Good breakdown of the process for starting a successful business. Two years ago I was in the same place. We moved to a new state and I intended to make and sell Adirondack chairs. We built a circle of friends and I started making small things for them. Then one of the friends ordered eight charcuterie boards for Christmas presents. Then she ordered a custom bookcase, one of their friends ordered four Adirondack chairs, their neighbor ordered a custom stereo cabinet, their friends ordered six Adirondack chairs... It’s all about building relationships. My web site gets very little traffic, most of my sales are word of mouth.
I've been a Director of Business Development and Marketing for several hospitals throughout the years. Marketing Directors are always looking for unique items for physicians and others. Might I suggest that you come up with several small items that you can make, E.G: cutting boards, business card holders, wooden ink pens, etc., and create a nice brochure spotlighting these items. if you have the ability to personalize an item with someone's name and/or business, the better. Send these brochures out to the various hospitals in your area, then follow up with a telephone call to schedule a visit. Bring along these items as well for them to look, feel, smell, etc. If you haven't already, consider joining the local chamber of commerce to introduce your business and develop the all important business network. As I sit here thinking, there is probably a nice market providing promotional items for car dealership to give to new car buyers, radio and television stations, for promotional give aways for new/existing clients. The take away is to think outside the box! Please reach out to me if you would like to talk further. No charge for the advice, as I am actually thinking about starting a small woodworking business myself. Happy Hunting
Great recap of your first 30 days, I enjoy all your videos. My day job is a sales manager and wood worker by night. I tell my sales team every day, create lots of activity each day which is an investment for tomorrows growth. With no activity there will be no success down the road. If you are doing the right actions your business will grow, but not necessarily on your agenda. The agenda of your customers sometimes are not the same as yours. You guys are doing the right things for success to come.
My daughter is having a small family wedding, and you guys gave me the idea of creating custom cutting boards with the couple's name and wedding date on the board. One for each family attending. Just an idea for a possible market for your cutting boards. Love the videos please don't stop
U guys have an awesome attitude and business ethic.! But the smartest advice i got when trying to take off was that people don't like salesman. Especially nowadays. Don't over push or you'll push them away. Make your furniture. Sell your furniture. And word of mouth will get around and you'll run into the big shots eventually. And was he right.
That's such an interesting perspective, Joe. I'm glad your business took off. We've had the exact OPPOSITE experience. We're way too timid in asking for the sale. I guess the advice you got works best for certain personalities who sound 'sales-y' by default.
I know cutting boards and similar items are fun to make and most people have them but don't forget to do your own thing. Put you twist on it or make something that isn't so common. Not trying to sound negative but most woodworkers sell cutting boards. I sell on Etsy and my sales didn't take off until I started making my items more custom. I was just about to give up on my items when I gave it one last push and went my own route. Now I sell when I want to sell and can pretty much guarantee to sell all of my items within days of listing. I'm not making life changing money but it is a good source of side income. Hop on Etsy and just type in the items that you're selling and see how many items pop up. That will give you a good idea of how much competition is out there. Also don't under estimate the good ol craft fair. Might want to check out supplying wedding venues as well. Keep up the great work and I hope you both the best.
I have run my own business and helped others run theirs. I'm not a fan of blowing all my money up front, even if I could afford it. Start small, take baby steps, and let your consistent sales justify your upgrades. In business, the most important rule is to maintain a healthy cash flow. Maybe RUclips is going to change all that, but for now, I'm sticking with bare essentials.
Both of you are great to watch! Your desire to help others learn from your (and others) mistakes is outstanding in this day & age, where so many people are out for themselves first. It is generally accepted that a small business should have a year's worth of expenses & income on hand in cash before starting - in order to survive the first year in business. Realtors may also like to have a personalized wall plaque to give as closing gifts to clients.
I agree with the others. Sales don't come easy or overnight. Keep at it and get out and start networking in person as much as possible. It will pay off in the end, you have a great start.
If you have a local friend who does mortgage lending, they may be able to tell you who the top producing realtors are in your area. Target them specifically, so you can sell more volume per customer. Also perhaps consider having the personalization etching done on the side of the board, this way you can boards in process, partially finished and just glue the side piece on.
Noticed y’all didn’t switch back and forth talking as often in this video which I enjoyed because it keeps the thoughts more cohesive and flows better.
Congrats on your first month! One thing you may want to look into is building a relationship with a couple of large title companies. They have networks in place with the local Realtors. It is not uncommon for the title companies to host meeting for continuing education credits, introducing home warranty companies, etc. If you can get in the door with them, you could potentially get a captive audience, full of Realtors. Personally I have had some of my biggest sales evolve from being active in certain social media groups, BBQ enthusiast type things. I post a photo of whatever, on my custom cutting boards and always get asked "hey where did you get that board". Just some free advice that I have learned over my first year here in Dallas. Good luck, and I enjoy watching the videos and progress!
Thanks sooo much for ur insight especially how much to charge for ur Labor . You two are great......I stained my plywood walls with English Chestnut making our shop look a bit more homey for a guitar recording studio as well since I'm a part time Luthier . If I don't sell anything at least my shop looks good for display .
What separates your channel from others? You're documenting your start up and showing/telling us what worked and what didnt. Most channels like this have a business already. Thank you for doing all this!
Hi Jared, appreciate your kind words - just want to point out that we also had a business already. This is NOT our first furniture business. Don't want anyone to get the wrong impression - this is 'starting over' for us.
Have you considered offering package deals to the realtors. I’ve been very successful with approaching them with a sample board and saying, I will prepare x number boards for x amount and it will have generically “xxx” on every one of them. And when they’re ready, they contact me with the details of their closing and I will apply customization to the board on an as needed basis. When their inventory is depleted, they can re-up their package. This procures up front payment for you and it makes it easier for them to lump in their “closing gifts” for tax purposes. Every agent tries to maximize expenses at the end of the year, that’s when I usually try to approach them. They know roughly how many closings they expect to do and they plan accordingly. I got the idea for this model from the photographers in my area. They were doing a similar model. You put them on retainer essentially and they basically guarantee short turn around times and priority assignment to their clients that have paid them for the year in advance.
I've seen a guy at our local farmer's market selling cutting boards. He was only charging $50, and sold at least six that I saw. Also a big stack of business cards disapeared through the four hour market. I should qualify that that was in small-town Idaho, so a larger market might be more successful. If you're still building your customer base, this is a good way to get visibility and make some sales.
I started my business in August. My first 2 months was literally all immediate family ordering small things they really didn’t need. Then I got my first website order on 10/6. Got it done quick and from that one sale, I received 13 more. Ended up finishing 2020 with $48,500 in sales (basically in 3 months).
@@jennieanddavis thanks. I really enjoy your channel and have total confidence that you two will start receiving a ton of business. 95% of my business has been directed from IG and FB posts from customers.
You guys inspired me to just do something. I recently put myself out there as Bowden woodworks mainly on Facebook to family and friends. I currently have 5 orders of various items ranging from shelves, tables and benches. Thanks for the inspiration. I hope to film more of my projects and posting them here on RUclips
You guys have this!! My wife and I are starting a CNC business this month as well!! And that you made money in the first month is still better than loosing it. Most businesses operate in the red the first year.
You may want to try playing around with the price to see what sticks...and by playing around, I mean something close to what you’re selling, but it’s just a different number. It’s the psychology of pricing. You’re selling for $116, maybe try $98, $105, $109, $115.98, etc. I also encourage you to resist selling your boards at a sale price. As soon as you open the door that you have a sale, people start expecting a sale to be there and will wait to pay the sales price (think Hobby Lobby...I always wait for the product to have a 50% discount). Good luck!!
@@jennieanddavis this is a really snobby attitude that is very off putting, and is likely why your sales may not be what you expected. You don’t think realtors are watching your RUclips videos when researching if they want to associate with your company? You think they want to refer customers or give their hard earned money to a company with this attitude? My mom is a realtor, and she has to watch every penny she spends. She isn’t rolling in dough. And this attitude would make her move right on to someone more humble and wanting a company that valued the potential of every customer. That may be your business plan, and that is fine, but it is bad business to actually say it out loud. Just my two cents. To be honest, it is making me question whether I want to continue to support your channel. But my guess is that doesn’t bother you much.
Having done realtor relations at my previous sales job I know how frustrating it can be, it’s definitely a volume game. Realtors are very hesitant to make recommendations or use products they aren’t 100% on because if something goes wrong with it they think it reflects poorly on them. If you haven’t joined the chamber of commerce you should look into that as well as going to some chamber/business after hours events. Those events are there for networking and people tend to be more receptive outside of 8:00-5:00 working hours and most of them serve beer/wine which can always make people a little more receptive. Keep grinding!
My wife was an ambassador in the chamber for some positions she had. I used to go to the business after hours with her as well. Always enjoyed it and got to know a lot of folks that way and what they had to offer (business wise).
Glad you guys upgraded that dust collection! For those who have the HF and don't want to go big, replacing the bag with a filter (I used a Wynn Environmental Filter) will remove soooo many fines. For the cutting board idea, ever thought about searching listings (start with the high-end homes in your area), find the realtor's address (even just their office) and mail them a board along with a customizable note. You certainly don't get the face-to-face reaction (which is best), but you also don't spend all weekend driving to open houses either (or cold calling). Maybe it works. Maybe a bust. But I guarantee they will share your gift with their colleagues....so you actually hit more than you send anyway (and now they are your influencer in their circles). Biggest trick is whether people hit their offices to pick up mail during COVID. Oh, and as part of the selection process (maybe you start with 20 boards to track your success rate) would be to use redfin or zillow and try to find the agent's prior sales as well. This will show you how many boards/year you would be targeting. If someone has a $1million listing, that is great, but of they only sell 1 home/year, they might not be the best target. Similarly, if someone has 20 $200k listings, they might not be giving every client a $100 cutting board nor would their client likely buy your $5000 dining table 😊 These cutting boards are essentially your "direct mail flyers" for your more expensive tables. Except, in this case you get to break even...hopefully...once you get a few recurring sales. They can be a loss-leader for your overall business yet still have immense marketing value over a flyer in the mail because the craftsmanship is tangible. Keep up the good work!!
Ditto on the HF mod with the Wynn upgrade, mine’s been going strong for 4 years and gets all the dust and is a must upgrade. But too late to help now 😉
Thanks for this! I've recently gotten into woodworking and I've been thinking about starting a side business with it. This stuff is incredibly useful! Loved the plane analogy! 🙂
That's why sales people that are very good...are paid very well. Remember...Marketing is demand creation (easy but expensive), sales is demand fulfillment. Fun watching your figure it out.
A lot of realtors send slackies or new hires to show open houses. They don't want to waste time on Saturdays like anyone else. How about contact with the chamber of commerce for some of the suburbs and Houston? Advertise with them. Become an ambassador for the chamber for new business owners that have ribbon cuttings. Attend meetings and shows (get a both at the home and garden show). You will meet a lot of other business owners. Why hold yourself to just realtors. Some higher end business may want to gifts for clients (contractors, remodelers, salesmen and women, etc... ).
Great first month guys! I would look for any small business networking events. Don’t go there trying to sell. Go there with the attitude of “let’s find out how we can contribute to the group. It will take a few meetings to get to know people but these folks will help you in return. And there are ALWAYS realtors at these meetings and plenty of other businesses that would want corporate gifts.
Be careful with the "it is a numbers game" thought process. Doing it wrong 1 time or 100 times doesn't make it any better. Kind of like the piano teacher that says, "practice makes perfect." Practice make permanent. Practicing it incorrectly will never make it right. Be ever analyzing your process. Capture the good and abandon the bad. But, the number one ingredient of a successful business person, is attitude. And I follow your channel because I appreciate your positive attitude.
Hey. Love your video’s. We chose to sell all our products for cost only in the beginning. It gets your name out there and puts your quality workmanship in customers hands. It’s worked well for us.
I'm a realtor in GA. Some are hard to get in touch with. I try to respond within an hour. I have given personalized cutting boards to clients and the love them. I get them from someone on etsy for $30ish though.
Great and very inspiring video. Keep it up. I'm a realtor in the WA area. Here's a tip that might help. Realtors do a lot of mailings prospecting for business and I, for one, would jump at the opportunity to share the cost with another business. Offer to pay for the mailings (todays postage is $.55) in exchange for including a voucher in the same envelope for a free cutting board to the homeowner (coordinating with the realtors of course.) The homeowner contacts the realtor for a FREE cutting board, may be a smaller version of your full size one. The realtor gets a contact from a homeowner and you get an order from the realtor. The mailings and the voucher is deductible expense to you. Just a thought and best of luck with your business.
you guys are doing so much work to make these videos, why arent you posting the link to your business in the link section above and on your social media? you had 22k views thats 22k potential customers. Just a thought.
@@jennieanddavis I get that but ad Micheal Jordan said you miss 100 percent of the Shots you don’t take. It’s free takes 30’seconds to add and if you make one sale from it, then it’s more then you would have if you didn’t post. Btw I just might take you up on it!
What you should look at doing is contact your local Real Estate office and make an appointment with the brokerage manager. Then bring him a couple products, charcuterie board abs a cutting board. Ask him if you can do a presentation at the next office meeting and show the Realtors the gifts you have available for their clients. Then show off your boards with the branding already on them to a big audience and offer a assentive program to buy from you!
Are you only targeting real estate market or are you open to other areas? Hit up your local boutiques, craft shows when they open up, large builders or construction companies. Is there a store/space that allows business to rent booths monthly and they sell your boards? You have a great product so be open to market in all areas. Just found your channel, can't wait to see your other videos. Best Wishes
The rule of thumb that I have heard over and over and no have lived through and agree, is your first year is tough just keep your head above water and your good. Make it 5 years and you are doing better than many. 10 years and you will have found your niche, it will be easier because work will come to you and you will be proficient in your niche area that you eventually fall into. You don't have to wait 10 years though, it progressively gets better. I think the first few years are learning what not to do and everyone isn't your customer. Focus on servicing your ideal type of customer. Hint - most of your friends and family are the worst customers, when people say "when you slow down" they are wanting a discount, let them know you will not be slowing down and to let you know if they want on the schedule. Don't be afraid to say no if a project doesn't fit in your area of expertise. You will never have a problem staying busy, just make sure you are making money. Sorry for the rambling just feel like I have gained some wisdom in this area!
So I’m sure this will be taken the wrong way. Sorry for the length of my post but I truly want you guys to succeed. This that said I checked out your site and the issues I’m seeing is your price points and your main focus on cutting boards. Cutting boards are great to sell but cutting boards are so over done. They will only be a small fraction of your business, and if they are your main focus well you’re in trouble. I am doing other things and using my scrap to make cutting boards and store away until someone orders one. I’m not losing money on them per say because I’m using my waste material to make them. So I would suggest focus on other ideas and allow the cutting boards to be, a small percentage of your business. And because they are being made from scrap wood you can lower your price point. They will sell if you drop your prices to a more reasonable point for a starter up business. As you grow you can jack up your prices because your focuses will be on other things and you won’t care if you’re selling cutting boards or not. Please don’t take this as being too critical, I do hope the best for you two, but I suggest re-evaluating your strategy.
Gregg, we appreciate your concern - your passion is genuine. Please understand that we're only showing a small snapshot of what we're doing in our business. There are so many things happening between each 10-minute RUclips video. We can't possibly share it all.
Hey there..y’all are awesome..so check this out I’m from Alice Texas a small town by Corpus Christi..about 4 hrs south from y’all...this is what works for me..I started by going to market day places and posting up as a vendor to show your work and pass out your info,post on market place out of Houston,pass out flyers..I’m sure a lot of the vendor places might be slow due to covid but they are still running...I mean this is how I started and in one year I had to delete my Facebook page and didn’t have time for vending anymore bcuz it was beginning to be too much for a one man bizniz...idk this all might sound corny to y’all but it worked for me..I make flags,plaques for all officers,courthouses,etc,custom signs commercial and residential,cutting boards,etc...I can send pictures if you want ideas?...I’m thinking of moving to San Antonio to expand...I also have an industrial CNC machine and it makes me ALOT of cash! And I know an awsome person who built it for me for a damn good price...let me know and I’ll help out eh💪🏼🤛🏼👍🏼🙏🙏
I am trying to get my business off the ground, but my trouble is, I work 12 hrs a day, 5 days a week. I can’t afford to quit that job, which makes trying to get a business up and running! Let me change that! Getting my name out there and getting customers, very! Very slow indeed. I will get there in the end! You guys are awesome, keep making and creating.
What makes your product totally unique it's custom made but does it stand out from the crowd .👍 I love you're dog maybe he could be a mascot type character 👌
Just searched QR codes and found they can dial a phone number, take someone to your web site or your social media. Plus they can have your company logo plainly visible or even a small amount of text! I envision a trifold pamphlet with several QR codes in the corners. Maybe?
The issue with multiple codes is that the camera may pick up the wrong one if they are close together. It’s easier to just have one and have the other info linked from that codes destination. The QR code is just saving someone from typing. The site it takes them to can than have links they can just click on.
Hi my name is rich and u recently took all of my money and bought enough tools to start a small wood working shop and spoiler alert it wasn't alot of money but it was every thing I had . So I have a table saw - a hand skill saw - a hand jig saw - a table top band saw - a drop down router- a hand drill - a drill press - a hand planer- a belt sander- a palm sander - and a impact for screws . I am saving for a thickness planer. I have put everything I have into this hoping that I can make this business work cause I have everything on the line . I have a family and I need this to work . So any help from your knowledge would help me out alot . Thank you
Great video and information. Can i give you a little advice. I dont know how are the prices in the USA but here in europe this boards are selling at around 20-30eur. I am making the similar style boards out of olive, cherry and walnut for around 25eur and still make the profit at around 40%. I think that your boards are a little overpriced. When i looked at your videos i see a couple of things that you can do to reduce production time. Anyway keep up the good work!
Thanks for the perspective. I've got a question for you: what makes something 'overpriced' or 'underpriced'? You can't say something is 'overpriced' unless you're comparing it to something else. Price is arbitrary - for a small business, there are an unlimited number of customers at every price point - we're choosing to find those who can afford the $99 price.
@@jennieanddavis overpriced means that the labor and materials cost way less than what the selling price is. For example selling a fork for 100$ is overpriced because the cost of metal, machine weardown and labor that goes into it costs way less. So even if I can afford a 100$ fork I am not buying it.
@@jennieanddavis then you should making a $99 cutting board. That is your comparison for overpriced/underpriced. Your self-admitted "good enough" boards might just not be worth the $99 you are trying to charge and you shouldn't overlook that just because you "have a plan".
20% of your efforts produce 80% of your results. Figure out what is producing your results and focus efforts there. You always here crap like this. As far as realtors go, get in front of the broker(s) of the offices. They head up any meetings worth attending. Get them excited and they will excite the realtors. Having issues with Gate Keepers? (People paid to keep you from seeing the decision makers) I heard of a sales person using a giant shoe filled with candy with a card stating he wanted to get his foot in the door. Unique things like this can work. Yes I had been in sales, I know what it's like.
67% margin but...neighbor complains about noise and city says you can't run a manufacturer business out of your home and you need to lease industrial space. The state wants to know where your licenses are so you go get them and find out you need to have general liability insurance. The the state EPA says you need a $10K spray booth then the fire marshal stops by and....not to discourage anyone from making a business from a hobby but if someone wants to truly build an actual business these are the type of things that you need to plan for and make it part of your long term business plan. Running a legal business In this industry costs a lot of money and lots of government red tape (everyone wants a piece) 15% -20% Net is going very well
Thank you for sharing your journey. A little bit of a rabbit trail here, but why did you choose that particular dust collector? In the market and looking for insights.
Wow. A lot of you are asking where you can buy a cutting board to support us. We're honored that you'd consider helping us out! You can order a board from: samaratableco.com/boards
Only stumbled across this video today and paused and subscribed in seconds. As someone considering starting a business/side hustle I'm finding many barriers and self doubt. This video has given me inspiration and motivation to push on and finish my first prototype. Watch put for an Instagram shout out soon. Have you got a link to your online woodworking store?
You should contact your local Board of Realtors to do a presentation at thier next training. I own a brokerage in CT and the local Boards are always looking for new topics. Normally, there are dozens of agents that attend each training. Also, if you can do presentations at different office meetings you will be able to reach more agents at once and only have yo give away one board per office. Even strike a discount code for the entire office. For the most part agents and Brokers hate being approached at opens by people selling stuff.
Cutting boards is a hard business because you can go to Home Goods or TJmaxx and buy them. It’s the customizing that is the big deal. That is where the money is. Why don’t you just buy the blanks and use those? Less work, more profit. The furniture is definitely a big deal though because not many places make heavy duty furniture anymore.
Don't know if you folks read much Seth Godin but he has some very valuable insights into strategy setting and the like that is more valuable in the long term than simply playing a numbers gave. "This Is Marketing" is one I can recommend for sure. Keep on keepin' on in the meantime :-)
It takes professional businesses years upon years to even make a penny of profit. 30 days may have been a little to soon but don’t let that discourage you, you have got a great business. Have you guys ever tried Facebook market place? I have had great luck on there.
Love your videos! Would love to see you give insight into the legal set up of your business and if there’s any programs you use for your small business.
My drum sander is the one tool I wheel outside - way outside - because of the inability to control its dust. And that's in upstate NY where it is around 16 degrees today.
Have you looked into local butcher shops and farmers markets? They might like to have them as a display that might help pass on word of mouth. I know there are a few different catering\meat markets in our area (way out in California) that sell cutting boards and things inside the shop. They might stock them and keep them as a item for sale with the name of their shop on it. Just an additional idea outside of realtors where you might be able to expand. Texas being known for cattle, might be a prime place to focus on that specific business as a client as well.
It’s funny you brought up realtors my first sale and second sale was to a realtor that sold me my house! Now I make cutting boards for pretty much every house she closes!
Hi from Canada 🇨🇦. Have started watching your videos a few months ago and I enjoy and look forward to your new posts . So how many times have you guys slipped or tripped over the uneven garage floor..? How do you like the super max drum sander ? Wanting to pick one up but would like your opinion the plus and negatives of the SuperMax . In Canada the 16/32 costs $1899.00. Also may I ask which Glowforge do you guys have ? I was talking to the company and the cost for the pro is $5,000 America currency and then the shipping and the taxes and the customs fee it’s just not feasible. But still interested in your opinion on the laser . So anyway if you could answer my ?’s I would TRULY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU
Excuse my confusion......didn’t you start your woodworking business over a year ago? Does new equipment make a reset? I’m confused and you want me to ‘join’ a business club. Please explain.....
Hi Tony, we’re starting with a totally new business model in a brand new part of the country with no network. If that’s not starting over, I don’t know what is.
I also sell cutting boards along with my produce at local farmers markets. You may not have the ability to grow veg but maybe set up shop at a farmers market or start a relationship with a farmer.
J&D thanks for the great feedback on your first month. Your videos are informative and very helpful to those starting out a small business. I have to ask, did you just use an F-clamp for a pointer on the white board? lol. Great work you two and keep the videos coming.
Liked this episode almost as I liked episode #10 of your Let's Quit podcast! Glad to see you both are doing well!!! You selling items online yet? Would love to buy a cutting board. Sorry if I am missing a link in the description....
Just a thought but what if you are able to do a small display at title companies? Where agents are in and out everyday? Did I hear Houston? You guys fly outta elington? I live in League City.
Where are on getting the approximately $50 cost per board? What is your material cost? I you don't have a supplier of rough sawn lumber, get one. My material cost for same board is about $10. Even walnut.
That’s great for you, Bill. Our boards are actually $38. That includes materials, labor, packaging, and shipping. And we’re not even getting volume discounts from our suppliers yet!
Seems like a lot of negative commentary here. Seems unwarranted to me; so far as I can see, you've got all the ingredients to make this happen, and perseverance and patience tend to be the key ones. Thing is, building a successful business tends to be the easy part; keeping up with a successful business is the tricky part. Looks as if you're establishing the conditions to handle the tricky part. Best of luck to you in your journey.
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i started small business, family upholstery shop. It takes years to become established. Treat everyone right and fair. They will refer you to others.
Good breakdown of the process for starting a successful business. Two years ago I was in the same place. We moved to a new state and I intended to make and sell Adirondack chairs. We built a circle of friends and I started making small things for them. Then one of the friends ordered eight charcuterie boards for Christmas presents. Then she ordered a custom bookcase, one of their friends ordered four Adirondack chairs, their neighbor ordered a custom stereo cabinet, their friends ordered six Adirondack chairs... It’s all about building relationships. My web site gets very little traffic, most of my sales are word of mouth.
These videos are so valuable for someone like me dreaming of starting a business like this!
Wait until you sign up for the Stud Stack - that's where the real value is! Link in description.
You should join the stud stack!
You guys are honestly sharing your experience, I appreciate it very much.
I've been a Director of Business Development and Marketing for several hospitals throughout the years. Marketing Directors are always looking for unique items for physicians and others. Might I suggest that you come up with several small items that you can make, E.G: cutting boards, business card holders, wooden ink pens, etc., and create a nice brochure spotlighting these items. if you have the ability to personalize an item with someone's name and/or business, the better. Send these brochures out to the various hospitals in your area, then follow up with a telephone call to schedule a visit. Bring along these items as well for them to look, feel, smell, etc. If you haven't already, consider joining the local chamber of commerce to introduce your business and develop the all important business network. As I sit here thinking, there is probably a nice market providing promotional items for car dealership to give to new car buyers, radio and television stations, for promotional give aways for new/existing clients. The take away is to think outside the box! Please reach out to me if you would like to talk further. No charge for the advice, as I am actually thinking about starting a small woodworking business myself. Happy Hunting
Great recap of your first 30 days, I enjoy all your videos. My day job is a sales manager and wood worker by night. I tell my sales team every day, create lots of activity each day which is an investment for tomorrows growth. With no activity there will be no success down the road. If you are doing the right actions your business will grow, but not necessarily on your agenda. The agenda of your customers sometimes are not the same as yours. You guys are doing the right things for success to come.
My daughter is having a small family wedding, and you guys gave me the idea of creating custom cutting boards with the couple's name and wedding date on the board. One for each family attending. Just an idea for a possible market for your cutting boards. Love the videos please don't stop
U guys have an awesome attitude and business ethic.! But the smartest advice i got when trying to take off was that people don't like salesman. Especially nowadays. Don't over push or you'll push them away. Make your furniture. Sell your furniture. And word of mouth will get around and you'll run into the big shots eventually. And was he right.
That's such an interesting perspective, Joe. I'm glad your business took off. We've had the exact OPPOSITE experience. We're way too timid in asking for the sale. I guess the advice you got works best for certain personalities who sound 'sales-y' by default.
@@jennieanddavis with your guys attitude and determination you are destined for greatness.
I know cutting boards and similar items are fun to make and most people have them but don't forget to do your own thing. Put you twist on it or make something that isn't so common. Not trying to sound negative but most woodworkers sell cutting boards. I sell on Etsy and my sales didn't take off until I started making my items more custom. I was just about to give up on my items when I gave it one last push and went my own route. Now I sell when I want to sell and can pretty much guarantee to sell all of my items within days of listing. I'm not making life changing money but it is a good source of side income. Hop on Etsy and just type in the items that you're selling and see how many items pop up. That will give you a good idea of how much competition is out there. Also don't under estimate the good ol craft fair. Might want to check out supplying wedding venues as well. Keep up the great work and I hope you both the best.
If you put Johnson’s wax on the pipe clamps you won’t have to spend hours on cleaning glue off your clamps.
Oooohhh that’s a pro move for sure
a wire brush on a grinder works well for cleaning up dried glue. Just wear yours safety glasses and loose clothing as metal wires can shoot off.
Thank you for sharing the reality of your journey and not sugar coating it. As someone who is in the similar situation I understand you completely.
Make custom flags... I sold over $2k this weekend and started a week ago. Y’all have a CNC machine, easy money!
They don't have a CNC anymore. In Jennie's words "we hated it".
@@David-dj7cl must hate making money lol
@@jackfrost-fu7hz my Instagram is Freedomwwusa. Most, not all are on there
@@jackfrost-fu7hz I hate those wooden flags. somehow people like them
I have run my own business and helped others run theirs. I'm not a fan of blowing all my money up front, even if I could afford it. Start small, take baby steps, and let your consistent sales justify your upgrades. In business, the most important rule is to maintain a healthy cash flow. Maybe RUclips is going to change all that, but for now, I'm sticking with bare essentials.
Did you minus for the tattoos ?
Both of you are great to watch! Your desire to help others learn from your (and others) mistakes is outstanding in this day & age, where so many people are out for themselves first. It is generally accepted that a small business should have a year's worth of expenses & income on hand in cash before starting - in order to survive the first year in business.
Realtors may also like to have a personalized wall plaque to give as closing gifts to clients.
I agree with the others. Sales don't come easy or overnight. Keep at it and get out and start networking in person as much as possible. It will pay off in the end, you have a great start.
If you have a local friend who does mortgage lending, they may be able to tell you who the top producing realtors are in your area. Target them specifically, so you can sell more volume per customer. Also perhaps consider having the personalization etching done on the side of the board, this way you can boards in process, partially finished and just glue the side piece on.
Noticed y’all didn’t switch back and forth talking as often in this video which I enjoyed because it keeps the thoughts more cohesive and flows better.
Congrats on your first month! One thing you may want to look into is building a relationship with a couple of large title companies. They have networks in place with the local Realtors. It is not uncommon for the title companies to host meeting for continuing education credits, introducing home warranty companies, etc. If you can get in the door with them, you could potentially get a captive audience, full of Realtors. Personally I have had some of my biggest sales evolve from being active in certain social media groups, BBQ enthusiast type things. I post a photo of whatever, on my custom cutting boards and always get asked "hey where did you get that board". Just some free advice that I have learned over my first year here in Dallas. Good luck, and I enjoy watching the videos and progress!
Thanks Jeremy! That’s some great advice.
Thanks sooo much for ur insight especially how much to charge for ur Labor .
You two are great......I stained my plywood walls with English Chestnut making our shop look a bit more homey for a guitar recording studio as well since I'm a part time Luthier .
If I don't sell anything at least my shop looks good for display .
What separates your channel from others? You're documenting your start up and showing/telling us what worked and what didnt. Most channels like this have a business already. Thank you for doing all this!
Hi Jared, appreciate your kind words - just want to point out that we also had a business already. This is NOT our first furniture business. Don't want anyone to get the wrong impression - this is 'starting over' for us.
Have you considered offering package deals to the realtors. I’ve been very successful with approaching them with a sample board and saying, I will prepare x number boards for x amount and it will have generically “xxx” on every one of them. And when they’re ready, they contact me with the details of their closing and I will apply customization to the board on an as needed basis. When their inventory is depleted, they can re-up their package.
This procures up front payment for you and it makes it easier for them to lump in their “closing gifts” for tax purposes. Every agent tries to maximize expenses at the end of the year, that’s when I usually try to approach them. They know roughly how many closings they expect to do and they plan accordingly.
I got the idea for this model from the photographers in my area. They were doing a similar model. You put them on retainer essentially and they basically guarantee short turn around times and priority assignment to their clients that have paid them for the year in advance.
I've seen a guy at our local farmer's market selling cutting boards. He was only charging $50, and sold at least six that I saw. Also a big stack of business cards disapeared through the four hour market. I should qualify that that was in small-town Idaho, so a larger market might be more successful. If you're still building your customer base, this is a good way to get visibility and make some sales.
I started my business in August. My first 2 months was literally all immediate family ordering small things they really didn’t need. Then I got my first website order on 10/6. Got it done quick and from that one sale, I received 13 more. Ended up finishing 2020 with $48,500 in sales (basically in 3 months).
That’s amazing, Bob! Great work!
@@jennieanddavis thanks. I really enjoy your channel and have total confidence that you two will start receiving a ton of business. 95% of my business has been directed from IG and FB posts from customers.
I like your guys channel so much. I suffer through all the commercials. I know it helps you. So i don't mind. Keep it up.
They say you can’t have to many clamps! Here is another reason, you can use them as pointers as well! Love the videos. Keep up the good work.
wow thats so awesome yall keep up the great work
You guys inspired me to just do something. I recently put myself out there as Bowden woodworks mainly on Facebook to family and friends. I currently have 5 orders of various items ranging from shelves, tables and benches. Thanks for the inspiration. I hope to film more of my projects and posting them here on RUclips
That’s awesome work! Great stuff - this makes editing and sharing these videos so worth it!
Great video y'all! It refreshing when people are honest and transparent, which you guys definitely are.
Good things will come!
You guys have this!! My wife and I are starting a CNC business this month as well!! And that you made money in the first month is still better than loosing it. Most businesses operate in the red the first year.
You may want to try playing around with the price to see what sticks...and by playing around, I mean something close to what you’re selling, but it’s just a different number. It’s the psychology of pricing. You’re selling for $116, maybe try $98, $105, $109, $115.98, etc.
I also encourage you to resist selling your boards at a sale price. As soon as you open the door that you have a sale, people start expecting a sale to be there and will wait to pay the sales price (think Hobby Lobby...I always wait for the product to have a 50% discount). Good luck!!
You should do the easier/cheaper version of the noodle board/stove cover. Sells better than $380 each
We’re not interested in selling to people who care too much about their money.
@@jennieanddavis So......basically everybody? News flash: very few people (especially nowadays) are careless about their hard earned money.
@@jennieanddavis this is a really snobby attitude that is very off putting, and is likely why your sales may not be what you expected. You don’t think realtors are watching your RUclips videos when researching if they want to associate with your company? You think they want to refer customers or give their hard earned money to a company with this attitude? My mom is a realtor, and she has to watch every penny she spends. She isn’t rolling in dough. And this attitude would make her move right on to someone more humble and wanting a company that valued the potential of every customer.
That may be your business plan, and that is fine, but it is bad business to actually say it out loud.
Just my two cents. To be honest, it is making me question whether I want to continue to support your channel. But my guess is that doesn’t bother you much.
@@righthook27 what you said exactly... the business plan was flawed from the start.
Having done realtor relations at my previous sales job I know how frustrating it can be, it’s definitely a volume game. Realtors are very hesitant to make recommendations or use products they aren’t 100% on because if something goes wrong with it they think it reflects poorly on them. If you haven’t joined the chamber of commerce you should look into that as well as going to some chamber/business after hours events. Those events are there for networking and people tend to be more receptive outside of 8:00-5:00 working hours and most of them serve beer/wine which can always make people a little more receptive. Keep grinding!
My wife was an ambassador in the chamber for some positions she had. I used to go to the business after hours with her as well. Always enjoyed it and got to know a lot of folks that way and what they had to offer (business wise).
Glad you guys upgraded that dust collection! For those who have the HF and don't want to go big, replacing the bag with a filter (I used a Wynn Environmental Filter) will remove soooo many fines.
For the cutting board idea, ever thought about searching listings (start with the high-end homes in your area), find the realtor's address (even just their office) and mail them a board along with a customizable note. You certainly don't get the face-to-face reaction (which is best), but you also don't spend all weekend driving to open houses either (or cold calling). Maybe it works. Maybe a bust. But I guarantee they will share your gift with their colleagues....so you actually hit more than you send anyway (and now they are your influencer in their circles).
Biggest trick is whether people hit their offices to pick up mail during COVID.
Oh, and as part of the selection process (maybe you start with 20 boards to track your success rate) would be to use redfin or zillow and try to find the agent's prior sales as well. This will show you how many boards/year you would be targeting. If someone has a $1million listing, that is great, but of they only sell 1 home/year, they might not be the best target. Similarly, if someone has 20 $200k listings, they might not be giving every client a $100 cutting board nor would their client likely buy your $5000 dining table 😊
These cutting boards are essentially your "direct mail flyers" for your more expensive tables. Except, in this case you get to break even...hopefully...once you get a few recurring sales. They can be a loss-leader for your overall business yet still have immense marketing value over a flyer in the mail because the craftsmanship is tangible.
Keep up the good work!!
Ditto on the HF mod with the Wynn upgrade, mine’s been going strong for 4 years and gets all the dust and is a must upgrade. But too late to help now 😉
Thanks for this! I've recently gotten into woodworking and I've been thinking about starting a side business with it. This stuff is incredibly useful! Loved the plane analogy! 🙂
Same here!
That's why sales people that are very good...are paid very well. Remember...Marketing is demand creation (easy but expensive), sales is demand fulfillment. Fun watching your figure it out.
A lot of realtors send slackies or new hires to show open houses. They don't want to waste time on Saturdays like anyone else. How about contact with the chamber of commerce for some of the suburbs and Houston? Advertise with them. Become an ambassador for the chamber for new business owners that have ribbon cuttings. Attend meetings and shows (get a both at the home and garden show). You will meet a lot of other business owners. Why hold yourself to just realtors. Some higher end business may want to gifts for clients (contractors, remodelers, salesmen and women, etc... ).
I love the transparency you guys have with us. Subbed!
You guys are on the right track. Love what you guys are doing. You can do it! Best wishes!
Great first month guys!
I would look for any small business networking events. Don’t go there trying to sell. Go there with the attitude of “let’s find out how we can contribute to the group. It will take a few meetings to get to know people but these folks will help you in return.
And there are ALWAYS realtors at these meetings and plenty of other businesses that would want corporate gifts.
Thank you!! Love you guys so much i definetly appreciate it
You guys are AWESOME. Greetings from Trinidad and Tobago.
Thank you, Renaldo!
Be careful with the "it is a numbers game" thought process. Doing it wrong 1 time or 100 times doesn't make it any better. Kind of like the piano teacher that says, "practice makes perfect." Practice make permanent. Practicing it incorrectly will never make it right. Be ever analyzing your process. Capture the good and abandon the bad. But, the number one ingredient of a successful business person, is attitude. And I follow your channel because I appreciate your positive attitude.
Hey. Love your video’s. We chose to sell all our products for cost only in the beginning. It gets your name out there and puts your quality workmanship in customers hands. It’s worked well for us.
I'm a realtor in GA. Some are hard to get in touch with. I try to respond within an hour. I have given personalized cutting boards to clients and the love them. I get them from someone on etsy for $30ish though.
Great and very inspiring video. Keep it up.
I'm a realtor in the WA area. Here's a tip that might help. Realtors do a lot of mailings prospecting for business and I, for one, would jump at the opportunity to share the cost with another business. Offer to pay for the mailings (todays postage is $.55) in exchange for including a voucher in the same envelope for a free cutting board to the homeowner (coordinating with the realtors of course.) The homeowner contacts the realtor for a FREE cutting board, may be a smaller version of your full size one. The realtor gets a contact from a homeowner and you get an order from the realtor. The mailings and the voucher is deductible expense to you.
Just a thought and best of luck with your business.
you guys are doing so much work to make these videos, why arent you posting the link to your business in the link section above and on your social media? you had 22k views thats 22k potential customers. Just a thought.
Everyone wants to buy one until we post the link. Prove me wrong, Rob.
Samaratableco.com/boards
@@jennieanddavis I get that but ad Micheal Jordan said you miss 100 percent of the
Shots you don’t take. It’s free takes 30’seconds to add and if you make one sale from it, then it’s more then you would have if you didn’t post. Btw I just might take you up on it!
Low drag is key! The easier you make it the better. Also, MORE SCIENCE EXAMPLES AND DAVID SINGING PLEASE!!!!
What you should look at doing is contact your local Real Estate office and make an appointment with the brokerage manager. Then bring him a couple products, charcuterie board abs a cutting board. Ask him if you can do a presentation at the next office meeting and show the Realtors the gifts you have available for their clients. Then show off your boards with the branding already on them to a big audience and offer a assentive program to buy from you!
you guys are amazing ! you are being very hard on yourselves! have patience. you have the drive, it will happen
Got a lot of value out of this as usual. Thanks guys. Keep on keepin on
Are you only targeting real estate market or are you open to other areas? Hit up your local boutiques, craft shows when they open up, large builders or construction companies. Is there a store/space that allows business to rent booths monthly and they sell your boards? You have a great product so be open to market in all areas. Just found your channel, can't wait to see your other videos. Best Wishes
The rule of thumb that I have heard over and over and no have lived through and agree, is your first year is tough just keep your head above water and your good. Make it 5 years and you are doing better than many. 10 years and you will have found your niche, it will be easier because work will come to you and you will be proficient in your niche area that you eventually fall into. You don't have to wait 10 years though, it progressively gets better. I think the first few years are learning what not to do and everyone isn't your customer. Focus on servicing your ideal type of customer. Hint - most of your friends and family are the worst customers, when people say "when you slow down" they are wanting a discount, let them know you will not be slowing down and to let you know if they want on the schedule. Don't be afraid to say no if a project doesn't fit in your area of expertise. You will never have a problem staying busy, just make sure you are making money. Sorry for the rambling just feel like I have gained some wisdom in this area!
So I’m sure this will be taken the wrong way. Sorry for the length of my post but I truly want you guys to succeed. This that said I checked out your site and the issues I’m seeing is your price points and your main focus on cutting boards. Cutting boards are great to sell but cutting boards are so over done. They will only be a small fraction of your business, and if they are your main focus well you’re in trouble. I am doing other things and using my scrap to make cutting boards and store away until someone orders one. I’m not losing money on them per say because I’m using my waste material to make them. So I would suggest focus on other ideas and allow the cutting boards to be, a small percentage of your business. And because they are being made from scrap wood you can lower your price point. They will sell if you drop your prices to a more reasonable point for a starter up business. As you grow you can jack up your prices because your focuses will be on other things and you won’t care if you’re selling cutting boards or not. Please don’t take this as being too critical, I do hope the best for you two, but I suggest re-evaluating your strategy.
Gregg, we appreciate your concern - your passion is genuine. Please understand that we're only showing a small snapshot of what we're doing in our business. There are so many things happening between each 10-minute RUclips video. We can't possibly share it all.
Can you share some videos of the tables you guys are building and selling that would be great content!
Hey there..y’all are awesome..so check this out I’m from Alice Texas a small town by Corpus Christi..about 4 hrs south from y’all...this is what works for me..I started by going to market day places and posting up as a vendor to show your work and pass out your info,post on market place out of Houston,pass out flyers..I’m sure a lot of the vendor places might be slow due to covid but they are still running...I mean this is how I started and in one year I had to delete my Facebook page and didn’t have time for vending anymore bcuz it was beginning to be too much for a one man bizniz...idk this all might sound corny to y’all but it worked for me..I make flags,plaques for all officers,courthouses,etc,custom signs commercial and residential,cutting boards,etc...I can send pictures if you want ideas?...I’m thinking of moving to San Antonio to expand...I also have an industrial CNC machine and it makes me ALOT of cash! And I know an awsome person who built it for me for a damn good price...let me know and I’ll help out eh💪🏼🤛🏼👍🏼🙏🙏
I am trying to get my business off the ground, but my trouble is, I work 12 hrs a day, 5 days a week. I can’t afford to quit that job, which makes trying to get a business up and running! Let me change that! Getting my name out there and getting customers, very! Very slow indeed. I will get there in the end!
You guys are awesome, keep making and creating.
What makes your product totally unique it's custom made but does it stand out from the crowd .👍 I love you're dog maybe he could be a mascot type character 👌
Just searched QR codes and found they can dial a phone number, take someone to your web site or your social media. Plus they can have your company logo plainly visible or even a small amount of text! I envision a trifold pamphlet with several QR codes in the corners. Maybe?
The issue with multiple codes is that the camera may pick up the wrong one if they are close together. It’s easier to just have one and have the other info linked from that codes destination. The QR code is just saving someone from typing. The site it takes them to can than have links they can just click on.
I been in business for 10yrs I’m just seeing the results chill and keep grinding 🌽⬆️
Hi my name is rich and u recently took all of my money and bought enough tools to start a small wood working shop and spoiler alert it wasn't alot of money but it was every thing I had . So I have a table saw - a hand skill saw - a hand jig saw - a table top band saw - a drop down router- a hand drill - a drill press - a hand planer- a belt sander- a palm sander - and a impact for screws . I am saving for a thickness planer. I have put everything I have into this hoping that I can make this business work cause I have everything on the line . I have a family and I need this to work . So any help from your knowledge would help me out alot . Thank you
Woodworking plan #1 : So flying through a hurricane... que Kansas Carry on!!!
Woodworking plan #2 :Roll in the dough
Great video and information.
Can i give you a little advice. I dont know how are the prices in the USA but here in europe this boards are selling at around 20-30eur. I am making the similar style boards out of olive, cherry and walnut for around 25eur and still make the profit at around 40%. I think that your boards are a little overpriced. When i looked at your videos i see a couple of things that you can do to reduce production time. Anyway keep up the good work!
Thanks for the perspective. I've got a question for you: what makes something 'overpriced' or 'underpriced'? You can't say something is 'overpriced' unless you're comparing it to something else. Price is arbitrary - for a small business, there are an unlimited number of customers at every price point - we're choosing to find those who can afford the $99 price.
@@jennieanddavis overpriced means that the labor and materials cost way less than what the selling price is. For example selling a fork for 100$ is overpriced because the cost of metal, machine weardown and labor that goes into it costs way less. So even if I can afford a 100$ fork I am not buying it.
@@jennieanddavis then you should making a $99 cutting board. That is your comparison for overpriced/underpriced. Your self-admitted "good enough" boards might just not be worth the $99 you are trying to charge and you shouldn't overlook that just because you "have a plan".
Your boards are basic and overpriced. Admit this to yourself and adjust.
20% of your efforts produce 80% of your results. Figure out what is producing your results and focus efforts there. You always here crap like this.
As far as realtors go, get in front of the broker(s) of the offices. They head up any meetings worth attending. Get them excited and they will excite the realtors.
Having issues with Gate Keepers? (People paid to keep you from seeing the decision makers)
I heard of a sales person using a giant shoe filled with candy with a card stating he wanted to get his foot in the door.
Unique things like this can work.
Yes I had been in sales, I know what it's like.
Thanks for the update. You guys are doing great, keep it going.
Thanks Tim
Where/how do you guys get your boxes for the boards?
67% margin but...neighbor complains about noise and city says you can't run a manufacturer business out of your home and you need to lease industrial space. The state wants to know where your licenses are so you go get them and find out you need to have general liability insurance. The the state EPA says you need a $10K spray booth then the fire marshal stops by and....not to discourage anyone from making a business from a hobby but if someone wants to truly build an actual business these are the type of things that you need to plan for and make it part of your long term business plan. Running a legal business In this industry costs a lot of money and lots of government red tape (everyone wants a piece) 15% -20% Net is going very well
Thank you for sharing your journey. A little bit of a rabbit trail here, but why did you choose that particular dust collector? In the market and looking for insights.
I've only came across you two this year and I already you you two!
Wow. A lot of you are asking where you can buy a cutting board to support us. We're honored that you'd consider helping us out! You can order a board from: samaratableco.com/boards
Focusing on expense mitigation creates profit. Jut make sure you don’t do it to the detriment of revenue.
You're a good singer, Davis.
Only stumbled across this video today and paused and subscribed in seconds. As someone considering starting a business/side hustle I'm finding many barriers and self doubt. This video has given me inspiration and motivation to push on and finish my first prototype. Watch put for an Instagram shout out soon. Have you got a link to your online woodworking store?
You should contact your local Board of Realtors to do a presentation at thier next training. I own a brokerage in CT and the local Boards are always looking for new topics. Normally, there are dozens of agents that attend each training. Also, if you can do presentations at different office meetings you will be able to reach more agents at once and only have yo give away one board per office. Even strike a discount code for the entire office. For the most part agents and Brokers hate being approached at opens by people selling stuff.
Cutting boards is a hard business because you can go to Home Goods or TJmaxx and buy them. It’s the customizing that is the big deal. That is where the money is. Why don’t you just buy the blanks and use those? Less work, more profit. The furniture is definitely a big deal though because not many places make heavy duty furniture anymore.
Don't know if you folks read much Seth Godin but he has some very valuable insights into strategy setting and the like that is more valuable in the long term than simply playing a numbers gave. "This Is Marketing" is one I can recommend for sure. Keep on keepin' on in the meantime :-)
what video do they go over their business plan??
What happened to your CNC? Great vids ..:)
Thanks for your amazing insight. I'm sure that you guys will do well! Keep up the great work.
It takes professional businesses years upon years to even make a penny of profit. 30 days may have been a little to soon but don’t let that discourage you, you have got a great business. Have you guys ever tried Facebook market place? I have had great luck on there.
We have a whole video on Facebook marketplace. And Etsy!
Great videos Thanks for sharing.
Love your videos! Would love to see you give insight into the legal set up of your business and if there’s any programs you use for your small business.
My drum sander is the one tool I wheel outside - way outside - because of the inability to control its dust. And that's in upstate NY where it is around 16 degrees today.
Have you looked into local butcher shops and farmers markets? They might like to have them as a display that might help pass on word of mouth. I know there are a few different catering\meat markets in our area (way out in California) that sell cutting boards and things inside the shop. They might stock them and keep them as a item for sale with the name of their shop on it. Just an additional idea outside of realtors where you might be able to expand. Texas being known for cattle, might be a prime place to focus on that specific business as a client as well.
Some communities will have local craft shows. it's a good opportunity to setup a show table, hand out cards and meet locals.
It’s funny you brought up realtors my first sale and second sale was to a realtor that sold me my house! Now I make cutting boards for pretty much every house she closes!
Hi from Canada 🇨🇦. Have started watching your videos a few months ago and I enjoy and look forward to your new posts . So how many times have you guys slipped or tripped over the uneven garage floor..?
How do you like the super max drum sander ? Wanting to pick one up but would like your opinion the plus and negatives of the SuperMax . In Canada the 16/32 costs $1899.00.
Also may I ask which Glowforge do you guys have ? I was talking to the company and the cost for the pro is $5,000 America currency and then the shipping and the taxes and the customs fee it’s just not feasible. But still interested in your opinion on the laser .
So anyway if you could answer my ?’s
I would TRULY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU
Excuse my confusion......didn’t you start your woodworking business over a year ago? Does new equipment make a reset? I’m confused and you want me to ‘join’ a business club. Please explain.....
Hi Tony, we’re starting with a totally new business model in a brand new part of the country with no network.
If that’s not starting over, I don’t know what is.
I also sell cutting boards along with my produce at local farmers markets. You may not have the ability to grow veg but maybe set up shop at a farmers market or start a relationship with a farmer.
J&D thanks for the great feedback on your first month. Your videos are informative and very helpful to those starting out a small business. I have to ask, did you just use an F-clamp for a pointer on the white board? lol. Great work you two and keep the videos coming.
Really liked your KANSAS impersonation. Keep up the good work you two.
Congratulations on all the progress 👏
Are floating desks worth it?
All the best luck and keep at it.
It take times and patience.
You need more products
Liked this episode almost as I liked episode #10 of your Let's Quit podcast!
Glad to see you both are doing well!!! You selling items online yet? Would love to buy a cutting board. Sorry if I am missing a link in the description....
i couldn't hold myself when he said "the eye of the hurrican here represens money"
Just a thought but what if you are able to do a small display at title companies? Where agents are in and out everyday? Did I hear Houston? You guys fly outta elington? I live in League City.
Where are on getting the approximately $50 cost per board? What is your material cost? I you don't have a supplier of rough sawn lumber, get one. My material cost for same board is about $10. Even walnut.
That’s great for you, Bill. Our boards are actually $38. That includes materials, labor, packaging, and shipping. And we’re not even getting volume discounts from our suppliers yet!
@@jennieanddavis that's better. I divided your stated cost by the 13 boards and that's where I got the nearly 50.00
Seems like a lot of negative commentary here. Seems unwarranted to me; so far as I can see, you've got all the ingredients to make this happen, and perseverance and patience tend to be the key ones. Thing is, building a successful business tends to be the easy part; keeping up with a successful business is the tricky part. Looks as if you're establishing the conditions to handle the tricky part. Best of luck to you in your journey.
Where on the cutting boards are you engraving the realtors information?