Replies

1. 
   nikkiwood | May 31, 2007 06:59am | #1

   Joshua,

   Your work is outstanding.

   But your lead times are exceptionally fast and your prices are astonishingly low for work of this quality and complexity. I am assuming you are doing everything yourself at present.

   I fully realize your prices are set with concerns other than maximizing profit; but I raise the issue, mainly because I think it will be difficult to find a person with the requisite skills that will turn out pieces (or sub-assemblies) at the money you are probably able to pay with this price structure.

   I wonder if you have thought about looking amongst the young people in your father's congregation for someone who might be interested in this sort of work?

   Just today, I met a young college grad who is dying for an opportunity to apprentice himself to a skilled cabinetmaker. And he was quick to say that he was more than willing to work for minimal wages if in turn someone was willing to teach him the craft.

   ********************************************************
   "It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."

   John Wooden 1910-

1. 
   oldusty | May 31, 2007 07:47am | #2

             Hi Nikki ,

               Whoa !! be careful about the young college grad . It may just be me but in my experience you can either teach someone or you can pay them , but you can't pay them to learn .

         I think if Joshua gets  most all his bids and has more work then he can handle perhaps it is time to adjust his prices .

                        regards       dusty

1. 
   nikkiwood | May 31, 2007 08:11am | #3

   I think it all depends if you (the boss) have the mentality for it, and know how to pick the right people. But it certainly does not work for everybody..............********************************************************
   "It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."

   John Wooden 1910-

2. 
   JeffHeath | May 31, 2007 09:03pm | #4

   Joshua

   Your work is very nice, and I believe you have chosen a niche that will always be growing, as the church isn't going anywhere in our society.

   I have to completely agree with Nikkiwood and Olddusty regarding your pricing.  I run my own shop, and I would be charging almost double what you are to maintain profitability in my shop.  Perhaps your business is busting at the seams because of the low prices, and it IS time to raise them.  I can't comment on your financial motivation, or even if you have any, but it will be extremely difficult in my opinion to find someone with the talent to turn out carved pieces at a rapid pace who won't wish to profit from their endeavours.

   Good luck.

   Jeff

3. 
   troys | May 31, 2007 09:35pm | #5

   What I learned from some very successful people in another craft was that if you were to busy the best solution was to start raising your prices, some times it is better to work for 20 hours at 150 dollars an hour than 40 hours at 75 dollars an hour. Of course this is a gross simplification but raising your prices might help you to hire some help and increase your production. Anyway it looks like you do great work and good luck

   Troy

1. 
   FG3000 | May 31, 2007 10:05pm | #6

   I really appreciate the suggestions (and the kind comments). I just today went through the site and made a 20% base price increase on all the products shown (it's great to be the 'boss' and to manage your own website!).~Joshua

1. 
   t_mauery | Jun 02, 2007 01:53am | #7

   Good for you!

4. 
   byhammerandhand | Jun 03, 2007 08:24pm | #8

   I was at a 5-person manufacturing facility last month. The amount of work that they put out was incredible (~7000 pieces a year). The owner told me the key was their CNC machine. He ran it about 3-4 hours a day in the late afternoon by a part-timer (who worked at a nearby furniture factory) That kept the assembly crew busy the next day. He said while it was not cheap, it came to a point of increasing floor space, machinery and staff significantly, or buying a CNC.

   He was tweaking it to get things like carving done by it in addition to cutting and joint-making.

   Even a local carver runs a 5x duplicator machine to rough out the carvings he does and finishes off with hand work.

   Just a thought.