Your Workshop Heaven

[matthewwh]

Hi folks,

We have recently received a nice lump of cash from HMRC (all the VAT we paid on our current stock) and the bank manager took a look at our figures and gave us the thumbs up for a business expansion loan, a rare treat in the current climate!

So I am looking to expand our range of offerings and would welcome any input that you, our customers, have to offer on which direction to point the cash in.

Already underway or under serious consideration are the following;

Ashley Iles carving tools; Expanding the current range of straight bladed carving tools to cover all sweeps and offering spoon, curved, backbent and fishtail variants of the same made up to order. We have recently started stocking the new Peter Benson detail selection which has aroused considerable interest so this seems like a no-brainer.

Bessey Clamps; We have been talking with these guys for a while now, their clamps are undoubtedly top notch and they regularly have excellent special offers.

Mid range planes; I can't help feeling that the middle of the plane market has been somewhat underpopulated so we are looking at Grant Toolworks and the new range of Stanley Sweetheart planes.

Machinery; Although we are hand tool specialists I thought it might be interesting to delve into powered tools and see how we go. Scheppach are currently top of the list, good quality reliable machines built from scratch in Germany. I have one of their bandsaws in my own workshop and it is an absolute delight to use.

Sharpening Stones; We are well known for our 3M scary sharp kits but I feel that we could be offering a wider selection of sharpening media. I have recently begun to see potential for diamond stones, ceramics, waterstones and even traditional oilstones.

Atkinson Walker circular saw blades; These guys make the circular equivalent of M42 bandsaw blades, they do a 'nail resitant' option - ordinary tungsten blades but heat treated to produce tougher tips, or a top end blade produced primarily for the pallet busting industry who need to saw through nails all day. Not cheap but very, very nice.

Marking and measuring; In the vast majority of cases these have got to be right or they are worse than useless. We are considering WERA a german manufacturer, but if anyone has any other suggestions I would be happy to consider them.

Fujikawa Chisels; We are now able to purcase direct from several well respected Japanese makers. Fujikawa seem to have the best balance of quality vs price, producing good quality workmanlike tools from the best materials available without charging daft money for them. They are absolutely delightful to deal with and take great pride in what they do.

Gyokucho Saws; not only the best selling saws in Japan but also the best selling Japanese saws worldwide, these guys are decades ahead of us in handsaw technology. We have alredy stocked what we thought would be the most popular saws but if there is anything else you would like to see we are all ears.

It is both a pleasure and a privelidge to be running a successful business at the moment, so I don't want to abuse it by making ill-informed decisions. Having said that it is great fun spending money, so why not join in. This is your chance to suggest new ranges, ask for particular tools that you have found difficult to source or support the expansion of our existing lines.

Over to you!

 

[wizer]

I certainly agree about catering for the mid-range market. It makes perfect sense to me that this area will be more buoyant than the top end. Grant have got good reviews here. What about Footprint? Their chisels have had good reviews.

I'd be very wary of stocking lines which people literally can't afford. Think about what people need in this climate.

One thing I always thought would be good on a tools website would be more guidance to the beginner. For example if I want to cut dovetails, what tools do I need? They should be grouped together on the site. Essential 'kits' that get each task done.

Good luck with everything Matthew. If you need any help with the website, give me a shout.

 

[woodbloke]

Matthew - I read your reply on my suggestions from the GMC site and the new server does indeed make your site much faster to load - Rob

 

[nimmaj]

One of the things i really like about your site is how often you stock things that everyone's talking about but noone's got any idea how to get. E.g. i notice you recently started stocking drywall screen.

I don't have any ideas about new product ranges, but here's a list of things that i've attempted to find recently and largely failed to find in the uk new:

* saw setting devices (got one second hand)
* genuine hold downs like these
* ray iles mortise chisels (i wonder if tfww has these exclusively)
* decent 60cm blades for a frame saw
* big pieces of genuinely flat float glass - big enough for flattening #7s

Bit of a funny list - hope it's of some use!

Thanks for the cool tools i've got so far - especially the lignum mallet!

Ben

 

[OllyK]

What's the URL to your site?

 

[DaveL]

What's the URL to your site?

Olly,

Click on the WWW button on the bottom of Mathews post.

 

[MikeG.]

I'm glad to hear its going so well Matthew....nothing more than you deserve after a lot of hard work, and I can vouch for your truly personal service.

Coming from the plane anti-christ, I think you might want to be first off the mark if and when that mythical mid-range Stanley stuff finally arrives.

I would urge caution on the machinery front, personally. I reckon the big-boys are always going to be able to get bigger discounts than you, and those machines, being so widely available, will always be bought on price.

Twere it me, I would be trying to get one of the smaller specialist manufacturers to make an exclusive range just for you......the Ashley Iles Wokshop Heaven limited edition thingamejigs.......You get the idea.

Whatever you spend the dosh on, I hope it works out well..............and gets you a bit closer to a holiday in Africa!

Mike

 

[Aled Dafis]

I'm also glad to hear things are going so well.

My advice is to carry on doing exactly what you've set up your business with. Building good links with high quality makers and suppliers. Your links with Clifton, Ashley iles, Shield Technology etc. is what makes Workshop Heaven so good. To use corporate speak, it's what gives you "competitive advantage"

I'd also advise to stay away from big machinery, as the likes of Axminster have most supply lines tied up, and according to my local supplier last weekend, the machinery market is really slow at the moment - he's moving more towards timber and turning blanks.

Cheers

Aled

 

[Paul Chapman]

Hi Matthew,

Good to hear business is doing well

I think I'd be inclined to stay away from machinery as well. There's lots of competition out there and I think it would be difficult for a small outfit to compete on price and range.

Stick at what you do best - good quality hand tools that are often hard to get.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Lord Nibbo]

It's interesting that your looking at Bessey. I thought that the Brimarc/Axminster duo had it all stitched up to screw us for every penny we got. Now if you are importing from another source and can match USA prices I think you will get an avalanche of orders from me. :lol:

 

[wizer]

Matthew: what about looking at stocking the Jet clamps. Reviews in the states suggest that these are better than Bessey. I realise Axminster are big players in supplying Jet products, but I assume they don't stock the clamps as they have a strong relationship with Bessey. You could be the first in the UK to stock them. I'd certainly like to try them.

I second the idea about Grammercy hold downs, I can't believe they are not available over here. Surely AI could make these easily?

 

[Loz_S]

My advice would be not to expand too fast unless you know what you are doing...asking for advice on an open BBS might not be considered a good example of that! Good luck to you though, I really like the look of your site and your selection of hand tools is very good. I wouldn't believe you could compete with the established names selling heavy machine tools though.

...Marking and measuring; In the vast majority of cases these have got to be right or they are worse than useless. We are considering WERA a german manufacturer, but if anyone has any other suggestions I would be happy to consider them....

Unless this is a company I don't know, I thought WERA sold screwdrivers?

If you are looking for a range of quality engineering grade measuring tools, I'd recommend VOGEL, also in Germany.

...... http://www.vogel-germany.de/



.

 

[p111dom]

Matthew: what about looking at stocking the Jet clamps. Reviews in the states suggest that these are better than Bessey. I realise Axminster are big players in supplying Jet products, but I assume they don't stock the clamps as they have a strong relationship with Bessey. You could be the first in the UK to stock them. I'd certainly like to try them.

Just sent Matthew a PM saying exaxcly the same think Tom. I'd also be looking into aquiring the profitable band saw blade business from Dragon. Both Workshop Heaven and Dragon are very well respected so I don't think it would do the business any harm at all.

 

[wizer]

That's a very good idea.

 

[big soft moose]

I agree with the others about staying away from machinery as that market is pretty sown up - also if you did go that way i'd rethink re the "scheppach" stuff - as though i'm not knocking it (my last scroll saw was scheppach) screwfix have recently stopped stocking it apparently due to a combination of increased price (due to the weak pound) and lack of demand.

I'd also stay away from anything you have to buy from the big boys and resell as they will always screw you to make their own sales depts look better ( I know toolpost have had this issue with axminster in the past)

I cant comment sensibly on your stock range as i have never tried to buy from you (yet) but one thing i have struggled with finding is someone who stocks a decent range of pyrography stuff (the axminster and craft suplies ranges being limited)

 

[custard]

Good luck with the business!

I'm constantly looking for good quality cabinet fittings such as hinges, locks, stays, knobs, and feet for boxes and small cabinets. Brusso have that market pretty much to themselves via Classic Hand Tools (the sole UK distributor). Unfortunately the Brusso range isn't as extensive as I'd like, for example their smallest hinge is only suitable for about 10mm thick materials (so nothing for 5-8mm thick boxes), no piano hinges, and no small locks. Also it's difficult to find fittings in anything other than brass, Brusso have a limited stainless steel range which looks fantastic used with ebony or rosewood) but this could be expanded as well as new materials like bronze.

With the pound low against the dollar there's surely an opportunity for a British manufacturer to go up against Brusso?

 

[wizer]

Totally agree about the Brusso thing. I wish someone on this side of the pond would offer competition. I bought a pair od hinges late last year in SS at the princely sum of £60 :shock:

 

[TrimTheKing]

Hi Matthew

I too am glad to hear things are going so well. I can only talk from personal experience but I have only good things to say about my dealings with you from both a speedy delivery service to great and personal communications.

You have already mentioned sharpening and I would be interested in DMT Dia-Sharp stones, and the Spyderco ones Rob uses. Also, Chris Vesper stuff as that is beautiful, but I appreciate that it might be a little specialist and high end, but then again you are Workshop Heaven, so it would fit.

Will think of more through the day.

Cheers

Mark

 

[Routermonster]

Hi Matthew

Glad you're doing well!

You mentioned measuring and marking. Have you considered offering kit from a Briitish firm such as Moore & Wright (- yes it's expensive) or even Stanley/Rabone? What about Joseph Marples and Sorby gauges, or the good-value stuff that Crown manufacture at the cheaper end of the market?

It seems that a lot of the big mail order firms - with the exception of CHT - are selling similar Far Eastern squares, bevels, etc. When buying hand tools, I am now trying to find British-made kit if possible, followed by US/Canadian or European products.

Maybe a range of handsaw kits?

How about some of Ray Iles' stuff?

Specialist finishes?

Hope this helps

Les

 

[Corset]

I have just discovered the joy of a well sharpened UK handsaw. I would welcome a mid price hand saw that does the job and can be sharpened easily. I have used japanes saws for about 4years and after sharpening a tenon properley (with your files) has been a bit of a revelation. Something in the £50-60 bracket would be great.
Owen