New Seller on the Market

Hey fellas,

I must say this has got to be one of the most amazing feelings I've ever had as a wood worker. I jsut sold my frist bowl and it was truly a flattering experience. As some of my teachers, I just wanted to let you know I appreciate all the help you provide on these newgroups and how much we less experienced appreciate what you do. Amazing, I sold 7 bowls in under 35 minutes. Now I've got an order to fill with one of the local tourist attractions, they ordered 12 bowls!!!

I appreciate all your help and look forward to reading more of your posts in the future. Thanks again.

JD

Reply to
JD
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Good for you JD!

It really is a good feeling the first time someone shows their appreciation by buying or even offering to buy a piece. When I started turning, I made it a point to tell everyone that I would not sell anything; that turning was for fun, not for profit. That went on for about a year until someone really pestered me about selling a bowl to them. I've been selling my stuff since. In all honesty, it just about covers for the cost of equipment but without the selling, I couldn't aford all the gadgets and gizmos.

And to get a commision for 12 pieces in one shot! Excellent for you!

Mike

Reply to
Mike R. Courteau

Good going JD. One of the pleasures of turning wood is meeting great people at the craft fairs and such. Selling can be fun too.

Reply to
Darrell Feltmate

well done! Can you give us never-before-but-maybe-in-the-future turners a glimse of what sells? In other words, what wood did you use? Simple bowl design or anything fancy? Coloring of some sort or plain wood with shellac or laquer? Keep 'em rolling, Max

Reply to
Max63

Some of the others might feel differently than I, but I think the simplest design is the best. I don't add a lot of detail to my bowls. I live in rural kentucky where alot of folks still burn wood for heat. I can usually manage to bum wood from just about anyones wood pile. I've tried to always repay the person by turning one bowl and giving it to them to show my appreciation. The remainder of the wood I use to turn bowls for potentially selling. As I said, I keep my designs very simple, I try to show off what God created because most people, like myself, are amazed at the beauty that a piece of wood contains inside. Most of what I sold today was spalted maple, black walnut, ash, and I even sold a bowl turned from Mimosa (I often question why God created this tree except for the hummingbirds it attracts in the spring). I don't use stains or colors on the bowls, just the natural beauty of the wood. Most people want to know if they can use the bowls, so unless it has been wormholed or shows some other "defect" the bowl is finished in something that is food safe, usually one of the wax bowl finishes.

Thanks for the encouragement, now I've got 12 bowls to prepare because I sold everything that was finished!

JD

Reply to
JD

So, what new toys are you going to buy for your shop? Shows are a lot if fun. Half of the people that stop in your booth are other wood workers, and I can always talk shop.

Plain simple lines for utility/daily use bowls sell the best, but I always have something of everything (natural edge, hollow forms, boxes, rolling pins (tapered, straight with and without handles), spheres, tops, but no pens).

robo hippy

Reply to
robo hippy

Way cool. Only thing to watch out for is that your avocation doesn't turn into your vocation and thus become a chore. I've been selling since '97 and have a great arrangement worked out with the shop I sell through: I bring stuff in on my schedule, she pays me on hers. We're both happy and I don't feel stressed. If I'd rather fish than turn, I fish. Keep it fun and you'll be selling for years to come!

So how about posting some of your work over on alt.binaries.pictures.woodworking (aka ABPW)? I'm sure I'm not the only one that would love to see some of it...

...Kevin

Reply to
Kevin Miller

Congrats! Your in the big league now. Pictures????

John

JD wrote:

Reply to
Eddie Munster

Sorry fellas, I'd post pictures but I've never figured how.

D.

Reply to
JD

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