Approaching lowes.

[genek]

HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN MAKING PRODUCT FOR LOWE'S AND TO BECOME A VENDOR FOR THEM. I HAVE CONTACTED THEM WITH A PRODUCT HOWEVER IF I DO GET THE CONTRACT I COULD NOT KEEP UP WITH THE ORDERS. WHAT I AM THINKING OF IS FOR A GROUP OF SHOP BOTTERS TO TEAM UP AS A GROUP WITH EACH HAVING A TERRITORY TO SUPPLY THE PRODUCT TO THAT SECTION OF LOWE'S.

WOULD BE INTERESTED IN HOW MANY WOULD BE WILLING TO SUPPLY A REGION.

THERE WOULD BE NO COMPETE CLAUSES AND LEGAL AGREEMENTS TO BE WORKED OUT. THERE WOULD BE A PROFIT SHARE AGREEMENTS ETC.

IF YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED E-MAIL ME AT eking1953@yahoo.com

[genek]

This project would require that you be able to handle minimum of 4' x 4' sheets of plywood. There may be other projects that as a group we can approach them with as well

[jerry_stanek]

I have free time on my machine pretty often since I retired.

[bleeth]

Eugene:
Send me the details of what you are asking and I will decide if I could make it work. As you know I have a 4 x 8 Alpha and do a lot of cutting for others businesses.

[ron_churches]

I'd like to hear more too. I have a PRT9648 Alpha and live in the Detroit area.

[feinddj]

Eugene, I am in the Bay Area, and have a 5x10 Alpha

[gene]

interesting !:rolleyes:

[sawkerf]

I'm interested too.

[genek]

At this stage of the game I will not share what the product is. I may or may not get to sale the product to Lowe's and if this does not happen with Lowe's I have other companies that might take it. What I am proposing to Lowe's can be cut on a buddy or any machine that can handle 4' x 4' . I came upon a void.. and if it goes over with Lowe's and with the number of Stores they have there is no way a small shop could fill their needs. I talked to Ted about this a few weeks ago, and told him what I had envisioned and he recommended that I approach this on the forum.

This is not guaranteed at this point, and is only in the beginning stages so on till I know I have this in the bag and all parties have signed the agreements I will not tell anyone what the product is, or other plans of product is.
so there is no need to ask. If you are interested just let me know. If some of you have a idea and would like to approach Lowe's with your product you can contact them at;


Access Lowes.com.on the internet
At the bottom of the page under Services, click Lowe's Suppliers.
Click Lowe's Supplier Expectations.
Review the Supplier Expectations and Supplier Diversity Requirements.
Under the Application Process, click Online.
Complete the electronic New Supplier Registration form

[butch]

I'm in Montana. I would be interested in a project like this.

[genek]

I'm in Montana. I would be interested in a project like this.
send me a e-mail at eking1953@yahoo.com I have made a file to save contact e-mails so I can contact you as needed.

[Burkhardt]

Obviously I don't know if this is focused on a specific product idea or business method or what. But if it looks any promising make sure to protect your intellectual property before going public or even talking about it with potential partners. That may mean nondisclosure agreements and/or patenting if possible. Otherwise you may lose control of a successful idea in no time.

[johnh]

Where is Lowes gonna get some decent plywood we can cut up?


Just kidding, add me to your list please. Thanks for posting.

[Kyle Stapleton]

What kind of numbers are you looking at?
I contacted Menards about something like this and it was a 60,000 unit min. (200 units per store).
Ran the numbers and it would take over a year of 24/7 cutting just to make the parts.

[SomeSailor]

Add me I suppose too. Seattle, WA area.

Have you put something on 10,000 Garages?

[dcruze]

Eugene, I would be interested in this also. Keep me in mind.

[supertigre]

I would be interested in the Toronto Ontario region.

[dlcw]

Email has been sent to you Eugene.

[genek]

Don the numbers are going to be high that is why i am looking for help.

[genek]

My last should have be an answer to kyle stapleton.

By the way i have added all that have contacted me to my list... Been busy getting ready for a meeting with another large company not as big as lowe"s but a good size one...i am looking at several large companies... That this and other products might need products made on cnc.
Will up date latter.

[dlcw]

Don the numbers are going to be high that is why i am looking for help.

If necessary, I can add another machine or two (in planning stages now). I have room in my shop to accommodate up to 3ea 4x10 or 5x10 machines and the electrical capacity needed.

I have 3 other medium to large scale manufacturing projects in the planning process. One needing an indexer.

I will make it work.

[bcondon]

With a 4x8 Alpha

[pappybaynes]

Eugene,
I sent you an email today...I hope you got it.
Dick Baynes

[gundog]

I sent you an email. I am interested in hearing more.

Mike

[David Iannone]

I have a prt 4x8 with available machine time in LaGrange, Ga

[gene]

How are you going to handle Quality Control to insure that they are satisfied with the work (product ) . Also what about packaging and sku #?

[sc.crab]

I'm interested too.

[danhamm]

What a nightmare, I think someone needs to "look" at the Suppliers Liabilities Contract for Lowes and spend the dollars to have a qualified "Contract" Lawyer explain its terms.

[ken_rychlik]

I'm on the list also. It is an interesting army grouping up.

[MogulTx]

Dan: You can take exception to anyone's contractual requirements. I do it all the time. It is really not a big deal. Have done it with major corporations. Most of them understand that their lawyers are crazy.

[nathanporter]

So did this project ever materialize?

[genek]

They have plans to put cnc ect at every locations and they would only take the pattern for themself so I droped it.

[carlcnc]

Lowes with a cnc?
now that's gonna be entertaining!
given the big box propensity for hiring and/or training to minimal skills and knowledge
this should be a million$ fiasco.
and pity the poor company who sells them the machine/software etc.

I have worked wit many brands of machines, the problems created by lazy "users" can be many
I was one once!

[David Iannone]

HA. that is pretty funny. I have seen some of their "associates" using the panel saw and that can be scary......

Although, why not shopbot try to sell each store a handibot??? I have never used one but they look pretty handy from the videos.

Dave

[MogulTx]

Lowes has teamed up with a group that puts in 3-4 Shopbots in tech centers right next door to them. People become members of the tech shop "club" and can use the Shopbot and other tools ( once they pass some form of training and proficiency test... I highly doubt that it is profitable. But they have these tech centers in 6 or more places IIRC already. I have been to one. I think the concept is cool - but the execution and long term profitability must be considered, as well.

[myxpykalix]

Gene i got an email from you with a lot of russian writing on it. You may have been hacked? I deleted it

Given the quality of lowes employee this will be abandoned pretty soon.

[tri4sale]

Lowes has teamed up with a group that puts in 3-4 Shopbots in tech centers right next door to them. People become members of the tech shop "club" and can use the Shopbot and other tools ( once they pass some form of training and proficiency test... I highly doubt that it is profitable. But they have these tech centers in 6 or more places IIRC already. I have been to one. I think the concept is cool - but the execution and long term profitability must be considered, as well.

We had a tech center like that here, and it failed. Over a million people in the Metro area, and they situated in the middle of it, near high tech centers and people with high income, and they still couldn't stay open. Cost was about $1500 per year, they did have monthly options, but still was very expensive.

[willnewton]

I miss the Techshop, I would drive an hour each way to take classes, but was not close enough to justify a membership. I took the Shopbot classes there well over a year before I had an actual machine and that class is 100% of the reason I own a Shopbot today.

[bleeth]

Woodcrafters tried that and they didn't make it either. The one near us lasted a year (one lease term). Located in the middle of a million or so ranging from full spectrum of income levels and many retirees.

[tri4sale]

My gut about these services is that people with disposable income high enough to afford $100+ per month membership fees can afford to own the equipment at their house.

[gc3]

My gut about these services is that people with disposable income high enough to afford $100+ per month membership fees can afford to own the equipment at their house.

the garage hobby guys...

[genek]

That is sort of true. However these places that they are setting up has all of the tools and equipment for members to use, and actually if you figure cost of equipment, electricity and up keep,, it comes out cheaper... for someone that is just a hobbyist. You could not do this for a business you are running, not enough time..

[gundog]

They opened a Tech Shop in Portland, OR and it failed rather fast.

[RossMosh]

I've never been to a tech shop, but I imagine one of the biggest turnoffs is price and machine availability. If I want to use the CNC for 2-3 hours on a Saturday, how many weeks in advance do I need to book time?

From what I can tell, the only way these tech shops are successful is if they focus on the U18 crowd, specifically elementary and middle school aged children. Even then it's tricky because how much can you charge a month? $100/mo is about what a kid plays for Karate lessons. All things considered, as far as I know, karate schools have no major equipment costs. All their money is spent in rent. With a tech shop, you're talking about $50k in machines, and that's being conservative. When you sit down and figure out your break even point when you have an initial build out cost of $75k and $10k in monthly expenses before even talking about wages, I can't imagine any of them breaking even in the first few years.

[bill.young]

If you haven't been in a Techshop they're pretty amazing, with a full metal shop, wood shop, waterjet, lasers and 3d printers, commercial sewing equipment, and of course ShopBots! Last I heard it costs around $1- 1.5 million dollars to setup up a new Techshop.

[terryjones]

I agree with Bill. It is so amazing, I am now one of their CAD/CAM and ShopBot instructors.

Click on this link to learn more about this makerspace. http://techshop.ws/index.html

The knowledge base of staff and members is unmatched anywhere.

There are several around the country, see map below.

http://www.techshop.ws/images/VA_LandingPage700x250_Map_061814.jpg

Interested in taking a class, check out this list. http://techshop.ws/take_classes.html?storeId=11

Don't forget to look at their Facebook page here in Roundrock, Texas. If you look closely, you may even find me!
https://www.facebook.com/TechShopAustinRoundRock/

[Xray]

Interesting concept, there is one just a few miles from me.

Don't know if there is anything for me there worth $150 a month, but could come in handy if I ran into a project I couldn't handle on my smaller machine

http://www.techshop.ws/take_classes.html?storeId=6&categoryId=27