Posts by Scottart
1 - 4 of 96 Posts
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669 Posts
I am on Tom's side on this. Marketing makes all the difference, and I don't mean high pressure sales. 39 years selling for a living has honed those skills and they can not be shrugged off as a small part of what you do if you want to grow. There are lots of books on the topic, Tom has suggested a good one. With out those skills you will be floating around in word of mouth world and saddled with low prices that don't reflect what you do.
The other part of this conversation that warrants further exploration is what does "making a good living" mean in dollars an cents. In my case, after 40 years in the corporate world, most of my finances are covered for retirement... So making $40000 a year out of my garage shop now allows me to transition away from the corporate umbrella 5 to 7 years ahead of the plan. But $40000 a year would not have covered the costs of raising our 4 kids, and the balance of our life style.
In June we will bill close to $16000 almost all of it off our 48 x 96' CNCRPT machine. This is our peak season so not typical, but all of it was designed and produced in the last 5 weeks. I work many late evenings and weekends, many folks wont do that, but I truly find this to be a like a vacation. I use very few Clipart models, and most of my designs are mine alone and custom to match a customers imagination.. .. so competition is slim.
My $10k machine is bolted together from a kit, does not have a vacuum table, or auto tool changers. We own an art gallery on a high way to a national park, and i have sold art as a side business for 30 plus years up here.. so that provides some momentum that a newby would lack. I also still work 3 to 4 days in corporate world.
So pick what you want from your one CNC machine. They can certainly pay for themselves with a bit of word of mouth and a few shows each year if you do quality work. Beyond that, i am convinced that $100000 k out of our garage is doable ...... if you want to work, and learn to sell. Having said that... our operation is open 5 months per year and than we go to online selling and a much lighter winter duty.. so our current plans are not to go full speed.... but i sure wish i had started this when i was 40..
The other part of this conversation that warrants further exploration is what does "making a good living" mean in dollars an cents. In my case, after 40 years in the corporate world, most of my finances are covered for retirement... So making $40000 a year out of my garage shop now allows me to transition away from the corporate umbrella 5 to 7 years ahead of the plan. But $40000 a year would not have covered the costs of raising our 4 kids, and the balance of our life style.
In June we will bill close to $16000 almost all of it off our 48 x 96' CNCRPT machine. This is our peak season so not typical, but all of it was designed and produced in the last 5 weeks. I work many late evenings and weekends, many folks wont do that, but I truly find this to be a like a vacation. I use very few Clipart models, and most of my designs are mine alone and custom to match a customers imagination.. .. so competition is slim.
My $10k machine is bolted together from a kit, does not have a vacuum table, or auto tool changers. We own an art gallery on a high way to a national park, and i have sold art as a side business for 30 plus years up here.. so that provides some momentum that a newby would lack. I also still work 3 to 4 days in corporate world.
So pick what you want from your one CNC machine. They can certainly pay for themselves with a bit of word of mouth and a few shows each year if you do quality work. Beyond that, i am convinced that $100000 k out of our garage is doable ...... if you want to work, and learn to sell. Having said that... our operation is open 5 months per year and than we go to online selling and a much lighter winter duty.. so our current plans are not to go full speed.... but i sure wish i had started this when i was 40..
Joined
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669 Posts
Hi Dave
Most of what we sell is what i would loosely classify as Cabin signs. 24" x 24" 3D painted, carved outdoor themed name signs. These sell in the $200 to $300 range. Moose, bears, salmon, loons, Alaskana stuff.. etc. 10 or so each month.
Than salt that with a few 36 " to 72" signs that run $600 to $1200.
Like Tom mentioned we also end up with some business that i call B to B. business to business. Bed and breakfasts, lodges, and tourist shops that want signature pieces. These are larger CNC pieces like carved benches, and Bed headboards. Again, $500 to $2000.
On the bottom end is simple routered name signs. I charge $40 for a 24 x 6" raised letter sign with a family name or address. Spray it black, run it through a planner.. done.. these a great place to up sell to something with 3 D and maybe even a painted sign.
I keep a stock of cribbage boards in the store any one for $89. I also have dozens of Carved panels in the store for customers. a few CNC puzzle games, rod holders, coat racks. A store makes it easy to have a broad range of stuff around ... and it keeps my interest up.
Than occasionally we get a bigger pieces. I just finished a 34' carved Mural for a local Childern's library.. they had an association with a solid budget and wanted to add some bright colors to the 3 archways entering the library. We get a few big commissions each year that run $3000 to $8ooo.
If you find us on Facebook at Willow Creek gallery.. you can see much of what we sell. I also use FB extensively to market.. Way more sales come from that than our Web Page.. Not in Etsy yet, but headed there..
Joined
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669 Posts
Just remember, Don't listen to the folks who say "they can't do it".. … because they are right about themselves..... because THEY can't.
Find a few people that are doing what you want to do, build a friend ship, adjust for what you want out of it, have fun, go for it.
Find a few people that are doing what you want to do, build a friend ship, adjust for what you want out of it, have fun, go for it.
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