Clock patterns

[spare-time gifts]

Travis

Good morning, I have just finished watching the gimp instructional videos you produced. I thank you for that. It has been a tremendous help to me and also answered a lot of questions on how to create my own patterns.

I am an avid scrollsawer and have been for a few years now, and find that I am drawn too making mantle clocks. However, all the clocks I have made are someonelses patterns and I feel that there could be a demand for many different types. what suggestions can you share in order to supply both my obsession to make mantle clocks? Also what suggestions can you give for me to ensure that I'm producing what may be a demand for a profit?

I have pics of my favorite one thus far I will be posting once I figure out how to do this since I'm new to this forum.

your help would be deeply appreciated

Ray

[Jim Finn]

"what suggestions can you give for me to ensure that I'm producing what may be a demand for a profit? "

What works at one sale may not work at another. Offering a variety of items is the best policy. See what sells and what doesn't.

[spare-time gifts]

Jim Thanks for your insight, I truly appreciate the time invested in this question. In response, having a variety was one thing I'm taking into consideration. however, I'm having some trouble deciding as to how much time to invest into the variety,as well as weather or not too create a stock, or to only go to places that would allow me to have electricity and custom make small items on the spot to ensure that the time money, and demand coincide with each other. I've also considered the other side, by making a small variety for display, and taking orders, while at the same time, in between customers, working on things such as my clocks.

your thoughts???

[Travis]

Hi Ray. I guess it depends on what you mean by Mantel Clocks. Are you talking the highly detailed Victorian style mantle clocks? Or are you talking the smaller desktop clocks that takes the small clock inserts?

 

I'm also assuming you're interested in selling the clocks themselves and not the patterns.

 

I think you're more likely to sell the small desktop clocks with the clock inserts (like this one). Those type of clocks appeal to people who are looking for gifts. I'd focus on clocks that cater to an interest. Dog breeds are always popular, cats, golf, sports, cars, motorcycles, and hobbies. Also, sports silhouettes with a jersey number next to it will be popular with proud parents.

 

For generic ones, I'd have one or two (or more) available. For specific/custom ones like dog breeds or sports w/ jersey number, I'd make a sample and take custom orders. I wouldn't count on cutting anything while there. You'll be too busy talking to customers.

 

If you like more detailed mantle clocks, I'd do a few. You might sell one every once in awhile, but more often than not, they make great eye candy to bring the customer in the booth. Once there, they're more likely to purchase a smaller, cheaper clock.

 

If you don't have it already, I'd recommendMiniature Wooden Clocks For The Scroll Saw.

 

Variety is the spice of life. I'd have lots of things for folks to look at. Make sure they know you take custom orders too.

[spare-time gifts]

Dear Travis

Thanks for your reply. I'm listening to what your saying, I also thank you for the link. my daughter just got a kindle for Christmas, I will check it out.

Customization will be within reason, but my whole thought process of cutting in between is so others may get a glimpse at the technicality of it all and perhaps maybe even more respect to the time put into whats on display. A marketing tool if you will. much in the way that tattooists have glass walls now, or even some reality TV shows are doing the same thing with the same motivation.

Call me a dreamer, It may backfire, and prove ineffective. however would have gotten into it much earlier If were to have seen it in action.

( now I'm just arguing my own mind set)

But if in fact more get turned to the most simple of designs, and seeing how it all works could in a way prevent me from selling overly simple patterns.

So now I'm lost again, but I'm sure I'll figure something out.

Thanks for your post again. You've been a real help.

Ray

[Jim Finn]

If you are at a venue that is worth your while (enough sales) you will be too busy to be doing anything but selling and taking orders. If you have another person with you to sell your items then making them at the sales point may work but then you have doubled your sales staff.

One problem one may have, is finding a way to display all the items they make. I usually display about 100 different items at a show. I have made some, collapsible, book shelf looking, displays that work well. In only approximately a ten foot by ten foot space it takes some planning to display that many items. I have seen vendors that make some very very nice items, like crosses, but they just have 3-4 different styles so display space is not such an issue for them. If a buyer does not want their one item ,a cross, they just walk on by. I know I outsell most of the other vendors at the sales I attend and still cannot sell as fast as I can produce between shows.

[spare-time gifts]

good evening Jim

Thanks again for your input. I see what your saying. I'm still new to the actual business side of this hobby so your input is extremely valuable to me. I will take this into advisement.

In your experiences, how has bird houses sold at some of the venues you've attended?

NC is huge on birds and watching and I also feel they will sell really well where I am.

You have many words of wisdom, I look forward to your next post.

Respectfully

Ray