GIVE BACK to the community in a constructive way. And also tell us of YOUR successes. (And maybe a hiccup or two that we might learn from!)

Have fun with it too.

MGM

[gc3]

https://www.facebook.com/VectorStudio22

[genek]

Mr. Hardy, You can make good money with a shop bot. What it takes is the willingness to learn, to get out there and sale yourself, and Your product.

The shop bot can make almost anything that Your heart desires. What I recommend is that You set your goals and go after them. Listen to people here on the forum, ask questions. Learn from our mistakes and also make your own mistakes, and share them with us. We learn from doing we learn more from out mistakes. Find a product that you want to make, make it but also have back up product that will sale. I have my stand by product that I make all the time (they are the ones I have offered for sale on the cd) then I have my High end products that I sale (by the way my high end are $250.00 and above) My high end sales slow but it sales My stand by product sales at a steady rate. My stand by product pays my bills and keeps me making money, Then when my High end product sales I make even more money. My biggest recommendations is to use your imagination. Keep looking for ways to make money, have fun doing it, if you are having fun half the battle is won.

There are people on here that will help you in any way they can.
Shop bot has free on line classes Get in touch with TJ at tjchristiansen@shopbottools.com (http://us-mg5.mail.yahoo.com/yab-fe/mu/MainView?.src=neo&themeName=blue&bn=53_39&s=0&isFresh=1&bucketId=0&stab=1377744290187#) get him to send you information when he is having a on line class, I try to take everyone that he has even if I know how to do what is being taught ( I learn something everytime). Tj is a great teacher, Shop Bot Has a great product. They back up Their cnc and have great technical support team.

Most have hear me say this a lot. Think out side of the box.

[Bob Eustace]

Andy have a look at what fellow furniture maker Andrew Pitt is doing on his little Desktop. Have a look at the video on his home page as its a brilliant example of marrying your existing business to CNC.

http://andrewpittsfurnituremaker.com/index.html

Heaps of detailed video on his Desktop on Utube BUT the only way to find it is to plonk in Shopbot CNC and scroll down until you spot an Andrew Pitt. Most of the vids have had way over 1500 views. Anyway he has a nice online store and gets $110 for simple small signs so this should answer you original question.

[80grit]

Thanks for the info, everyone. I'll keep digging through the forum to learn all I can.

I started building furniture when I was 15, and from the time I got out of college to when I met my wife at 30, I worked 20-25 hours per week part-time building. Deep down, I was hoping it would materialize into something full-time. I built up a nice clientele strickly from word of mouth, but I sucked at quoting prices and ended up essentially making minimum wage most of the time. The big pieces that were fun to make were just too time-consuming to make money on. I felt like I was giving the stuff away. While they all apreciated my work, few really could understand the expense of it. After I got married, I built a house and spend all my spare time working on stuff for us. I haven't sold anything in 5 years, though people still ask all the time.

I am currently a registered civil engineer in my mid 30s. I have a good job with excellent benefits. What's the problem, you ask? I've reached a point where I dread sitting in a cube all day writing reports. My passion is working with my hands being creative, and I think professional experiece will make the learning curve shorter, as far as the SB.

[genek]

Mr. Hardy: you hit up on one of the problems most people have (quoting prices) Even I have that problem from time to time). The best advice That I can give is set a minimum price per hour for your time, Your equipment and for your supplies. I make high end furniture, I never quote a price on the furniture until it is finished unless I have done one similar to that piece.
When I do custom work I tell my customer that it will be per hour plus material, if i have done something like it before, I tell them that price plus and additional $100.00 and that it may be less, however if I have never done anything like that, I tell them that I have never made that before, and that it will be strictly time and material. One can sit down and figure out how much material he will need, one can calculate how many hours will be needed, then add 50% on top and that should cover any extra, customers always like to hear it is cheaper than what was quoted but never that it went over.
the way I do is I take my material, times it by 3,000% and that is my price.
most of my patterns that I make every day is that or above.

My advice to you is start part time making The things you want to make,
keep track of how much time and material take pictures and set your price accordingly. Have small items (like kitchen times that are your main stay or as I call them my stand by product.) to Sale or Wholesale ( or both like I do) Then as your high end items sale replace them. Never let your client talk you down on Your price, When people try I look at them and explain that I do not make things to give away, this is how I make my living.

At some point in time all of my High end pieces sale, the right customer will come along and pay what I have to have, but till then my stand by product pays my bills.
Read my Post on waste wood.

Start out making small items that sale fast and a few High end furniture, find some local festivals or craft shows and do them. Start it as a Hobby or part time job. This way you do not but your style of life in jeopardy.
My company started out as a hobby and a way for me to pass the time after I retired from the Navy, now it brings in more than my retirement.
It has been a life saver for my wife and I.

Anything you do make sure do good quality work. Always do Quality work above quantity. The quantity will come as the quality improves.

[gundog]

For me I had a successful small business before buying the SB not having a business plan and buying equipment seems backwards to me.

I was outsourcing parts that could be made in house and bought the tool. The SB opened up a lot of new products with the ability to design and make more things than I could not have with manual machines.

You say you build furniture the SB will allow you to build things not practical to build by hand and way more accurate. For example just making a radius corner or some special shape yes you could do it with a band saw by hand and then sand it to shape but the time required to do that is the difference between making a profit and not IMHO.

If you have a need the SB is a tool that may open up some new work and profit for you but I would not buy something to make an unknown widget in hopes of making money. I suspect the question here is to try and find new uses most folks don't mind sharing techniques but would probably not like to have their nitch business copied by another fishing for ideas here.

Sorry if that comes off wrong but it was how I read your question.

I won't name names but a guy on here has a successful sign business that he created and was posting all his work next thing you know several are wanting to do exactly what he is because he is making money at it and he takes offense understandably. If that was not what you were trying to find then I am wrong but this is a good example.

Mike

[harryball]

Well... http://www.HabitatForBats.org

Have a passion and the ShopBot can help you follow it.

/RB

[80grit]

I can understand someone not wanting to share their secrets to success, but it's a big world and this is a small forum. I have no intention of trying to take someone's ideas or hone in on their product. I just want to pick the brains of the guys who know. This seems like a tight-knit comminuty of helpful and polite people, many of whom probably would have welcomed more advice when they got started.

[Ajcoholic]

Andy, I am on holidays and no Internet or computer. Writing this on my cellphone so ill keep it short.

As a furniture maker, the shopbot has allowed me to manufacture things that previously, I wouldn't have been able to make and sell for realistic pricing ( which means to my average customer base). Examples I do most if are chairs and stools (especially carved pcs) and curved trim work and stair /railing components. Some styles if table bases, etc. as well as complex 2d parts cut from plywood that previously would have taken several complex jigs and/or too much time.

As an established wood working business, I found it easier to incorporate the machine into my shop... Than starting from scratch and buying the machine and then wondering what to do with it (not the ideal way to go IMO)

I prefer to not think of a CNC as a "magical" thing that will instantly make you $$$. It is after all just a machine and you still need to be able to both program and run it, and also figure out what it can make ( or help you make quicker) and then do just that.

There are probably a thousand things you can model a business around, incorporating the CNC router. That all can end up as a viable business that can earn you a living. But the router is just one part. You still need to take care of the rest :)

[jTr]

Hey Andy!

Ten years ago, I sat in an insurance office at age 30-something, and visualized working in my own furniture shop that utilized a CNC as well. I now have that (pinch me!!), and the reality came about in part, because Shopbot's vision was to enable small little entrepreneurs just like us to get into that advanced level of crafting parts to create our original pieces of furniture.

Honestly, it's been a year and a half of a gradual learning curve with the shopbot, but the result is a very intuitive level of incorporating that machine into doing more and more things for me. I'm just as jazzed about it now if not even more than the day that crate was sitting on my shop floor waiting to be assembled. Talk about the ultimate Pandora's box!

I used to think it was taboo to use a machine like this for "handmade" furniture, but you know what? 99.9% of your customers are not concerned. They just want an original piece that functions and fits their decor in a timely fashion for a fair price.

Without the CNC, I am not sure I'd get through the next 5 years. We're being overwhelmed by the fact that these things are proliferating like bunnies. I mean, everyone who traditionally bought a table saw and a shopsmith is now outfitting their backyard sheds with CNCs - beware - they are everywhere, so don't think it alone will give you an advantage - that's just not the case any longer.

If you want a successful business in woodworking, I firmly believe a CNC is practically as essential as a tablesaw. However, they are only the tools - you need sooo much more to develop, build and maintain a business, never mind the creativity to come up with a zinger for every project . And, if you see someone with a great idea doing well in the business, run like hell the other way. You must differentiate yourself from anyone else in your market, or you'll drown in a game of price warring in which everyone suffers.

Ok. I'm stepping off the soapbox now.

I wish you well, and you'll do so if you can grasp that you are ultimately the most important resource at your business's disposal.


jeff
www.roltgenswoodworks.com

[myxpykalix]

Andy,
When i put together my shopbot, it wasn't with the intent of of making money from customers for income. I buy houses and fix them up and rent them out and live off the income.
In this one picture here is an example of how i "add value" to a property and make it so that a better class of renter will want to rent the property at a higher rental rate.

When i started out that was my sole intent with no idea i'd be doing things for other people but over time people have found me and i've done tons of things from cutting out arcade cabinets to making collapsible flower pots and many many things inbetween and i've never sought out business.

If you have a interest in doing craft items Eugene King is the guy to talk to, by reading here you'll find what specialties certain guys do and you can ask them questions. Some are more forthcoming then others, understandably, but you won't find a more open forum with people willing to share and help which is the biggest reason to buy a shopbot because most of us can't help you if you buy a Legacy:eek:

[myxpykalix]

As far as being nervous about being in business for yourself, i have worked for myself since i was 18 years old and never had an employer. I spent the first summer after high school working in the hot steel mill and said to myself "Why should i bust my ass working so hard to help make SOMEONE ELSE a millionare, when i can do that for myself?"

At this point i'm worth well over a million dollars and it's not because i necessarily worked that hard in manual labor but used my brains and the tools at my disposal to figure out how to get ahead. And i didn't have some of the tools like the shopbot we have today. So being nervous about starting a business is natural but it's the best feeling working for yourself.
The only drawback is there have been times where my business landlord got paid his rent, the employees, utility company, tax man got their share and i was left working for nothing but then there times when you made a killing...so don't be afraid to jump in

[Ajcoholic]

Although I'm no millionaire...I've also been self employed my whole working career (20 yrs) being in business can be a headache at times but I wouldn't want it any other way.

Just find something you absolutely love doing daily and it will be awesome. It has to be more than just a job to make sense.

[myxpykalix]

"Although I'm no millionaire...I've also been self employed my whole working career"

.......But Andrew your work looks like it's worth a million bucks:eek:
and Andrew you have something that's worth more then a million which is the trade and skill that your Dad handed down and taught you and experiences of having someone to guide you and take the time to teach you.....
So in the end i'd say you are the richer man:D, and i envy that...:)

[Ajcoholic]

"Although I'm no millionaire...I've also been self employed my whole working career"

.......But Andrew your work looks like it's worth a million bucks:eek:
and Andrew you have something that's worth more then a million which is the trade and skill that your Dad handed down and taught you and experiences of having someone to guide you and take the time to teach you.....
So in the end i'd say you are the richer man:D, and i envy that...:)

Jack, my problem with $$ is I seem to want to spend as much as I make... :) on more tools though!

I get exactly what you mean though. I wouldn't change a thing except some days the "mechanics" of being self employed, and the worry of schedules, getting everyone paid on time etc can be stressful. As much as I love it, there are times when I go through tums and Advil and sleepless nights worrying about a deadline, etc.

It does take a special person to be your own boss. It's not all glamorous!! As most will admit in our positions.

[80grit]

I appreciate all the advice. I sure don't plan to jump headfirst into this whole deal. I plan to ease in from the shallow end. Yeah, it makes a lot of sense to have a business plan laid out before investing this kind of money into a machine, but you have to pull the trigger at some point. One comforting thing is that these machines seem to hold value pretty well.

I understand that it's not realistic to look at a SB and think of it as they key to a fruitful business, but merely as a tool that can increase volume and capability. The main appeal to me is to be able to use my brains AND my skills to make just about anything, like Jack mentioned. That's what gets me excited.

[genek]

Mr. Hardy there are pattern companies that can sale you patterns to make products from. Vector art 3/d, my company, there are other pattern companies, ask around. Making products with the shop bot is easy. They hard part is finding your customers, my company started out as a hobby when i retired from the navy, with in a few years i was getting more orders than i could make by hand i ended up buying a shop bot to take the load off and allow me more time to do sales.

Sales is the hardest part, you have to learn who is a customer, how to approach them, and how to convince them that your product will sale.

Where most companies fail is they do not have a good customer base and they do not know how to market them selves or their product. I do a lot of posting on the forum. I throw out hints and at times places to go sale products at.

Read my post. Listen to the older guys that do not mind telling you how they do things.

Start small with a few good products that move fast then build from there.

My story of how i got started.

I retired from the navy in 2003 (30 years) i started building bird house (log home style) and some children's toys .
Then in 2007 my mother passed i moved back to kentucky to take care of my dad. My grandfather old wood shop had sat empty for over 10 years the building was starting to fall apart dad ask if i wanted any of the tools etc. That started my company. From there it has grown to where i need all automated equipment as i possible can have. My income from the wood working brings in more than my retirement, and had it not been for the wood working equipment, i would have had to file for bankruptcy. My wife medical bills went through the roof on surgery's, most insurance including mine only paid 80% which still left me with bills that will take me 10 years to pay off.
We had to refinance our home just to cover one doctors co-pay..

So even if you do not start working full time in a shop, do it part time and build it from there, this way when you retire you have a company established to help pay bills and to be a cushion
to fall back on if needed.

[myxpykalix]

The one suggestion about business i'd emphasize is start out in your garage or shed or wherever you can house your bot so that it is not a financial burden. If you have the capital to pay cash for your bot so you have no monthly payment is best, same thing on rent, try not to have rent if possible.

Because if you have rent, loan and other business overhead to start out you are basically just chasing your own tail trying to keep ahead and not getting anywhere.
Also you have to develop or have a outgoing personality. People want to deal with people who believe in themselves and their products. Take Eugene for example, i've never met him but having built his business he's had to deal with the public and you overtime develop an outgoing personality. It shows in his posts here....
Then there are some guys i know here who cringe at having to deal with people. They tend to sell mainly to businesses and only deal with very few people. Both things are equally fine but you need to know your customers.

:D :D :D :D

[80grit]

I actually already have a sizable shop at my disposal, and I am selling a car I built to allow me tobuy a SB. I still would like to get a lightly used one, though.

The outgoing personality thing might be an issue for me, as I tend to let my work do the talking. I'd have to work on that. I'm sure a nice website would be a good tool to get my work out there, and some guys here have really good sites.

[genek]

Jack hit the nail on the head. However in this day and time you need to sale to the public as well as do wholesale. Wholesale for me is my bread winner. The shows and people buying direct is my gravy... My wholesale accounts pay my salary the over heads etc. My retail customers and shows, allow me to gain more wholesale accounts and it gives me a chance to get out of the shop and see what is happening, in the art and craft world.

you have to develop your salesmanship. one of the ways is by doing shows. learn to talk to the public, and to get sales. You also need to learn how to tell someone to go to he== and have them to ask for directions and thank you at the same time. You will encounter bad customers, and you have to deal with them at some point in time. Do it with tact, do it in a way they do not know you just told them to go do something to themselves. I just sent a potential customer to one of my competitors today. I know that had I took this customer on it would have been a nightmare. Best to let him bad mouth my competitor than for him to bad mouth my company, what he wanted was beyond what could actually be done for that price. learn to turn down jobs. Hopefully my competitor will get burned by this man.