a little off topic, but just curious.

nightshiftman

nightshiftman

Member
i've been thinking about expanding my coral farming a bit with a new product(for me anyhow). i am pretty good with woodworking, and have a little workshop with all tools required for woodworking. i was thinking about starting a custom stand and hood business from my home. everything wood by customized to the customers specs. so what i was wondering was, is this a good idea? would enough people be interested in this to make any profit off it? any thoughts would be cool. thatnks!
 
iceburger

iceburger

Member
lots of money in it... get a good customer base and then maybe expand to aquarium maintenance...just make sure you've got insurance... ;)
 
nightshiftman

nightshiftman

Member
i've thought about the maintenence time and time again. it's that insurance that keeps me away from it at this point in time, but one day i will start it up. as for now, i got the coral thing going along pretty good, and thout about expanding into hoods and stands. i'm actually good at the trade and figured i would put my skills to work. i thought of placing ads in the classifieds, and talk to some store owners about buying products( i'm already in with the coral, so it dosen't hurt to ask). maybe put up signs in their stores to. eventually, if everything goes good, i will make a web site with all my products and put some good information on there too. does this sound like a pipedream, or is this a good idea? i know i'll be smalltime for now, but would like a buisiness of my own one day. we all have to start somewhere.....right?
 
fishfood

fishfood

Member
I'm sure there is a market for nice stands/hoods with different types of designs rather than the plain old stands/hoods. A guy i work with carves wood. He makes lamp, flutes and other odd things. He just got a spot at the local flea market to sell the stuff. If you can make some nice original stuff and keep the price down initially you should be able to sell sum. You know your lfs well obviously so you know which ones might be up for displaying them for you. I just built my stand and hood for a bowfront. That was a pain. The stand turn out really good for what tools I had to work with but the door on the hood really made me mad.
 
iceburger

iceburger

Member
i'll let you build me a custom stand and hood for my 75 ;) then maybe i'll say nice things about you lol...but seriously i just built the frame for my 75 stand and now i gotta make it look nice :confused: :confused: :confused:
 
S

sebae0

Guest
if your thinking about it, i think it might work locally because to ship a stand and canopy would price people who live away from you to much to justify it. i would just build it myself, but if you have alot of interest in it go for it. or make it so it could be assembled and that would save alot on shipping.... anyway good luck if you go for it
 
tangtang

tangtang

Member
Hi Nightshiftman!
I love the idea! Do your own thing! Definitely!!! If I had the skills, I'd do it! Shoot! If you were in San Diego, I'd help you!!! <smile> Forget maintenance! Except, maybe, as a marketing tool! You are craftsMAN!!! <smile>
A couple of thoughts:
1) You could come up with a few simple but cool designs to build and consign (with tank and sample livestock) to LFS or better yet... restraunts, doctor's offices, lounges... Any high traffic locations (retail or otherwise) that would benefit from having an enhanced decor! Maintain the tanks yourself only until you start making the big money!!! Then negotiate a contract with a local bonded maintenance company. Place a small, noticeable nameplate/price tag on each stand. The tank stays in a location after a prearranged timeframe only if it makes you money! This will provide incentive to the establishment's owner to push your product and you might be able to get them to sign a waiver for damages. It will take capital to start (buying stand materials, TOOLS!!! <smile>, the tanks and then stocking them...). I think it would fly though!!!
2) You could use the designs and/or tanks above or "borrow" pictures of ones that you can find on the internet and know you can reproduce and sell on ----!!! You can sell stand only or buy and sell the tanks by drop shipping them from the customer's general vicinity. Basically, you would need to establish wholesale contacts with tank manufacturers. Sell them on your going places new business. And, have the manufacturers drop ship and/or deliver to your customers -- their shipping liability. Tank manufacturers may even be able to provide you with leads/customers and maybe even sample/discounted pricing for the tanks in idea #1 above!!!
I don't think shipping is an insurmountable problem. Contact a few trucking companies and get quotes (using the various stand's weights and dimensions) to the furtherest locations you want to cover and add that freight into the price for a bottom line, delivered price. Or advertise plus shipping -- freight quotes upon request.
Sorry if I'm getting carried away! I would love to do something with my hands, make enough money to quit my day job and do it with the fishies!!! <smile>
Linda
 
maryc137

maryc137

Member
I think if you're good with woodworking, you could make a good profit building stands and canopies. A LFS I go to recently lost their provider and he was just telling me that he needed to find another place to buy the stands.
 
fireeater

fireeater

Member
I tend to agree with Sammy.
I got into making wood items and still do some on the side.
The one thing I found out was a lot of people want your product but are not willing to pay for it.
Your best bet would be the internet as you could reach as many people as possible with a great Website.
Lot's of hard work but I think well worth it as long as you go into it as a hobby or side job.
I still make all kinds of wood projects ranging from canopies & stands to birdhouses, to different types of cabinets. All made with aged fenced wood for that stressful antique look.
Most of it I give away as presents.
Your best bet would be to cruise the boards that allow you to post in the classified sections. You would probably get a lot of customers going. Not to mention business by word of mouth.
I had a link that had all the saltwater boards out there and there are 100's. I will try to find it for you.
Good luck as it can be fun to do.
 
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