This is cut and pasted from a discussion started in "Settle (3)", where it probably wasn't going to be very well read............If you want to read some of the responses, please visit the original thread.
Something I have been thinking about for a while..........
I wonder whether it would be possible to set up a web-site, or a section of this web-site, where members could offer their furniture, turning or other hand-crafted products for sale to the public?
That way, you could use your oak and your time and maybe make a few quid, and we could reach a wider audience than the normal families and friends. Some craftsmen might offer a made-to-order service, others just selling stuff via photos (such as in the Gallery).
It would have to be select membership only, to keep the larger businesses out..........I guess it would mainly be for one-man-bands or the occasional partnership.
I wonder first whether any of the Get Woodworking members are interested in the idea, and secondly, what Ben thinks?
Mike
Guys,
I guess this suggestion was always on the basis of selling the odd piece rather than trying to make a living from it, so the idea of having someone copy your stuff wouldn't really be an issue. I don't reckon I would make the same thing twice.
Al, I've done it before myself, and learnt a few lessons. First and foremost........don't try and compete with stuff people can already buy (even if it is individually hand-made from solid timber, no laminated MDF , etc). One year I did a show of about 20 or 25 pieces of solid pine furniture, mainly Welsh dressers, corner cabinets etc, and sold almost all of them. The following year I made 3 of my "Flintstone" pieces, and made lots more money with those three than with the previous 25!
I sort of thought that if we had a site with 15 or 20 talented amateurs contributing furniture it is likely that there would always be one or 2 dozen pieces up for sale. If everyone sold 2 or 3 pieces of furniture a year it would help fund the workshop, buy the odd new tool etc. I think I am right in saying that the Inland Revenue wouldn't require anyone to move over to Self Assessment unless they made £3000 in a year from additional activities, so no need for accountants etc.
Mike, this suggestion comes up reasonably frequently on various forums which suggests that there is an interest in it if only from the "sellers" point of view. Probably as a result of this there are sites already set up that do pretty much what you're suggesting. Quite apart from people selling via Ebay - what's stop a collective getting together and setting up an Ebay shop? There are other sites as well. Have a look at Etsy for example. It appears to be an American thing but there are quite a few UK based sellers as well.
Yes Etsy is quite wide ranging in its product areas and quality, "policing" quality is difficult I would have thought while restricting product range is easy but not neccesarly some thing that you would want to do as the site owner.
A co operative ebay shop would have to operate as a proper co operative to take care of management issues etc.
I think the only sensible way to control quality would be to have only a small membership with some form of feedback system or self-policing arrangement, within a policy statement setting out which sort of items are suitable for inclusion.
As a co-operative, would you think that one central point would handle the transactions, or would it be up to each craftsman to accept money and do the paperwork, organise the dispatches etc?
I think there is mileage in this idea, so long as a few decent craftsmen are prepared to back it with a bit of time and effort.
I think the quality issue is a difficult one. Perhaps one way to do it is to vote in a management board who then admit members to the co op based on clearly defined criteria - rather like a guild might. As for the logistics off the top of my head I suspect that a cmbination of what you suggest might be the way forward. Purchasing, sales quality assurance and customer services might have to be handled centrally while individual makers would have to handle despatch etc.
I find research on ebay is a good idea, look at whats selling and whats not. and dont try to sell the really good stuff, it wont go. People on ebay will spend £100 on most things like maybe pine coffee tables, kitchen furniture and the such. However for us to seel something for that kinda price it's gotta be made from you off cuts and scrap and be made in a lazy weekend. My spice racks for instance, i make 60% on the build cost, but takes 2 days to make. so not huge profit, but enough to built up a tool kitty! Also gotta think size.....you gotta post the piece after youve sold it. My spice racks royal mail will handle. I recently made a spice rack for a customer...she wanted 80" yes 80" wide 17" high and a depth of 6", obviously sectioned out..however never thought of postage till i saw the actual size. To my amazement there are loads of carrier online who will come and collect from your door. reasonable price too.
I think its the same in every new buisness you gotta find the right neich
Perhaps if the 'woodworkers club' were to go ahead then memebership, or should i say continued memebership would depend on thier performance. ie the seller would be asked to fill out a questionaire upon completion of transaction, very much the same as ebay but maybe a little more greared to wood working! Then if that persons score dips below a cut off point his membership will be suspended! Or even promoted for outstanding scores...
Why not just have a site with a closed membership who pay for the up keep of the site. Each member would be independent of one another, with their own gallery.
Then quality would not be an issue as any customer would be dealing with one member & their work would not be a reflection on anyone else. This could also be stated on the home page, a disclaimer if you like.
My question would be how much is it to set up & maintain a site?
If your aim is to just sell a few things would you recoup your money? I imagine that is why the sites that already exist are so large, to keep the running costs of the site per member down.
The more i think about this idea the more i think it is important that each person is independent as there is far more than quality of content to worry about, that is us looking at it from a personal prospective. You would need public liabilities insurance, if any member were sued you would not want the liability spreading to the other members.
I think ebay is your best bet for selling, Ok you have to pay a listing fee, but everything is in place, a massive amount of people already use it and the buyer/seller protection is already in place with them.
pictures of the pieces we have already made is all you need to place you advert. Each piece can be replicated. you discribe you item as made to order, delivery time....... yarda yarda yarda. Simple pieces may only take a weekend, a flintstone dresser i imagine would take a day or two longer!!!!
I think to make a site like your discribing would be a monster headache which will take up more of your time than you want it too..
I dont know if it would be possible to open like a co-operative shop on Ebay! were a number of members all supply one shop. to do that i suspect that one person would own the shop in one name, then the work is subcontrated to the co-operative from the shop owner. No profits to the shop owner of course.
sounds like a headache either way....Or am i having a grumpy day!!
If you`re going to do it on ebay, you may as well just do your own listings i don`t see the benefit of a cooperative.
Where as if you set up a site in its own right then the cooperative helps by spreading the costs.
Also aren`t people who look on ebay looking for a bargain & surely if you are aiming at a bespoke market the last thing you want to be is labeled bargain basement. As Mike said in a previous post about selling many items cheaply or a couple of higher priced items which there is more profit in, better the latter everytime. Your labour is the expensive thing, time is money, no point giving your hard work away to the highest bidder.
I am trying to sell some items on e bay at the moment , having been inspired by Nicks spice racks,am trying to sell a small box and a mirror, but not sure how to go ahead as my computer skills are very limited. It would be great to have a site/e bay shop where you could sell handmade stuff(not made in a factory in china) to people who appreciate the fact its hand made.
I will let you know how I get on, if I manage to sell anything!
I think most people go to ebay to look for a good deal,and this could be woodwork as well,as i have seen many item 's on there, so all you need is a shop on ebay which everyone can sell there item's , ebay will be willing to help with this matter, and like Baz said everyone is independant.
also this will mean when selling item's you need to think about how do you get your item to the buyer !!!, there are rule on ebay , so think about it, large item's post cost ect!.
but the point being it's one shop for all woodworkers to use.
