changing life's directions

[dazzler]

Hey Doug

All that bouncing huh ! Best of luck with the back.

I would suggest getting the book "the e-myth revisited" which talks about how business can succeed in a really informative way.

Its not a manual so much as a theory but it seems to make sense.

cheers

dazzler

PM me if you want to borrow my copy.

[Auld Bassoon]

Sorry to hear about your back problem getting to this stage Doug!

The idea of turning your hobby into a commercial enterprise sounds like fun - but also quite a challenge to realise the revenues and margins such that you can make a living out of it.

Nontheless, I do wish you well, and hope it comes out as you wish.

Good luck mate!

[Chesand]

Doug
It is important to find a good chiro (it seems that you might have) and then follow up on a regular basis - probably every 5 to 6 weeks for a tune up.
DAMHIK
Good luck with it

[keith53]

Speaking of making and selling stuff, has anyone tried eBay? Just curious.

Keith

[E. maculata]

Hope it works well Doug, rersearch, research research is what I've been led to believe, what do they want? can they get it easily now? who would you be competing against?.
Not trying to tell you what to do just some sound advice from a very sucessful self made Bloke I work for.

Keith, I did try BayE, various sized trinket to blanket type glory/heirloom boxes out of timbers with feature many never get to express themselves with. Transport was a killer, local markets did well for a bit but H norman was to handy with his stained pine stuff for the same money, and interest free stuff.
Kids school raffled a few off with huge success, but I reckon it's a bit different when you pay $2 for shot at a $500 brushbox with bright orange flame pattern heirloom.
Lost a lot of time of those boxes, but gee they were fun to make, even learnt some of Dereks' jointer manouvres doing them, and a lot more about fine finishing of tight grain hardwoods.

[doug the slug]

Hope it works well Doug, rersearch, research research is what I've been led to believe, what do they want? can they get it easily now? who would you be competing against?.
Not trying to tell you what to do just some sound advice from a very sucessful self made Bloke I work for..

Well ive got a unique item that i think will be my flagship, so to speak. details classified for obvious reasons, too many copy-cats out there. theres a retail outlet swears they can shift 20 tomorrow. and they approached me!!!

Chesand, my new best friend and chiropractor (anyone who can take that pain away so fast reaches "best friend" status) has already told me we will have a date once a month for as long as we both shall live

[savage]

Hi Doug,
I can understand how you feel at the moment I have a similar back problem, but there is no help for me just drugs. Hope you do make a go of your own business and are a success.

Have you considered a "Breast reduction", just joking!.I couldn't help it!.

[Harry72]

From my research so far I've gathered, its better to specialise in 1 or 2 pieces rather than a big range, this will allow you to tool up for faster mass production.
Its suprising how fast you can make a product if you have all the purpose made jigs for its production... make 20~100 at a time, seeming you have a arsenal of tools already a few thousand of consumables could be a nice profit.

The hard part is coming up with a product that will sell easy that appeals to the majority of people at a cheap to resonable price. I wouldnt bother going the high end stuff to much work Vs its value.
As you said you've allready been approached by people wanting orders and you already have business sense... NIKE just do it!

Best of luck with the back, get well soon.

[Lignum]

I would imagine it would be very hard to sell enough WW to make a living out of it.

fallacy

Now what's happened to those scrap wood chairs that someone was going to make and sell for $1,600.00 recently????

Need more scrap and an extra five hours in the day

[scooter]

Doug, please take this in the spirit I intend, which is to help.

Have you considered visiting a physio? My wife & I have been to a number of chiros over the years (admittedly with relatively minor back twinges & the like), but concluded that there seemed to be a real habit of overservicing, and ended up getting more constructive help in fewer visits at a good physio.

My gut feeling was that the chrios were a bit "alternative" and get a bit carried away with the joint "cracking", whereas the phisios stock in trade seem to be more conventional methods, exercise, stretching, heat, etc.

No expert of course, just my/our experiences, and as mentioned for more minor worries. Not saying it will make a difference, but could be worth considering.


Good luck for the future...............regards..............Sean

[Stuart]

fallacy

that's good Still thinking about it.

[Lignum]

that's good Still thinking about it.

One word for the budding furnituremaker who wants to make a quid. (Two words ) "Yellowpages online" Then be prepared to start to knock back work on a regular basis.

[Bodgy]

Doug

Like Chesand and your Chiro says, stick with it.

I seriously hurt my back in a sailing accident 20 yrs ago (tailing a winch, heavy sea, air out of sail, copped windward self tailer right in the lumbar region) 3 months of 'conventional' medicine (valium, bed rest) still in great pain and incapacitated) one visit to Chiro (who I had previously thought of as witch doctors) and back pretty much instantly fixed. Attend religiously every 6 weeks now and excepting one incident of picking up bag of cement whilst off balance (no not the pussy baby size) no further probs.

Good luck with the new venture, there are probably around 10,000 of us who would like to copy you.

Marketing and selling will be the key. Vertical markets are great. Specialise.

[Exador]

Doug, please take this in the spirit I intend, which is to help.

Have you considered visiting a physio? My wife & I have been to a number of chiros over the years (admittedly with relatively minor back twinges & the like), but concluded that there seemed to be a real habit of overservicing, and ended up getting more constructive help in fewer visits at a good physio.

So I'm not the only one who feels that way? I had some back trouble a few years ago and went for about 4 or 5 visits to a chiro, who was very good at relieving my immediate pain and even better at arranging the next visit! I got fed up with it after a while and went to an osteopath who was recommended by a friend. One visit, no more buggered back and as for organising another visit "give it a month or so and give me a call if it's still bothering you". 'nuff said, I think.

My gut feeling was that the chrios were a bit "alternative" and get a bit carried away with the joint "cracking", whereas the phisios stock in trade seem to be more conventional methods, exercise, stretching, heat, etc.

No expert of course, just my/our experiences, and as mentioned for more minor worries. Not saying it will make a difference, but could be worth considering.


Good luck for the future...............regards..............Sean

The osteo that I went to said that whilst there is a place for manipulation of joints to reseat badly-aligned bones, most of what the chiro does is simply unnecessary and in many cases, actually damaging. He has (had, he's now retired, I believe) a practise specialising in remediation of problems caused by excessive chiropractic. Apparently there's a lot of it about.

[Exador]

Doug, very sorry to hear about your back. What you need is a stool and a whip, then you won't have to worry about finding blokes to work hard - I believe Midge can put you onto a good supplier.

Seriously, though, make sure you don't go doing anything silly like trying to work through it. it's better to make a little less and still be able to do things that you enjoy and a bad back can stuff that up quicker than blinking.