Shopsmith in 'precarious financial condition'

[paulmcohen]

Has anyone else seen this article?

http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/business/2007/03/07/ddn030707shopsmithweb.html

[audir10]

As a shareholder I received the letter last week. It is six pages long with
a well documented explanation of what Plan B will try to accomplish. If
Plan B is able to accomplish the goals they (Plan B) will acquire a majority
interest in Shopsmith. I remain optimistic that things will work out for
Shopsmith even if the Folkerth family will no longer be majority stake
holders.

[paul heller]

Oh no. Maybe I ought to order that 520 upgrade soon.

[charlese]

THANKS FOR THE HEADS UP!!:eek:

[paulmcohen]

As a shareholder I ...

WOW, looking at SSMH over the last 10 years looks painful. I did not even know they were public.
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[curly57]

I know I'm doing my best to help them out, Fed-ex will be here again tomorrow!!
I hope they can work it out, I'd sure hate to see them go under!!

Happy Woodworking and may God Bless you and Shopsmith!!:)
Curly......

[paulmcohen]

They do have great products, they need a better marketing plan. Maybe a new career when I retire. I do/did Marketing for Intel for the past 16 year, high tech to low tech might be an interesting change.

[audir10]

I recommend everyone got to SSUG.org and read Nick's comment on the
situation. He provides a very upbeat assesment of the company that will
be helping Shopsmith make changes that hopefully will turn things around.
I'm not selling my SS stock and still believe the company will be around
when I'm gone. When all us babyboomers are retired what better machine
to have for our new smaller efficient retirement digs.

[Ed in Tampa]

I recommend everyone got to SSUG.org and read Nick's comment on the
situation. He provides a very upbeat assesment of the company that will
be helping Shopsmith make changes that hopefully will turn things around.
I'm not selling my SS stock and still believe the company will be around
when I'm gone. When all us babyboomers are retired what better machine
to have for our new smaller efficient retirement digs.

See this is something I don't understand about SS, this is the offical SS forum. Why is Nick commenting at SSug.org? Or at least why isn't is also here?
I understand they were there first, and customer relations is customer relations and I really don't care if Nick posts there.

The point is SS has the potential to turn this forum into a huge plus. The deciding factor for me to buy my SS in the first place was the fraternity type enviroment that surrounded SS. They had friendly knowledgable customer service people that knew me, what I owned and even made recommendations to my wife about what I had been thinking of buying. For the first ten years after I bought my SS all my Christmas, birthday and other occasion gifts came from SS. Almost all were purchased on the recommendation of the Customer Service people who had asked me in earlier calls what I wanted.
There was Hands On magazine, I waited by the mail for my latest copy along with a SS catalogue then I was out in the garage.

Gradually these things began to stop, the customer service people were rushed, the hands on became to expensive, all the added value was missing.
Sure I could buy this or pay to attend that but special freebies that meant so much to me and others were gone.

The point I'm trying to make is I know Nick's times is limited why not concentrate it here? If shopSmith is going to say anything on a forum it should be here, if they want to put it on the other fine but put it here. Nick should be spending all his internet time here talking to ShopSmith'ers on the offical site getting to know each other and once again building that fraternity of fellow ShopSmith'ers that once supported this company?

If there was some way to accurately survey the results I'm almost certain Shopsmith our find out that Nick's brief instruction on setting the main table especially making sure the trunions had proper clearance did more for Shopsmith sales than the latest catalogue did. Just that little bit of free advice and interest made me reconsider purchasing a brand x machine. That money is now available to buy more from SS.
Just my observations. Nick I love ya!
Ed

[Ed in Tampa]

Most importantly I forget to mention the referenced article over at SSug.org written by Nick is excellent. I think Nick reveals the heart of SS and it is very informative along with thought provoking.

If were me I would copy it here.

I want to see Shopsmith succeed and I still have a Shopsmith wish list.
Ed