Any you guys selling your products?

[Gary roofner]

Newly retired so not wanting big production.

Just finance my hobby.

[Jens Jensen]

One other statement .I build lots of screen doors for home owners and about two summers ago I built 5 doors for commercial usage in kityhnen delivery areas. Now you no that someone with a hand truck and packed up with boxes is just going to push to limit and get out of dodge fast. These doors have stood up remarkably well with the all the ramming and slamming. I do give the reason for there good shape to Kreg joinery .Could you imagine if the doors where made with say a biscquet. I did however give the doors extra mid rails so the screens would not get poked out

[Hanjarity]

Selling your own products is great...I do the same and you're right about building relations with your list...it's not extremely easy but it's quite fun

Retail display

[David Dean]

Well I build dresser’s out of solid oak and maple ply wood and I can use $100.00 of oak but what kills me is the maple ply wood but I make them to last and they are only $ 75.00 so you see I do it for the wood work and to help out all thsos working mom’s and dad’s who need a good dresser at a good price.
Dave

[kurt cranford]

I started out making furniture for my wife, when we couldn't find or afford what she was looking for, then friends and family saw things and wanted things made. Then we started selling at craft shows....the hardest part is pricing your items--- don't sell yourself cheap --find something you like to make and try to be unique --we "recycle " old doors , shutters, windows, salvaged wood --perfect for country/primative furniture. We found a craft cooperative and sell more then enough to pay the rent and upgrade tools and buy materials. Even in this bad economy we have been doing better each year, but be selective and try to develope a niche so you aren't competing with everyone.

[wallace freeman]

One of the major things I learned when I was in Plumbing, and H V A C business is that you cannot survive if you don't charge for your L A B O R.. If someone wants what you have and worked on they really don't mind paying for it. There are those that don't think they should pay for any thing market price, just leave them alone and keep doing what you do best and let them move on to someone else for the easy touch.

[Jeffrey Pike]

I under stand what your saying I have been woraking with wood for 15 years and more I have a big client tell that don't blink an eye when I tell them the price.I'm not the most expensive but I'm not the cheapest neath er most of my business is word of mouth. Most of my work is working on high end homes and older homes.

[Steve McCullough]

When I retired from the fire department, I was screen printing t-shirts as a hobby. Then it became a hobby business, then a full time business with embroidery machines, and sign making equipment. I realized one day, I needed a new hobby. Wa-laa, woodworking. Now, if I'm making something for a family member or a friend, I wouldn't charge anything, BUT, if someone wants to buy something I make, then I want to get whatever the market will bare. I think my time is worth at least $30 an hour as I own the equipment, pay for all supplies and materials, and even pay for the electricity. Even with the t-shirt business, people often tell me they "know" they can get it cheaper. My response, go ahead. I'm not the cheapest nor am I the most expensive, but I won't de-value my product to make a sale. If I'm lucky enough that someone wants to buy something I've made out of wood, I think the same applies.

[Jeffrey Pike]

I now what all of U R talking about I gave a customer a price on a custom made wall unit about 12'x7'6" tall and I told them the price and I thought they were going to have a heart attack. Some people just don't get what it takes to build a custom cabinet or a piece of furniture what they don't now is the time U spend on drawing and the getting material cost the time spent at the lumber yard picking out the material or going to the store to pick out stains and hardware not only that what about the wear and tear on the tools and accessories and your overhead electricity, heat and insurance exct. I can go on on just make shore that the customer knows what is involve in the project so that they can understand what it take to produce a good long lasting piece of furniture or cabinet

[michael pope]

Kim and Wallace,your both correct,i use to work for a custom hardwood furniture and cabinetry company that I will keep nameless...and for many years,saw how cheap it really was to produce the pieces that they were selling for 10x its material cost..but like I stated before..if the customers didn't see such a high ticket value,they would think they weren't getting the quality craftsmanship they were looking for..

[wallace freeman]

Another sad thing is if you purchace the material and finish a piece yourself, and not counting labor, it doesn't cost 1/10 of the retail price of a comprable piece. Cheaper material, which we wouldn't normaly use, and 900% mark up, thats whats sad. Thats one reason I love wood work and doing it myself if I can.