posted
A close friend and fellow firefighter, had recently retired. All he has done throughout his life is fight forest fires, and he was also a captain/training officer for the volunteer fire dept.
Last week he confided in me that money was a little tight for this christmas, and although he is only just over 50, that he felt he was unemployable, because he had never learned how to do anything else but fight fire.
I had an idea! So this week, we went to the lumber yard and picked up some beautiful western red cedar planks, and then headed back to my shop. I set up and showed him how to operate each machine he would be required to use.
I spent many hours on layout, building drilling templates, and the various jigs to make for an easier, consistant product.
So what did we build? Cribbage Boards! But not just any crib board... these are 7 1/2 iches by 23 inches, with nice big pegs and wide lanes. Each one is baby bum smooth and hand rubbed with natural oil to bring up the color.
Now! Just what are they worth? How much would you pay for one? Need to find out what the market might bear. Please give me some imput!
Its going to take some time for him to get proficient at each skill required, but I have seen remarkable improvement from the first one off the line, to the last one off the line in this small test batch.
Out of a possible 20 crib boards, 14 made it past my scrutinizing inspection, 2 would be a good christmas present for a red-headed stepchild, and the others will be burned!
I am happy! I think I have provided a viable small enterprise for my buddy to look forward to, and some hope to making a few dollars.
-------------------- Tim Rieck Signs Halfmoon Bay, BC Posts: 736 | From: Halfmoon Bay, BC, Canada | Registered: Sep 2000
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quote:Originally posted by Tim: I am happy! I think I have provided a viable small enterprise for my buddy to look forward to, and some hope to making a few dollars.
Now THAT is a great Christmas present but you forgot giving him a boost of self-confidence when he thought he was unemployable.
posted
Tim, that is great of you to help out your friend!! Drilling all those holes would drive me bonkers though!! Can you charge enough to cover the time it takes to make them?
Maybe you could try hanging a cord on one end and market them to hang up on the wall for game rooms/rumpus rooms. It they looked antique, that would be even cooler. I'm just thinking that they will be two big to store away in a drawer (which is were we keep our cards and crib boards) and that may deter some people from buying. Why do women always have to think about storage??
Suelynn
-------------------- "It is never too late to be what you might have been." -George Eliot
Suelynn Sedor Sedor Signs Carnduff, SK Canada Posts: 2863 | From: Carnduff, SK Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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Tim!!!! That was a wonderful thing to do!! I don't know what a cribbage board is, actually, but I would look for something similar in game or gift shops and charge accordingly, but higher as these are really nice looking.
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Them holes! 373 of them in each board! Yes, they do take some time to drill out. I did the first board in 11 minutes, and he is at 20 minutes and slowly getting quicker.
I think this enterprise needs to be treated as a hobby/craft, meaning, to achieve what we find acceptable as a shop rate as signmakers, and applied to the manufacture of these boards, would put the price in the clouds.
Thanks Chris, self confidence is a key to life!
Suelynn, thanks for the brilliant suggestion, I had not thought it through far enough to think about the storage of the board!
Adrienne! you have never played crib? Cribbage (commonly called crib) is a card game that is played in nearly every country of the world and has for hundreds of years. Remind me and I will teach you how to play at the next meet.
I did some intenet searching to look for other comparable products, and based on what I have found, Maybe $60.00? That would be about $50 in US funds. Too high, too low? Want one?
-------------------- Tim Rieck Signs Halfmoon Bay, BC Posts: 736 | From: Halfmoon Bay, BC, Canada | Registered: Sep 2000
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Tim, it's great what you're doing with your friend. I think the larger size would be great for senior citizens whose eyesight is not as sharp as it once was. (Don't ask me why I thought of that!)
-------------------- Dawn Ellis Signs by Dawn Long Beach, CA signsbydawn@aol.com
Trust yourself. Listen to the voice within. It is always right. Posts: 456 | From: Long Beach, California | Registered: Jan 2003
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I think what you are doing is Great!! Kinda like the old saying:Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach him to fish and feed him for life. Check Ebay for ideas for pricing.Here's one that seemed to get alot of bids.And could probably be reproduced by your friend.Good Luck!!! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=19084&item=5936997701&rd=1
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For "an additional fee" you could personalize them with the person's name, favorite team, etc. That might be a nice selling point.
-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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I love your idea and spirit to help your friend! Another thought would be to engrave each one with makers name and phone number, your shop name or something so user can order more. Possibly look into retirement communities to purchase, great size and a locked in market. I also love the idea of personalizing them on the front. Good luck and Merry Christmas.
-------------------- Michael A Latham Tee's Me Shirt & Sign 16462 Jefferson Davis Highway Colonial Heights Va. 804-835-3299 signdogopie@aol.com Posts: 379 | From: Colonial Heights, Virginia | Registered: Feb 2004
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Or pinstripe 'em. Or bring some of them to a meet, plain, and let people buy them, do whatever they want on them. Or have different letterheads do stuff to them at a meet, auction them off and give the $ to the charity of your choice (Sign Museum?). FLAME 'EM! GREAT idea to help your friend, by the way.
-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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Some small pearl inlay would also add greatly to the value and appearance and your friend's skill level. Perhaps some local luthier might assist him also.
These boards could go into a soft fabric drawstring bag with a deck of cards.
15-2, 15-4, ......
One Eyed Jack Enterprises
[ December 07, 2004, 07:51 AM: Message edited by: Rick Sacks ]
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6722 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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