New Year, New Buisness ?

[gene]

Since its a new year how are things in your part of the country? Better ? Worse? Here in the good ole south , Augusta Ga , Things seen to be getting better. I have picked up more work for Jan than the last 4 months of 2009 . Lets hope this keeps up.

[Gary Campbell]

We also have noticed an increase in actual real orders similar to what Gene notes. We have booked 3-4 months of work in Jan. that are equal to the last 6 mo of '09.
Gary

[wberminio]

Beginning to get some calls.More work getting bid out.Have to under bid to get some work.
Hope your trend trickles up North.

Salesmen say they never saw so many shops so clean.(Not a good sign)

[thewoodcrafter]

Here is SoCal it is dead.
Still in the holiday slow time.
Seems very few want or can spend money.
And when they do they get lots of bids.
I have never been accused of being the cheapest guy in town.
Hopefully Tax refund time will help business.

[gc3]

Well here in Los Cabos our work load had increased 3-4 times what it was the last 6 months of 09. Hopefully the trend will continue for us.


Gene Crain
www.plantasymaderas.com (http://www.plantasymaderas.com)

[ghostcreek]

Here in Northern California (Gold Country) is dead as far as residential, Orders from the Commercial side are picking up. Enough to pay the bills. Generally just like Roger K. stated. Looking for a better year then 2009. Good Luck to all.

[dlcw]

I'm walking the pavement, beating the bushes and crossing my fingers here in northeast Washington.

Don
www.dlwoodworks.com (http://www.dlwoodworks.com)

[cedars]

Here in Lancaster, PA, we are swamped. I had a very good fourth quarter and the work hasn't stopped coming in. I had to hire a third full time person. I too am hoping this pace continues this year. I have a lot of ground to make up for from 2009.

[navigator7]

I'm glad you started this thread, Gene!
It's good for brainstorming!

I am attracted to the shopbot for one reason.....I know I can generate emotion with this tool!

This is my strategy overcoming the current state of affairs from the point of view from a guy trying to satisfy demand by creating demand:

Work produced from a table saw, moulder, router (Conventional), skilsaw, drill press, lathe etc can be had for very little . While all these tools are necessary, competition is everywhere. Cutting 2x4's pays about 10-20 bucks per hour and is feast or famine. Most of the guys in my area are laid off, bankrupt or expecting to be laid off.....but the building supply is still going strong. People are remodeling. They are looking for value, using Home Depot as a bench mark but they can be sold by personalization. CNC's and people who can create a 3D object quickly and cheaply are rare.

I believe the link to prosperity in this market is via people's emotions. Emotion is very powerful and that same emotion can become your best salesman.

"Oh let's splurge and do this for ourselves. We deserve it!"
Who hasn't heard this comment within your own family?

I've developed a saying based on my observations and associations with concrete stamping customers in my area: "If it's about 'ME', 'WE' or 'Our House' we will do it!" You have a sale if you can capture emotion by personalizing a product you can't buy at Walmart or Home Depot.

For example:
I believe it was you, Don, that recently produced that beautiful mantle piece with the deer and trees?
I don't know where you got the deer and the trees from but imagine if it was a facsimile of deer in the customer's back yard? Or a picture from their vacation? Or the family dog? Or the old man's 57 Chevy with him and his wife.....(Girlfriend at the time)
Not taking anything away from your work by any means...simply making my point.
It's not what we want. It's what the customer wants. However, it might be our job to dislodge a little creative juices from within the minds of our customers! ;-)
To me, Aspire and photoVCarve makes it possible and is relatively inexpensive.

There are endless ....nay, infinite possibilities contained in most people's cameras and computers.
The trick is to sell it!

I swear ... in my world.....every customer must have a free gift of some kind made on a bot...presented free gratis ....after they pay up and not held out as a carrot.

My area...as another example, is populated with ranchers. They all have brands. These brands reach deep into their family heritage. If I was to do custom work for a rancher, I'd make their brand from a piece of scrap suitable for a wall hanging. I know ranchers who would cry over such a gift

It's emotional. It captures their heart.

If you do custom work for a contractor...a sign with the contractor's logo that could hang or mount in the yard would make the contractor think about you every time he came to the job site. I'm working on a job right now...the customer wants a maple leaf made from teak covering up about 10 vent holes that extrude into stamped concrete we poured. My boss hasn't a clue how to achieve results. He uses skilsaws and tables saws...but a maple leaf? He is lost!
(Don't bug him...I already have the file created ready for carving ;-)

Even a desk top name board....simple.

We recently installed new granite counter tops. She treats the counter tops like a newborn. My wife wants a coaster to place the coffee pot on. I wanted to use a cutout from the sink drop but the granite company freaked. I can't believe the granite store didn't have the capacity or desire to etch into the sink cutout with some well thought out lettering or design with their company name on the piece! I asked.

Well...I've got the sink drop and as soon as I figure out how to run the bot I'm getting.....I'll be taking the drop down to the granite store with an etched design of the granite store's logo....with my name and number on it!!!!

;-)

Sell passion and prosper!

[gene]

One thing i did was to go to the big box store and talk to the manager over the appliances. Often they will sell someone a refrig that is too tall for their cabinets , The last house i went to to cut the cabinets down for i sold them a new set instead of modifying theirs. It wasnt an expensive set but their was a profit there . That same house has since ordered a fireplace mantle.
I guess its about making that connection and the sale. Lets all pray that the trend keeps up and spreads to the rest of the country. 2010 will be the comeback year!