I Haven’t Disappeared!

I do realize that it has been a long time since I posted to my blog. Sometimes life gets in the way of the things I truly enjoy – like turning pens, cutting clocks, and writing to my blog! It has been a busy month for me. I finished the semester, taught a 2-week interim class (4 hours per day for 10 days straight), helped prepare my wife for knee surgery (total replacement – her 2nd), got the basement ready for the remodelers (my back still hurts), got my daughter off to camp, and, now, time to take a breather.

I’ve finished 5 different clocks that I had started, done a few pens, and now I’m back to the blog. One of the most fascinating, and least understood, aspects of a home-based business is the “marketing” piece. When we do the craft-show circuit the marketing is done, for us, by the show’s promoter. Most of our products, however, only sell well in the fall shows. This means that I will have to get a little bit more creative with our ‘off-season’ marketing. Some of our products are, naturally, geared towards the Christmas season, however, other products would sell well at other times. For example, my pens would make great Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Graduation presents. Most people looking for gifts of this nature would, in all likelihood, not go to a craft show in order to find that ‘perfect gift’. This means that I need to start taking more pictures, of my products, to post to my Pens And Clocks website.

Online selling is, rapidly, becoming commonplace today. In fact, in this struggling economy, many businesses (including ours) has focused on selling “from the home” and online. The reason for this is quite simple – the overhead costs are dramatically reduced. In fact, all of my pens and most of my clocks are, currently, priced at less than $40.00. If I were selling in a traditional venue (mall cart or kiosk, strip mall, etc.) I would have to double my prices to “pay the rent”. I would rather keep my prices lower and sell at craft shows or online.

Right now my selling had been “shirt pocket sales” (pens) or the typical craft show. I am not savvy enough to drive customers to my website with Search Engine Optimization and/or expensive advertising. I am, however, exploring other avenues of selling. I do know that eBay has worked for many people. I have heard that some items sell well on Amazon.com. We have, in the past, used Etsy (and might, in the future, as well). There are a few more ideas out there that I need to explore.

As you, and I, continue with our business ventures we need to keep focused on the marketing end of the business. When we can present our product in a skillful and professional manner we, and our customers, will benefit.

Have a great day and I’ll try to do better at posting in the next few weeks!

DCPenman

Forced to Retire!

Dear Reader -

Over the weekend I read an interesting article in the AARP Bulletin about older workers who are being forced to retire due to being caught in between a floundering economy and a “close to retirement” age. It seems that this generation of aging ‘baby-boomers’ has become the new throwaway generation!

I will come back to my favorite theme! It is time for the older, displaced worker to take control of his/her life. As Dennis Hopper once said, in one of his television ads, shuffleboard isn’t, necessarily, the peak experience of retirement. For example, this past weekend, I was able to get into my shop (amid some home maintenance and upgrade work being done – new windows) and turn some more pens to sell at the fall craft shows. I love the pursuit of a beauty that cannot be duplicated in a mass production environment.

I wish to encourage all – especially displaced older workers – to discover and/or develop a ‘marketable’ skill. Granted we might not be able to sell it to corporate America. However, I still see people coming to craft and art shows wanting a unique and ‘hand-made’ product. I have discovered numerous customers willing to pay $20-$30 for a “one-of-a-kind” handcrafted pen to replace their “dollar BICs”! These are the people who cherish life and quality rather than simply “cheap” and disposable. I like to think that they purchase “non-disposable” goods from me, and my generation, because they do not consider us aging baby-boomers as a disposable or throwaway generation.

I have posted a link to this same article for those of you, my dear readers, who wish to see my inspiration for today’s blog post.

Forced to Retire Article

Have a good week and my next post is still in the ‘thinking’ stage. It will be about the potential for a nationwide teacher “layoff”. May the Good Lord help our children!

DCPenman

A Delightful Success Story

Dear Reader –

Please don’t get used to me posting 2 days in a row! I did come across the following article that talks about how one group of people is able to have a great success rate in their business start-ups. Please check out http://money.cnn.com/2010/05/04/smallbusiness/amish_business_success/ for this inspirational story. I just couldn’t resist pointing out this story today. Have a good one and discover that one thing you can do well!

DCPenman

Our MLM Experience

I have spent considerable time presenting the idea and the value of home-based business to my gentle readers in the past couple of months. I do not try to write a daily article as that would become tedious for me and for you. I do not want to take the space provided for me, today, to harangue about a bad experience but I do want to present a few thoughts I have had in the past couple of years since moving from MLM to “handmade”.

This idea struck me because I was responding to a question on one of the several forums I visit each morning which are dedicated to scroll-sawing and/or pen-turning. The question was “How did you get started in this hobby”. My reply is:

“My wife and I had been in a MLM program. We added some crafts to our ‘lineup’ in order to get into a couple of shows that allowed the MLM products but required some handmade crafts. Since we were selling spices and other kitchen ‘goodies’ we added a few aprons. The aprons began outselling the MLM products and we found that we made more money on the handmade crafts. We added crocheted hand towels and some table runners and the crafts began selling better and better. At our last show of the season, 4+ years ago, my wife said “You need to do something to help with the craft side of our business too.” At the same time Sears had a sale on their scroll saws. I bought the saw then began to research what I could offer on the crafts side. Since then we have given up on the MLM program (MLM = Most Lose Money), I have upgraded to a Yellow Beast (shoulder surgery – too hard to set the tension on the Craftsman), added a lathe, and am now the local “Pen and Clock” guy – hence the website “Pens, Clocks, ‘N More”. I have discovered that my passion is working with exotic woods. I’m anxious to see if I can find some bamboo cutting boards that were mentioned elsewhere on this forum (I know – not a wood – but definitely ‘exotic’)!”

I realize that the above response is a little negative on the MLM side. My reason for saying this is that most MLM programs indicate that you can make a lot of money simply by recruiting. My upline, in the MLM program, constantly derided me for trying to make money selling the product. In fact I was told that “nobody makes any money delivering bottles of product door-to-door”. What I realized, however, was that I was not good at, or interested in, recruiting. I also discovered that selling the products at craft fairs, food shows, and the like, I was only making the retail profit which was only covering my costs (if that!). After moving into the crafts, completely, I have discovered that I am making the retail profit, the wholesale profit, and the manufacturing profit!

I still don’t make a boatload of money, however, my wife has a couple of very nice sewing machines and I have an excellent scroll saw and a nice lathe with all the accessories needed to make pens. We also have a lot of ‘paid for’ fixtures that will have plenty of uses for us should we ever decide to quit the ‘craft show’ circuit and go more towards on-line sales (we’ll see about that more in future years – right now I am just dabbling with my website, Pens, Clocks, ‘N More .

I still want to encourage everyone to look at how each of you might want to start your own business to help fight a struggling economy. I just have a couple of ‘caveats’. Pick something you truly enjoy! Be your own boss! If you think the ‘recruiting’ is for you then MLM might be the way to go! However, research the various programs and plans that are out there very carefully. Do know that MANY people are alienated by being recruited by family and friends – don’t spend all of your ‘social capital’. Don’t be afraid to change your approach and plan until you find your own niche. Keep smiling – It makes people wonder what you are up to! Have a great week!

DCPenman

Back to the Blog and Handmade Products!

Dear Reader -

I do realize that it has been some time since my last post. I guess I just got too busy with life to slow down and reflect on what is happening. This is not good since some of my better ideas do come only after ‘thinking and writing’. I’ll try to do better!

I have mentioned, numerous times, how ‘handcrafted’ can be the best choice for many (most?) of us. I do have a couple of examples of this that I would like to share today. First of all, in my shop, I am constantly looking for better ways to accomplish repetitive tasks. On one of the several forums I check, daily, I saw something that simplified the cutting of wood and acrylic pen blanks to size. For several months I have been trying to convince my wife to let me get a new and better bandsaw to accomplish this task. She kept saying “Use the tools you have”. When I saw this ‘pen sled’ on the forum mentioned as a way to accomplish this necessary task on a table saw safely I got more interested! After checking out the pattern and getting some inexpensive parts I realized that my wife was absolutely right (I even told her so)! This ‘jig’ eliminates my need for a bandsaw and does the job better and less expensively. I guess I need to listen to myself more when I say “handmade is better”.

Following this experience I noticed another ‘fix-it’ for the press I use to press my pen parts together. I spent an hour yesterday doing just this. I will save much more time in the next month putting my pens together than the hour I spent yesterday making my pen press more “handmade”. I can’t even buy this “perfect tool”. It only came about due to mixing my own labor with the product in order to arrive at the best solution.

Just this morning I was visiting with a friend who was looking for a clock for his living room. His wife had noticed that my website, Pens, Clocks, ‘N More, included clocks and wanted him to ask what I could do for them. He went on to say that they could, simply, go out and buy a clock but it would have little or no meaning. He, too, sees the value of getting “exactly what they want” by having it custom-made. In this way they can select a pattern that matches their specific decor, find a clock ‘face’ that accentuates the pattern, and get that perfect piece of wood that will speak to their own tastes. Custom-made does not have to be expensive, however, it must ‘speak’ to the people who will use it for years to come.

I was thrilled, yesterday, to have the honor of presenting a Curly Purpleheart wooden clock to my daughter and a camouflage acrylic pen to her husband for their birthdays next month. The real joy came from the fact that I had made both of these with my own hands. Gift-giving is a true delight when it comes from the heart and the hands of the giver.

By the way, in future weeks, I will be doing some major updating to my website and I will have many more pens and clocks to show off. Have a great day and, if possible, do something wonderful for a friend!

DCPenman

Don’t Be Fooled

I ran across the following video, today, that is somewhat related to my musings on this blog.  As many of us are struggling in an extremely and uncertain economy we can and do turn to a wide variety of possible solutions.  I turned to making pens and clocks in order to sell at craft shows.  Some people get part-time jobs (my dad worked one for 25 years!).  Others have turned to Etsy (online stores for craft items) and eBay.  Here is a video alert from the FTC that, hopefully, will help others to NOT get taken for a ride when they are at their lowest!

Have a Great Day!
DCPenman

Craftsmanship As Education

The other day I had a most interesting experience that gave me a new insight into the value of hand craftsmanship.  I was on spring break (had a whole week off!) and decided to make some new pens and clocks (don’t check the website – new pix aren’t up yet).  The pens I made were all colorful acrylics – pix to come!

The clocks, however, were where I experienced another aspect of my ‘work’.  I had some VERY interesting wood called Curly Purpleheart that I wanted to do something fun with.  I found a clock  pattern that was a very simple design but would, definitely, show the character of the wood used.  I decided to cut two clocks since I had just enough left over for a second clock.  I, then, decided to cut some more clocks with that same pattern since I had several more distinctive woods in my stash.

After cutting five clocks I set them on the dining room table until I and my wife can apply the ‘finish’.  My nine-year old walked into the dining room and began picking up each clock.  She, then, said “curly purpleheart, curly purpleheart, fishtail oak, zebrawood, and padauk – nice job, Dad!”  I hadn’t realized, until then, how she was educating herself through my hobby.  Since then I’ve taken her to the woodstore and my shop and she is quite the expert on identifying the many different kinds of woods.  Her favorite, to date, seems to be fishtail oak, although she is partial to yellowheart and canarywood.

The joys of sharing aspects of one’s hobby with one’s child is beyond description!

Have a great day,
DCPenman

An Idea for Furniture

This past weekend we were presenting some of our products at a fairly large and local (to us) craft show.  No — this post is NOT an unabashed advertisement for our products.  In fact, I won’t even post our website info today since I am going to suggest another possible outlet for your furniture purchases.

As I was ‘walking the show’ I noticed that there were several highly talented woodcrafters selling handmade oak, walnut, and/or pine furniture.  Each of them used different stains which meant that the products offered at this show could appeal to many different tastes and home decors available.  As I went back to our booth I commented, to my wife, that if I were in the market for bookshelves, tables, accessories, shelves, etc. I would, definitely not go back to the large and well-known furniture store in our metro area.  I would, rather, go to a craft show and buy a real wood product rather than pay the same, or more, for a piece of glue and sawdust (better known as pressboard) which will not hold up to being moved more than 2 times.  I, also, mentioned the dining room chairs that we had purchased at this large furniture store have had to be ‘rebuilt’ 2 times in order to maintain structural integrity.  You do not run into that when you are buying the solid oak or walnut furniture (you do have to be a bit careful about some pine)!

Another advantage of buying at a craft show, which sells only handmade products, is that you are supporting a local economy.  Even if your crafter is from out-of-town or out-of-state they are spending money in your community with their support of the local sponsors of the show, local motels, local restaurants, etc.  In short, they are coming to your community for your benefit.  I did notice that the kitchen chairs, I mentioned earlier, were made in a faraway land (not even close to the USA – much less my own state or community).

Therefore, I wish to make the following recommendation.  Next time you are in the market for a top-quality piece of wood furniture check out your local craft show first.  It is my experience that you will probably pay less and have a much better piece of furniture that will last long into your grandchildren’s lives and homes.  By the way, we are still using an oak dining room table that was a handcrafted by my wife’s great-great-grandfather shortly after the American Civil War (1865).  It is still super solid and has many decades of useful life left in it.

Have a nice day — I’m on spring break and will be cleaning the garage for a while!

DCPenman

Protecting Yourself

I just read an interesting article on MSN.com entitled  “Job Search Mistakes You Can’t Afford to Make”.  This article pointed out how the “job search” task has become considerably more difficult.  The problem most of us make is the notion that the ONLY solution, for us, is to place our income needs at the mercy of another.  There can be other solutions!  Within the past month a good friend of mine has lost his job of 20 some years.  The company, for whom he had been working, has been consistently ‘downsizing’ for the past several years.  It was, finally, time for my friend to get the bad news.  This type of job loss seems to impact the 50-65 year old workers more than the younger ones.  The reason for this is that we (I am 60) are considered to be “past our prime” and, therefore, unhireable (my spell check says that isn’t a word – it is, however a feeling).  Since my friend and his spouse own several rental houses I advised the both of them to take a real estate course and go into business for themselves.  Since nobody else wants to hire a 55 year old worker they could hire themselves!  This solution provides a couple of benefits.  First of all, the ‘unhired’ person can continue to feel that he or she is, still, a valued and productive member of society.  It allows, at least, the potential to make as much money as before – and I know of several cases where the downsized worker actually made more money than they made by working for someone else.  This situation, also, gives this couple a “shared venture” which has the potential to allow them to deepen their appreciation of their relationship.

Although I am, currently, gainfully and securely employed I, too, am expanding my own “income streams”.  My wife and I do share an enthusiasm for crafts and craft shows.  She does a lot of sewing and making “one-of-a-kind” decorative items (Dan and Paula’s Crazy Crafts).  I enjoy making pens on my lathe and clocks (and other items) on my scroll saw (Pens, Clocks, ‘N More).  If my job security would be threatened I’m ready to bounce back.  If not, I’m ready for retirement whenever that opportunity presents itself.

Protect yourself and your security.  Most of all — Have a really good day!

DCPenman

Handmade – What Is It All About?

Dear Reader(s), I do apologize for having neglected this blog for the past week or so!  My dad passed away last December and we were putting the finishing touches on closing out the house, personal goods, and estate.  As we were moving, pushing, shoving, disposing, collecting and so on, I began to think about both of my parents’ lives (my mother passed away in 2005).

One of the many gifts they have given me was a true appreciation for ‘handmade’ goods.  My mother was a fantastic seamstress.  In addition to that gift, she also knitted, crocheted, embroidered, quilted and cross-stitched.  In fact, about the only thing she didn’t do in this arena was tatting.  As I was looking at the dishcloths, sweaters, quilts, dresses, etc. I began to realize just how talented she was and how unique her ‘one-of-a-kind’ products were!

My dad was, likewise, talented.  I have brought home over 100 paintings that were, in my opinion, too good to discard.  I could see the development of his skill set from the time he retired in 1986 until he passed away in 2010.  It is, almost, like a painted pictorial of his enjoyment of the retirement years.  His hand crafted rock garden, in the back yard of the ‘old house’ was truly a work of art.  No — I didn’t/couldn’t bring that back with me!

Handmade is about beauty.  It is about the beauty we see.  It is about the beauty we imagine.  It is about crafting our own little corner of the world.  Handmade is not something.  Handmade is someone!

Someone, where I work, posts weekly (or daily) snippets similar to Life’s Little Instruction Book.  I enjoyed one of her posts last week which said:  “Make something beautiful with your hands.”  I told her about my own hobby/business of making handmade pens and showed her the two I was carrying.  This led to today’s post about the unique beauty of handmade products.

Go ahead, dear reader, and find something to make with your hands.  Find a vendor of handmade products and notice the beauty of a ‘work of art’ rather than a product from a machine that “looks like all the rest”.  Enjoy your world!

DCPenman