bobw1953 wroteOk being the Principal Engineer for a highly successful 40 year old company with less than 100 employees in a niche market in the engine and compressor business, I find your analysis of Shopsmith's without merit or historical facts. Successful companies in a niche market like ours must rely on the loyalty of is current user base. Niche markets by definition are NOT mass markets. There will always be those that either can't afford your product or service, there will always be those within your loyal user base that some how think they could run the company better. You certainly are entitled to your opinion and I respect that, but I was moved by your negative view of what Shopsmith can or cant or will or will not do. Please take this criticism in the spirit intended.
I will anxiously await the announcement and as an advocate of SS and knowing their history of survival in a niche market will be pulling for their continued success.
While I lament a lot of changes like the closing of the factory store and discontinuing the demo's at shows and fairs etc. I do understand the need to make decisions from the drivers seat rather than the couch while watching the on-board camera. :) Such decision making is why I generated this quote in some writing project not long ago.
"Those that espouse simple answers to complex problems seldom have real answers. Like gemstones most problems have many facets to consider..."
We operated our own enterprises for over 25 years (and still do to a lesser degree). We would be much better off today (we do OK) if many of our customers would have handed us a dollar instead of using those famous words:
"What you should do is..." :rolleyes:
We all armchair quarterback now and then but it takes custody of a lot of facts to make valid decisions. :) And sometimes we still make the wrong one. :o
