Woodcraft offering franchises

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Thu May 03, 2012 11:23 pm

swampgator wrote: . . . And, they really don't like Shopsmiths.

I do not suppose they offer any explanations!:rolleyes:

ryanbp01 · Post by **ryanbp01** » Fri May 04, 2012 10:08 am

More than likely the same reason Woodcraft doesn't: it cuts into their sales of new equipment like Saw-Stop!

BPR

damagi · Post by **damagi** » Fri May 04, 2012 10:30 am

ryanbp01 wrote:More than likely the same reason Woodcraft doesn't: it cuts into their sales of new equipment like Saw-Stop!

BPR

I seem to recall something about shopsmith - http://www.woodcraftfranchise.com/AboutUs.aspx - yup, they bought out 10 shopsmith stores back in 1993

trainguytom · Post by **trainguytom** » Fri May 04, 2012 11:18 am

swampgator wrote:Totally agreed that our fantasy dreams will not ensure success. But, to dream is to consider the angles to see if it is a possibility.

Yes, Black Water River Tools over near the Catholic School is here. It is small and items and selection is limited. Good products, though. And, they really don't like Shopsmiths.

I guess there's no accounting for people's taste. (I know, I know, that'll come back to haunt me)

cincinnati · Post by **cincinnati** » Fri May 04, 2012 12:33 pm

I have a Woodcraft store about 25min from me but most often order mail order. If I order before 2pm I have the stuff next day by 10am (reg shipping). why deal with the traffic. I only go to the store if I am not sure what I want or proper size etc.....

trainguytom · Post by **trainguytom** » Fri May 04, 2012 3:25 pm

cincinnati wrote:I have a Woodcraft store about 25min from me but most often order mail order. If I order before 2pm I have the stuff next day by 10am (reg shipping). why deal with the traffic. I only go to the store if I am not sure what I want or proper size etc.....

This is one of the difficulties that brick & mortar places now face. It's gotten so easy to buy on the web that many of us will simply buy that way. Even though I love to browse the aisles of the store to see, feel & touch stuff, I'll only do that if it's real handy. (The closest woodworking store to me is almost 2 hours away, so I only get to do that when I'm in the area for another reason)

The problem this (ease of web shopping) poses for the Woodcraft store owner is that he/she still has to pay the rent, utilities, staff, etc, while his parent company makes it so easy to bypass the local store. Agreed, if you're not close to the store the web is the way to go, but if you're "in the neighborhood" shouldn't we buy locally whenever possible, or be prepared to watch those local stores go away. (and not grumble if they do)
Maybe that will be the trend anyway. Look at the changes in web buying in the last 10 years. Where will we be in 10 more?

Anyway, those are just some random thoughts.

brad_nalor · Post by **brad_nalor** » Fri May 04, 2012 5:21 pm

Good pointers about the franchise retailer and trends. Tough sell for many of them and but I do enjoy the looky, touchy shopping at a retailer. Quite sure most honor online price matching too. Have to add, I've had mixed reviews with Amazon transactions... lots of seconds, opened returned packages, missing or broken parts, etc. Sure they accept returns and its convenient but to me is frustrating. Who rates these franchise's anyways? Their own supported publication? Best wishes to those who invest in it and I'll do my best as a customer.

woodburner · Post by **woodburner** » Fri May 04, 2012 5:35 pm

Sure, it seems it will be fun to have a woodworking store, being a woodworker and all. But all that changes when it becomes a business, and not just a shop in the garage that you can come and go to when you have the time.

Lots of money up front, lots of time and then more time. Forget about that shop in the garage, you will not have any more time to spend there. You like making projects, forget about them too. You will be busy doing the books, counting inventory, managing personnel, etc. etc.

You will be surrounded by woodworking tools you will never have the time to use. As a woodworker, will you be able to handle that.

trainguytom · Post by **trainguytom** » Fri May 04, 2012 5:48 pm

woodburner wrote:Sure, it seems it will be fun to have a woodworking store, being a woodworker and all. But all that changes when it becomes a business, and not just a shop in the garage that you can come and go to when you have the time.

Lots of money up front, lots of time and then more time. Forget about that shop in the garage, you will not have any more time to spend there. You like making projects, forget about them too. You will be busy doing the books, counting inventory, managing personnel, etc. etc.

You will be surrounded by woodworking tools you will never have the time to use. As a woodworker, will you be able to handle that.

I couldn't agree more. I did that two different times. (too bad I didn't learn from the first experience...would have saved me a boatload of money). Once in photography. I actually made decent money, but it sucked all the passion for photography out of me. The second time I pretty much lost all I had built up to that point in my life.

And yet, when I get into a woodworking store, I still get to thinking how great it would be...it's a very seductive thing, dreaming about about living your dream as a business. Thank God I'm too broke to even consider such a thing. Also, there's those heinous things my wife would do to me if I ever even considered going down that road again. It's amazing how a good thump upside the head brings you back to your senses.

swampgator · Post by **swampgator** » Fri May 04, 2012 10:12 pm

JPG40504 wrote:I do not suppose they offer any explanations!:rolleyes:

The three objections verbalized to me was:

1. insufficient power as a lathe
2. too much time in setups and too many setup
3. "No one who has one has any projects" therefore, it considered a toy.

I just take my pix in once in a while to show off. They still fume about the setups. My response is that each set up takes me under a minute. And, i can do things with one machine in a very small space. Just leave it at that.

Great thoughts and good discussion here. Thanks for all the thoughts.