Help needed to produce samples

[BrunoReinhard]

Hi,
I'm a first time poster, I hope I am not breaking the rules of this forum. If I have, I apologize in advance.
As I'm completely useless in the woodworking department I am looking for someone, ideally not too far from the High Wycombe area to make some furniture for me. I am looking for a private person or small company who can produce around 3-5 furniture samples to a high standard. It will involve some wood bending. I don't mind how it's made as long as it looks good. I have tried local companies but they had either a 6 month waiting list or crazy price tags.
I know the moderators are not too keen on personal details in the forum, so I wanted to see if this message is not breaking any of the forums rules. It would be great if I could help turn someone's hobby into something paid

 

[RobinBHM]

Hi,

Welcome to the forum

Of course back in the heyday, in High Wycombe, you would have been spoilt for choice with furniture makers in the town.

Not many towns have a chair museum, and a street called chairborough road

 

[custard]

PM sent

 

[bugbear]

Hi,
I'm a first time poster, I hope I am not breaking the rules of this forum. If I have, I apologize in advance.
As I'm completely useless in the woodworking department I am looking for someone, ideally not too far from the High Wycombe area to make some furniture for me. I am looking for a private person or small company who can produce around 3-5 furniture samples to a high standard. It will involve some wood bending. I don't mind how it's made as long as it looks good. I have tried local companies but they had either a 6 month waiting list or crazy price tags.
I know the moderators are not too keen on personal details in the forum, so I wanted to see if this message is not breaking any of the forums rules. It would be great if I could help turn someone's hobby into something paid

So post some designs, and what you're prepared to pay.

BugBear

 

[BrunoReinhard]

Hi, all the designs are new and my own. I need to register first before I can make them public. I will pay the going rate, will pay material in advance, not looking for super cheap but it has to look good. If you can show me what you have done before I can see it it's a good fit and talk about what we need to do. If you like the job then it's a go!

 

[BrunoReinhard]

Hi all, as I am new I can't send PM's yet in reply. My email is bruno_reinhard at hotmail co uk.

 

[woodbrains]

Hello,

You say you are prepared to pay the going rate for the work.

I'm just wondering if what you consider crazy price tags, is the going rate and your perceptions of cost are a bit skewed? Low volume, high quality, hand made work is often seen as pitched at a crazy price by everyone except the poor sod who makes the stuff. Even the majority of posters here, being amateur, really don't understand the costs involved in making bespoke things. The few professional makers who post here know all too well how little money there is in making, and the crazy price tags actually just provides a subsistence income. Interesting to see how this request pans out, supposing that the item can even be made without substantial modification in design!

Mike.

 

[rafezetter]

I'll be following this too for similar reasons to woodbrains's

 

[BrunoReinhard]

Good morning everyone! Yes, I had a good idea what prices were when I posted my message a few days ago. There are some amazing craftsmen (craftspeople?) around in the UK and there is nowhere near the recognition I think they deserve. My search started when I was looking for something to cheer up my bland rental pad. I was looking for interesting furniture and it was impossible to find something original. Everything was either a beyond my wallet or had to come from abroad. I wanted something designed and made in the UK, was happy to pay well beyond high street as long as it was different. Because I couldn't find anything I liked I put pencil to paper and now I'm looking to get something made for myself and market it.
Secondly, when I go to craft fairs I see so many beautiful wood pieces for sale for very little, that have clearly been made with a lot of skill and passion. I wanted to bring everything together, end up where I would create an outlet for great hobbyists, where we could offer original British made woodwork (and other designs) for a price that would still give a good return for the maker and would keep it within reach of a reasonable audience. I'm open for any ideas to improve this, not limit myself necessarily to wood or hobbyists.... but I think we should be way more proud of what we do in this country. Dreamer? Yes, of course. And I can't handle a chisel or plane even if my life depended on it. I'm not even English, dammit.
So I'm looking to work together with English woodworkers, however amateur and part time they are, and see what we can achieve.

 

[RobinBHM]

Its a good idea with good intention -I do hope you get somewhere with it.

I suppose youve summed it up here:

"give a good return for the maker and would keep it within reach of a reasonable audience."

The problem is as always, scale of economy, reaching a big enough audience whilst avoiding retailers mark up and achieving prices that could compete against Chinese labour rates.

 

[BrunoReinhard]

You are completely right, we need to find the right balance. None of us will become millionaires out of this, but by teaming up I believe we can do more than is being done now. We will be offering something the Chinese can never offer, because it's British. I want to help the people who are creating amazing pieces in their sheds, there is so much potential out there. For me, I like the trading element, and I enjoy selling what I have a passion for. There has to be a benefit for everyone.

 

[bugbear]

I suppose you've summed it up here:

"give a good return for the maker and would keep it within reach of a reasonable audience."

Of course, we know what the goal is. It's achieving it that's hard. Good Luck!

BugBear

 

[Sgian Dubh]

I was looking for interesting furniture and it was impossible to find something original. Everything was either a beyond my wallet or had to come from abroad. I wanted something designed and made in the UK, was happy to pay well beyond high street as long as it was different.

I wanted to ... end up where I would create an outlet for great hobbyists, where we could offer original British made woodwork (and other designs) for a price that would still give a good return for the maker and would keep it within reach of a reasonable audience.

So I'm looking to work together with English woodworkers, however amateur and part time they are, and see what we can achieve.

I wish you success in your efforts. It will almost certainly be a significant learning curve for you, trying to marry concepts (hopefully good ones), design development, prototyping and the realities of production allied to successful marketing - I do suspect what you're trying to achieve is similar to the aims of many creative woodworking/ furniture business over recent decades. They too have had to deal with, and continue to grapple with challenges such as globalisation, outsourcing, worldwide distribution costs, sourcing materials, advances in technology, etc. Some successfully find a niche, and others struggle. Slainte.

 

[Alexam]

You mention your requirements are for furniture of unique design, but within a limited price range. May I ask what that range would be and the type of furniture you seek?

Are you then looking to sell on that furniture from a specific location, premises, or on line and would that be as a furniture dealer, or as an agent for the manufacturer, or in what capacity please?

May I also ask what is your selling background so far?

Malcolm

 

[BrunoReinhard]

Hi Malcolm,
My price range would be between £200 and £1000, depending on item. I'm not looking for huge items, it needs to be shippable between countries for a decent price.
I am looking to sell direct and via retail abroad. I have been in sales most of my life my family have outlets abroad so they are a good start.
My idea would be to work with manufacturer / maker to decide buy price and RRP. Hopefully get products unique to us, make to order.