Mental meanderings on Shopsmith past, present and future

[paulrussell]

First of all a big THANK YOU to all for the great welcome I've found here in the Shopsmith forums. Seems that woodworkers, or at least woodworkers who use Shopsmiths, are a far more social lot than most.

I've been reading dozens and dozens of posts here and other places on the web web about the venerable Shopsmith. I was born in 1958, shortly after the first Shopsmith. Growing up I saw Shopsmith TV infomercials, saw in-store demos, and more. Shopsmith was an inescapable part of the American do-it-yourself and handyman culture.

Last week I bought a used Shopsmith. My dad, uncles, and my 50-something friends are all itching to come see it. On the other hand, my kids, ages 20, 28 and 30, have never heard of Shopsmith. Clearly this is not a good sign for the Shopsmith brand.

So what is wrong? What changed?

Nick Engler has written about how the in-store demo just does not sell machines anymore. There has also been an explosion of power tools in every conceivable price (and quality) range. A person could walk out of the local Home Depot or Sears with a new drill press, table saw, sander, and lathe for not much more than six or seven hundred bucks.

I'm thrilled that for a third of that I've got a Shopsmith that takes up far less space and is a better tool in all four categories (I tend to dismiss "horizontal boring machine" since most people would never buy a stand-alone).

But what if my only option had been new at $2999 (or more) plus shipping?* As much as I would like to help keep the company on its feet, that's a lot of quarters. And it is a tough price point for the entry-level woodworker. And entry level has always been the main market, since advanced woodworkers have usually already amassed a collection of power tools.

I was trying to look at the Shopsmith through the eyes of a 20 or 30-something buyer. It looks it's age. It looks old fashioned. Very honestly, it lacks what realtors call "curb appeal."

From a marketing perspective, the Shopsmith desperately needs a remodel. The PowerPro is _sort_ of a move in the right direction, but it will still look like a 1950's vintage machine. I realize this is a chicken-and-egg situation. Shopsmith is struggling financially, which makes it very hard to invest in a new product. But a new product is what is needed to re-invigorate the company.

I'm going to make a small suggestion, one that might offend the purists -- paint the Shopsmith red and black. Make it stand out, make it look new. Oh, and put a shelf/cabinet system between those legs. Make it look more formidable.

Lastly -- Not many folks are going to buy a $1200 table upgrade. But a whole lot of folks would buy a Shopsmith coffee cup, or t-shirt, or mechanic shirt or .... (the list is endless) Capitalize on this. Keep the promotional items prices as low as possible, with the exception of perhaps a few high-end jackets or such.

Lastly, I need to say that I'm no expert in any of the above. It is all just a collection of thoughts, and we all know the cash value of opinions.

All the best -- Paul

(It just occured to me that amid all the "Great deal' posts, I have yet to read a post that said "I just bought a brand spankin' new Shopsmith.")

[heathicus]

Lastly -- Not many folks are going to buy a $1200 table upgrade. But a whole lot of folks would buy a Shopsmith coffee cup, or t-shirt, or mechanic shirt or .... (the list is endless) Capitalize on this. Keep the promotional items prices as low as possible, with the exception of perhaps a few high-end jackets or such.

I've said this too. And they can leverage the internet. CafePress or Zazzle come to mind. It's free to get started, free to offer merchandise. Upload your graphics and decide what you want it printed on. They take the orders, they make the items, they handle the shipping. And you get a percentage of every sell. You don't have to manage inventory, take orders, or anything. It would be so easy for them to do. And I say more than a few of us would buy a Shopsmith mouse pad, cap, t-shirt, coffee mug, or other such low-priced item.

(It just occured to me that amid all the "Great deal' posts, I have yet to read a post that said "I just bought a brand spankin' new Shopsmith.")

There actually was one a month or so ago...

[robinson46176]

(It just occured to me that amid all the "Great deal' posts, I have yet to read a post that said "I just bought a brand spankin' new Shopsmith.")

I just bought a brand spankin' new Shopsmith... Of course that was in 1988...
.
The two dozen some odd used ones I bought are all out of circulation now which should force a guy or two to buy a new one.
.
Would I buy a new one tomorrow? Probably not considering what I have but if the money was available and I didn't have one I just might well buy one new one again. There are a lot worse places to put a few dollars... My oldest son-in-law has a smoking habit that would pay one off pretty quickly. That doesn't even count the over $20,000. he owes the hospital now after all of that surgery.
I have a brother-in-law that could have bought one with his cigarette money or his drinking money or even just with the money he spent repairing his truck from damage he did to it jack-knifing his big utility trailer backing up one night coming home after a few too many.
Heck, I could have bought several more new ones just with what I spent putting all of this extra cushion around my waist.
.
Affording something is all just relative... especially among my relatives.

[joedw00]

I bought my from a in store demo about 3 years ago. If I hadn't seen it there I'm sure I would not have bought one, because I already had a ER from father in law. Sure glad it was not Red & Black.

[JPG]

I bought my from a in store demo about 3 years ago. If I hadn't seen it there I'm sure I would not have bought one, because I already had a ER from father in law. Sure glad it was not Red & Black.

Would you rather it be yellow and purple?

I agree gray is not very sexy! Not on machine tools either!

[joedw00]

Would you rather it be yellow and purple?

I agree gray is not very sexy! Not on machine tools either!

I didn't know tools had to be sexy looking. Yellow and purple would be rather catching. I don't know what you do in your shop, but I make sawdust.

[dusty]

I didn't know tools had to be sexy looking. Yellow and purple would be rather catching. I don't know what you do in your shop, but I make sawdust.

Occasionally, you need to give that sawdust thing a rest. There are other things to do, even in your shop, that can be a whole lotta fun.

[wa2crk]

Ahhh the 50's I remember them well!!!
Shopsmith is a good/bad company. I say that sincerely because what makes them a good company also is what makes them a bad company. A friend of mine has a 1956 SS and a 2006 model 520. When he bought his 520 from Bill Mayo he also had Bill repair his 1956 greenie. Shopsmith had all the parts necessary to overhaul the greenie which now purrs like a kitten.
A company can not sell new products when the owners can buy a few parts to restore 50 year old equipment. I have a Porter Cable drill that is six years old and I could not get a battery for it cause PC changed the battery design. Shopsmith owners have the luxury and confidence that the company they put their trust in will stil be able to provide parts and support into the foreseeable future. I can't get parts for my 50+ year old Craftsman drill press but I will not get rid of it either. Still has the grey paint and the origial craftsman motor and it passes the nickel test. I can't find a new bench mounted drill press that weigh 170 lbs and has a 4" spindle travel. There's that 50's stuff again. The floor mounted drill presses in the big box stores only have spindle travel of about 3 1/8".
So maybe when the Power Pro gets here SS will develope a new color scheme
to show off the new technology. The basic design of the machine will, and should, remain the same. Form follows function and all that stuff. Change for improvement YES change for eye candy NO.
Nuff rambling.
Bil V

[paulrussell]

While self-banished to the basement this evening I was doing my trademark imitation of thinking.

I was thinking again about how most of us learned of the Shopsmith through TV or in-store demonstrations, and how that is no longer an economically feasible marketing method.

The reason for my basement banishment was because my wife was having a "Lia Sophia" party. Before today I'd never heard of it, but basically it is like a Tupperware party, except with jewelry.

What if we could have Shopsmith partys?

Shopsmith could reward owners who hosted home (or public) Shopsmith demos, perhaps in the form of a credit or discount. It would cost Shopsmith little to nothing -- perhaps catalogs or handouts -- maybe a DVD. And to encourage purchases they might authorize "buy it at the demo" discounts.

Taking existing Shopsmith owners and turning them into an army of salesmen would seem to have little in the way of downside. None-the-less I will admit that this is one of my more far-fetched ideas. That's what a few hours in the basement does to me.

[billmayo]

What if we could have Shopsmith partys?

Shopsmith could reward owners who hosted home (or public) Shopsmith demos, perhaps in the form of a credit or discount. It would cost Shopsmith little to nothing -- perhaps catalogs or handouts -- maybe a DVD. And to encourage purchases they might authorize "buy it at the demo" discounts.

Taking existing Shopsmith owners and turning them into an army of salesmen would seem to have little in the way of downside. None-the-less I will admit that this is one of my more far-fetched ideas. That's what a few hours in the basement does to me.

This idea has been discussed with Shopsmith management a few times. In our world today, the liabilities and law suits prevents any get together parties with Shopsmith name or logo being shown or demos by Shopsmith personell. Not going to happen. Sorry.