When I started my store I experienced what is called an epiphany. Not quite in the Christian sense but still somewhat spiritual. Webster defines it:
a. A sudden manifestation of the essence or meaning of something.
b. A comprehension or perception of reality by means of a sudden intuitive realization: “I experienced an epiphany, a spiritual flash that would change the way I viewed myself” (Frank Maier).
I am steering a complex course with my new venture into on-line (Internet) marketing and sales. The Internet is a very tough marketing arena. It is very easy to compare product through the search engines and eBay. This is great for the consumer but can be disastrous for the capitalist business selling only recognized brand name products.
Therefore the Internet is a very good way to prevent price gouging as many price driven shoppers look for the lowest on a standard product brand. That is the allure of eBay. Buyers look to get a deal, meaning best price to make the purchase. That leaves the value added business at a disadvantage, needing to justify a higher price on an equal product. That is capitalism at work.
So what can I and The Hobbyist Machine Store (THMS) provide? We currently have a few machine tool brands to offer. That is just the start. As a small business, my overhead is reasonable, but that doesn’t make my wholesale buying power any better than anyone else. I must be competitive in price but probably not the lowest. My low machine tool volume will not pay the bills.
My epiphany is that long term, the products themselves must be unique for THMS to survive in the Internet market place. I think my marketing presentation is already unique with the amount of detail and information I provide with the products I have reviewed. I will continue to do the same with the products I sell.
My business vision is beyond the machines. I am looking at what the machines do. The hobbyist doesn’t mass produce hundreds of items like a commercial shop. The hobbyist doesn’t purchase 100 feet of stock for the best material price to make a single 6 inch part. A complex critical part may stop any project dead cold.
The solution is kitted materials and parts. I have built scores of balsa model R/C and free flight airplanes because I could get almost all the required materials in a kit. I built Heathkit ham radio gear for over 15 years. I worked for several years with Carlson Aircraft, Inc. to produce parts for their full size homebuilt aircraft kits. Model train folks love kits, even if it is just a starting point for modification. My spouse buys material in kits for certain quilt designs. Kits and hobbyist are a great combination.
I will work with others who have new machine designs they would like kitted. I am open to existing designs that need to be kitted. (All Copyrights respected.) I think “THMS Kits” can help make the bench top machining hobby much more enjoyable for those who find gathering low quantities of material, bolts, bits, and pieces a real chore.
A kit doesn’t mean a craftsman can’t make changes or additions or improvements to a project. I don’t think I ever built a kit that looked exactly like the picture on the box unless it was a scale model.
I will start with one or more simple machining designs and then let the market take THMStore in the proper direction. Watch for THMS Kits to appear in the store this summer, ready for the fall building season. I think kits will become my unique offering along with other kit support materials and “spares”. Suggestions are always welcome. Feel free to comment here.