Busines vs Hobby

[McClarkus]

Hi - New guy here...... I have been restoring and refinishing antique furniture for more than 10 years now. I have my own 4000sq ft shop on my property here not too far from Colorado Springs. It already has a spray booth, sanding room, strip (finish) room, and some machinery. I have decided to expand the business by getting a 4 x 8 Shop Sabre CNC router with a plasma cutter upgrade. The ability to do carved doors with inset steel kick plate sculptures is appealing to me. I already have a number of current business contacts and many, many, ideas for samples with which to approach them. For example, one guy I know had a chain saw carved bear shop and he wants me to make fish shaped signs for him like "Go away" "Welcome" "Wipe 'yer paw's" etc. I know cabinet dealers and makers. I know home builders and interior designers. I know one sign guy that doesn't currently have carved capabilities. I am getting Aspire to run the machine in my shop. Here is my question - Is there anybody out there with similar circumstances who has not made some substantial money doing this? Just trying to determine if the odds are good or not. Thanks in advance for your time.

[woodworker48]

Hi McClarkus
Substantial money? I do remodeling/renovation work in the Atlanta area, I have a 3 x5 router that has opened some doors. The nice thing is that I don't have a stumbling block anymore, meaning when I run across something in the middle of the job I can make something that will solve the problem, I would like to have it running more though. I think it was worth it, I would've lost some work if I didn't have it. if you want, go to my site at jonesremodelingandrepair.net and you can see some of what I used it for.

[McClarkus]

I liked that site - Well done. You seem to have the valuable skills of a builder already. Using your CNC to augment that business is a smart move. I am leaning towards using mine (not delivered yet) to allow me to follow some new paths...........Throw enough stuff against the wall and something is bound to stick.

[capnl]

Hi Gary,

I really like your website,
Great pics and videos and even greater projects !!
Good looking stuff you made there !!
This is really an inspiration for other (would be / could be) 'woodworkers' on the forum

Thanks for sharing

John

www.drw-holland.nl (under construction)

[cabnet636]

it certainly has benefited me

jim

[IYWD]

McClarkus,
Glad to hear there is finally someone else interested in this stuff from Colorado! I won't feel so lonely now. I'm about an hour and a half southeast from Colorado Springs.
As far as the odds being good or not to make money...with our current economy, it's not easy. When things are tight, people are more worried about buying essentials, and less likely to purchase extras. But one advantage you have is knowing some people that can use your work, (cabinet makers, interior designers, etc.). Plus, Colorado Springs is a much better location to market what you make than where I am, (I'm "out in the sticks"). Good luck, and if you're ever down my way, let me know and we can compare notes.

IYWD

[McClarkus]

My current business draws most of the work from Colorado Springs, but I would like to expand into the high country. Those ski resorts have some obscenely expensive real estate. My current web site is going to need some updating but here it is - Schoolhousefurniturerepair.com Thanks -

[ckurak]

McClarkus,

I just took a quick look at your website, and wanted to share my impressions.

Mainly, your site conveys the message that you are serious about restoration work. Based on what I saw there, I would be comfortable considering you for my restoration work if I needed that service. Your site gets right to the point, and that is a good thing in my opinion.

Just a thought, but if you want to branch out to other types of work (besides restoration), you might consider a company name change. Your current name appears to be quite limiting in scope.

If you really want to keep the good will and name recognition that you have already, may I suggest School House Woodworks? Or, something similar? You could keep the School House part of the name, and the Woodworks would not be as limiting. (I believe schoolhousewoodworks.com is available at the moment, but you might want to grab it quick before someone else does if you want it.)

Or, you may want to use both names. You could probably use one as a DBA (Doing Business As) name, but check with your accountant or attorney in your state before doing so. In some places they call this a "fictitious name." And, the name must be registered (local? state?) before you can use it. Again, ask for legal advice.

You don't need to spend a fortune doing this, but if you really want to be serious about your marketing efforts in your new areas, you might want to consider the image your company projects, starting with the name. It is the first impression that many new folks have regarding your company. And, if it is the wrong one, you will probably never even get a second chance.

By the way, I think your current company name is great for your restoration work. I would not suggest you drop this name at all. You could explain to your current contacts/customers that you are opening up a new division of your company that specializes in custom CNC work (or whatever you want to say) and that new division has a new business name to attract new clientele. And, your restoration company is still in great shape and not going away. Either way, they will still be getting the great service they have come to expect.

I hope I explained this well. None of this was meant to convey that your current business name choice is not a good one. Again, I think it is great. And, remember how much my advice just cost you: ($0.00). So, its value may be equivalent to what you paid.

Best of luck!

Charles

PS: Just wanted to add something. After thinking about it a little, I would not drop your current business name; especially the "furniture repair" part. That name really helps people understand what you do. The point that I was trying to make was it doesn't seem to match well with the new line of work you want to offer. So, I would not risk changing the old name, but somehow figure out how to add the new line of work. Anyone else have some helpful comments? CK

[cabnet636]

i am a commercial shop 26 years in business, we advertise as cabinetmakers, we get calls several times a week to repair burned or damaged furniture, very rarely refinishing. my friend steve brantley at colonial woodworks is a specialist in this and advertises in furniture restoration/ finishing etc but not cabinetmaking. my point is i refer him several jobs per week as we just do not want to do this type of work it is not or fortay!! i would contact shops in your are and let them know you can do this and components on cnc,

my 2c jim