So you wanna be a pro?

[wizer]

Then watch this guys journey. Makes you think

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=16zvm1veH ... re=related

 

[White House Workshop]

Lovely video. I tried it for a couple of years back in the 90's. Making stuff for others is nothing like making it for family!

I still do commission work, but not much and only things I 'feel' like doing at the time. Our next door neighbour bartered with me to put in the windowsills in his conservatory as the builders wouldn't touch it. He'd done the brickwork himself - and got it 'not quite right'. Nothing was level and there were no parts on the sills that were of equal depth - about 24' altogether. Took me 3 days of jointing, cutting, and finishing to put it all in. Oh, and he'd got the parana pine which, due to the length of time he'd had it stored, was all nicely warped! In the end, it turned out OK, but I left him to complete the sanding and finishing.

One day he's going to top my leylandii hedges as the barter agreement (he's a landscape gardener). I think it'll take him 2 hours max......

 

[wizer]

If I ever get good at this woodworking lark, I may take on a few commissions. But I have no intention to make it my full time job. Certainly not in the tradesmen sense. That video makes you realise that it doesn't matter how good you are, things go wrong sometimes and it's not all fun and games.

 

[Niall]

Whatever walk of life you're in, some things work out well and some things less so. I kept waiting for more insight or reason why he gave up, but I didn't see it.

 

[George_N]

Whatever walk of life you're in, some things work out well and some things less so. I kept waiting for more insight or reason why he gave up, but I didn't see it.

It started out like a success story, with a few hiccups along the way to illustrate the point that "sh*t happens" and then it just sort of petered out with no explanation. It just goes to show that even if you can make a nice looking product, you might not be able to make a successful business out of it. Even if the business is a financial success though, you might find that running a business is not what you want to be doing ie. you'd rather be woodworking.

 

[Corset]

I just didn't get it. He seemed to have sorted it all out and then he stops!! What made him give up did he not get paid?? If he thinks that no problems should exist in a job then no work is ever going to satisfy him.
Perhaps he spent to long fiddling making videos :lol:

 

[wizer]

Have a look at the comments. He explains that even tho he did some great work and got a steady flow of customers, The money wasn't good enough.

 

[andycorleone]

Please tell me if I'm wrong, But I think Middle Class American people apreciate (or are happy to pay ) quality woodworking furniture than in the UK. Or maybe is a better business because they need more furniture to fill the huge Houses

 

[Michael7]

My last job was working at a carpet factory. It was and still is full of joiners, plasterers, plumbers, etc. They said they preferred a decent steady wage. Never came across any electricians - must be paid well.

 

[tim]

As a pro maker, my only comment would be that the only mistakes he made were his own and he wasn't realistic about his objectives. Its business - sometimes its pleasure too. Making stuff for friends and family gives a different sense of pleasure - confuse the two at your peril.

Cheers

Tim

 

[White House Workshop]

Please tell me if I'm wrong, But I think Middle Class American people apreciate (or are happy to pay ) quality woodworking furniture than in the UK. Or maybe is a better business because they need more furniture to fill the huge Houses

You are spot on Andy! I never had any problems selling stuff in the US but in the UK all I get is 'I can get that at IKEA for a quarter of the price'.......

I don't think it's all about cost. Americans in general appreciate the work that has gone into producing something far more than any Brits I have met (other than a few, especially in here!).