One Year Update - Scott Markwood interviews Nick Cupps

[jsburger]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woC4a86BZkw

[RFGuy]

Good to hear that Shopsmith was well received at Workbenchcon and that they are trying to get the word out more with social media influencers (to attract a younger market). Both great news to me and I wish them well with it. Disappointing to me, that legacy customers, like myself, are only a secondary consideration for the company - he said this many times, in different ways on the interview. A year later, to me, it seems like he still doesn't fully understand the company, its products or its customers. Some will consider this harsh, but I call them like I see them. Before he reads this and calls me out as a curmudgeon (those who actually watched the entire interview will get this reference), I do belong firmly in the Gen X generation which is supposed to be his target demographic for customers. So he might want to understand why a Gen X customer like myself is disillusioned with Shopsmith today, even though I love many aspects of the Shopsmith tools that I own and continue to use.

Thanks again to Scott for doing this. I wonder if Nick understands that he is trying to compete with Scott when he started talking about Shopsmith's plans for doing tips & tricks videos along with other video content for Shopsmith as part of a paid subscription program potentially in the near future?!?!? You'd think Nick wouldn't sit in an interview with Scott and tell him, "Oh, by the way, I like what you are doing, but I am going to replicate it and get paid for it." Yikes!!!

[thedovetailjoint]

Nick and I have been open with each other about our plans and I see us providing a synergy that should serve both ends of his customer base. To succeed he needs to sell Marks. I'm here to help owners get the most from their tools. We will overlap some, but I like being an independent voice. I think our community needs both.

[RFGuy]

Nick and I have been open with each other about our plans and I see us providing a synergy that should serve both ends of his customer base. To succeed he needs to sell Marks. I'm here to help owners get the most from there tools. We will overlap some, but I like being an independent voice. I think our community needs both.

Scott,

Thanks for clearing this up and thanks again for the interview. Sorry I misunderstood. Because of your interview videos, the inner workings of this once secretive company are more transparent for customers than ever before, so I truly appreciate you penetrating the veil, so to speak. I have to wonder though, with your background and pedigree, why doesn't Shopsmith rehire you to do some of this content creation for them???

[thedovetailjoint]

They can’t afford me! Currently I am a well paid corporate trainer for a German cabinet hardware company, and the spare time that I have is pretty well called-for.

[RFGuy]

They can’t afford me! Currently I am a well paid corporate trainer for a German cabinet hardware company, and the spare time that I have is pretty well called-for.

Scott,

That's good! Plus you get all of that free German chocolate and German beer to savor working there as well, right? I am sure if you could find time to help Shopsmith, they would make it worth your while though. I mean there has to be equally good incentives from there...oh wait...we are talking about Ohio. How about an endless supply of buckeyes? Maybe they could even make the buckeyes with German chocolate!!!

[GetterDone]

I watched the whole thing.
Scott I really like your inspiration and Dedication with Shopsmith.
I have purchased several machines in the past few months.
They will help me build the shelves/ That will help me (hopefully) get some organization going on.

I Truely injoy your U tube video's.

[HopefulSSer]

I was amused to hear Nick use the phrase "conventional headstock"!

[dusty]

Did I hear correctly - belt covers are a pacing item in the supply chain? Belt covers??? If I did hear that - why is that an issue? Does no one press metal anymore. I think I heard Nick say something about not being able to find a vendor "in the area". If so, how about looking far and wide?

I guess I better spend the time to view this thread/post again.

[RFGuy]

I forgot to mention that he said in the interview he is contemplating offering a reduced feature (5-in-1 instead of 7-in-1, 5000 RPM instead of 10000 RPM) and reduced cost Shopsmith tool potentially in the future. He specifically asked how many really use the router/shaper functions or not. Then I have to ask, why did they discontinue the conventional headstock from their product lineup to begin with? It seems like they went all in on the Mark 7 and PowerPro, but forgot that this might be more than some customers want or care to spend for one tool. I know it is different schools of thought on this. For me, I would never use my Shopsmith and I prefer a standalone router table with a beefy router that can do 22k RPM. However, some love doing routing/shaping with their Mark 7 or Mark V w/PowerPro. Also different schools of thought, but I agree 100% with Scott about the double tilt and it is exactly why I will never upgrade to it. Not all the time, but often I leave my jointer on the end of my Mark V. I don't want to have to move it just to go to drill press mode. It is just too inconvenient for me in my small shop, but some rave about the double tilt "upgrade".