Jim Finn Posted October 2, 2016 Report Posted October 2, 2016 I do inlaid images in cedar and, when finished, I have the cut outs that are not used. I have been selling them very cheaply, and giving them away for years. Last month a customer suggested I use the cutouts of Texas as coasters so I tried it. Sold out in a heart beat. I have since made and sold over 250 of them. I sell them four for $5. A great price point at the farmers market. Some of them are 3/8" thick and others are less than 1/4". Thickness seems to not matter to the buyers. I am now making some of scrap 1/4" plywood. I ran out of my whole scrap horde of various other woods, making them. I stack cut them and dip them in Poly a few coats and then a spray finish of poly. Attached is a photo of some I made of a mystery wood I had. It may be cherry. jbrowning, Birchbark, Lucky2 and 3 others 6 Quote
Scrolling Steve Posted October 2, 2016 Report Posted October 2, 2016 Those are great !...I understand why they go fast ! Jim Finn 1 Quote
jbrowning Posted October 2, 2016 Report Posted October 2, 2016 (edited) Those look great Jim. No doubt they would be great sellers. I don't think the state of Colorado would do so great. We are just a square. Jim Edited October 2, 2016 by jbrowning Jim Finn 1 Quote
munzieb Posted October 2, 2016 Report Posted October 2, 2016 They look great, especially the finish! Jim Finn 1 Quote
Rockytime Posted October 2, 2016 Report Posted October 2, 2016 Those look great Jim. No doubt they would be great sellers. I don't think the state of Colorado would do so great. We are just a square. Jim Most of the cutting could be done on a table saw. Not many states have a unique a shape as Texas. Jim Finn 1 Quote
Jim Finn Posted October 2, 2016 Author Report Posted October 2, 2016 (edited) Some shape other than your state may work. I don't know....hearts? Stars? chrtistmas trees? church shape? Paw print? etc.......... States that do have distinctive shapes that may work for this are: Florida, Wisconsin, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Idaho, and even Oklahoma. Edited October 2, 2016 by Jim Finn Quote
trackman Posted October 2, 2016 Report Posted October 2, 2016 I sale alot of Indiana & Ohio. I am on boarder of the two which helps. Jim Finn 1 Quote
Jim McDonald Posted October 2, 2016 Report Posted October 2, 2016 I can understand why those sell well. They look great. Jim Finn 1 Quote
amazingkevin Posted October 3, 2016 Report Posted October 3, 2016 King Midus Finn is at it again Racking it in :rofl: Jim Finn 1 Quote
Ron Johnson Posted October 3, 2016 Report Posted October 3, 2016 Congrats Jim. Infinite ideas turning scrap into dollars. Jim Finn 1 Quote
Lucky2 Posted October 3, 2016 Report Posted October 3, 2016 Jim, the coasters look great as they are, but, have you ever considered inlaying the Texas Star on each one? If you don't want to do the inlay work, you could just cut the star out. Len Quote
heppnerguy Posted October 3, 2016 Report Posted October 3, 2016 Jim, you could probably cut out horse ears and they would sell like crazy. I think it is impossible for your to make a non seller item. Your work always is done so well and you are defiantly the craft sales master. Thanks for sharing your idea. I am off to make Texas coasters. WAIT. I don't think they would sell very well in Oregon. Jim Finn 1 Quote
Jim Finn Posted October 3, 2016 Author Report Posted October 3, 2016 Jim, you could probably cut out horse ears and they would sell like crazy. I think it is impossible for your to make a non seller item. Your work always is done so well and you are defiantly the craft sales master. Thanks for sharing your idea. I am off to make Texas coasters. WAIT. I don't think they would sell very well in Oregon. Saturday, a lady that had bought a set of coasters came back and bought fifteen more sets. ($75) She is from Colorado and wants to give them to friends and relatives in Colorado to remind them of her visit here. I have made "no seller" items but at a higher price point. Here is an example of vases that I could not sell for $40. Gave away three of them finally. I thought sure they would sell but not to be. Quote
heppnerguy Posted October 3, 2016 Report Posted October 3, 2016 Saturday, a lady that had bought a set of coasters came back and bought fifteen more sets. ($75) She is from Colorado and wants to give them to friends and relatives in Colorado to remind them of her visit here. I have made "no seller" items but at a higher price point. Here is an example of vases that I could not sell for $40. Gave away three of them finally. I thought sure they would sell but not to be. Vase, oak.jpg I can believe they did not sell. All your work is so nice. I talk to others about your wonderful boxes and how well you do with this craft. I can not believe how you just seem to have a hidden knowledge of what others will want Dick heppnerguy Jim Finn 1 Quote
wombatie Posted October 4, 2016 Report Posted October 4, 2016 It's funny what people go for. You can put your heart and soul into a thing and they love the thing that was an off cut. Folks are weird. Great catch Jim. Marg Quote
orangeman Posted October 5, 2016 Report Posted October 5, 2016 Terrific idea on the coasters! Do you apply a felt backing? What is the finish? bb Quote
Jim Finn Posted October 5, 2016 Author Report Posted October 5, 2016 No backing. Poly. I dip them and lay on rack. Two coats usually does it. I sometimes put another light spray on coat from a rattle can. I see rolls of cork at my hardwood supplier but have not priced it yet. May put a cork backer on some and see how that works. Quote
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