Circling in on starting my small business |
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52 M38
Member Joined: 26 Nov. 2012 Location: New England Status: Offline Points: 1286 |
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I would really appreciate talking to him. I will send you message.
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Stev
Member Sponsor Member Joined: 27 July 2016 Location: Cincinnati Status: Offline Points: 2384 |
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Just a guy reading your business dream post with some thoughts:
It is always easier to sell more products to the same customer than finding additional customers - think about a wider offering: 1. A combo chicken tractor and chicken coop might be something to look into as a product. 2. Most people who have chickens also garden - modern store bought potting soil and aged manure have a wood filler (forest products). This forest products need to be remove by being put through a 1/4 to 1/2" sieve if success is to be had using these store bought planting products. Come up with a sieve that can be used over a garden cart, that stores easily. 3. A few of these same customers might be interested in traditional wooden smoke houses. They are wood and 3' x3' x 4 foot tall. All of these products use similar materials, and tools to construct. All the best to you with this.
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Stev
1946 CJ2A Trail Jeep (The Saint), 1948 CJ2A Lefty Restored |
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Joe Friday
Moderator Group Sponsor Member x 2 Joined: 26 Dec. 2010 Location: Jeep Central Status: Offline Points: 3654 |
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Stev,
I placed the post you referenced into pending approval status. |
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Abe
Member Joined: 01 Sep. 2022 Location: westminster CO Status: Offline Points: 68 |
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Brand your product with a placard, company name and phone number.
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1948 CJ2A Studebaker I6
https://www.youtube.com/@AbeYoung |
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52 M38
Member Joined: 26 Nov. 2012 Location: New England Status: Offline Points: 1286 |
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I wanted to post a follow-up. The business officially went live at the end of March. It is a side business as I had originally planned. I have jumped through the hoops and completed an amazing amount of government forms. I am an LLC, and have certified my sawmill with the state so I can sell construction materials. I have sold a decent amount of rough cut lumber and several chicken coops. I’m doing book keeping on a spreadsheet at this point, but will likely move up to some software shortly. I pay my sales tax quarterly right now.
I am really enjoying the business. My manufacturing process is getting more efficient with each build batch, but is still pretty slow. I can see myself being quite happy doing this in retirement in 3 years.
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cpt logger
Member Joined: 23 Sep. 2012 Location: Western Colorad Status: Offline Points: 3040 |
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Justin, that is good news! Please Keep us informed as to how this business is doing. I am pulling for you, Matt W. |
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bight
Member Sponsor Member x 2 Joined: 20 Aug. 2020 Location: mid coast maine Status: Offline Points: 1679 |
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saw mill, chicken houses, natural next endeavor: tiny houses.
might gonna be big business in the future? it is great to hear something positive these days. all the best for you.
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CJ-2A 72586 tan (stock)
CJ-2A 197624 green (resto-mod) the wife abides (def: to bear patiently; TOLERATE) |
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bight
Member Sponsor Member x 2 Joined: 20 Aug. 2020 Location: mid coast maine Status: Offline Points: 1679 |
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and what about jeep garages?
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CJ-2A 72586 tan (stock)
CJ-2A 197624 green (resto-mod) the wife abides (def: to bear patiently; TOLERATE) |
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52 M38
Member Joined: 26 Nov. 2012 Location: New England Status: Offline Points: 1286 |
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You aren't far off. I have told both my kids that upon graduating from high school they will be helping me build their tiny home. If they go off to college, they can either leave it at my house or take it with them, but during the summers they live in it. If they choose not to go to college, they move into it immediately. I won't let them be homeless, but they won't be living in my house. The intent is to ease them into embracing their own life and responsibilities. My wife is onboard with it.
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52 M38
Member Joined: 26 Nov. 2012 Location: New England Status: Offline Points: 1286 |
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Here is another quick update. Business is going very well. This is still a side hustle for the next 38 months. I now have a tax guy just to tamp down any worries on that. My goal for this first year was to have $20k in gross sales. I started the business in late March of this year. With a delivery I need to do next week I will have reached that goal. So needless to say I underestimated the demand. I will start the process of additional product development in the next month or two. I really do enjoy the slower pace of my little business, I am excited for it to be my only employment in the not too distant future.
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Scratch
Member Joined: 30 July 2019 Location: Hudson, WI Status: Offline Points: 1454 |
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Glad it’s going well. Post up some pics of what your making. I’d love to you see your stuff!
Edited by Scratch - 17 June 2023 at 6:07pm |
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43 GPW 93487 Blk
44 GPW 230283 OD 46 CJ2A 50100 Tan 46 CJ2A 77632 Wht 47 CJ2A 141681 Grn 48 CJ2A 156240 Red/Yel 48 CJ2A "Lefty" 181341 Red 61 CJ5 123120 Tan 03 TJ Inca Gld |
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wish i knew more
Member Joined: 26 Oct. 2017 Location: California Status: Offline Points: 90 |
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Congrats on your progress! Any updates?
Indeed, the unquantifiable passion acts as the fulcrum in every successful business story. That said, besides continuously tweaking your products, you should also look towards maximizing your ad efficacy. I've personally found this AdSpy tool super useful. It's a great tool to research what works best in your sector, keeping you ahead of trends. It will let you peek at seasoned campaigns and help improve your ad strategy whilst saving you some major trial and error. You seem to have a future-oriented approach, and strategic ad analysis could be an added feather in your cap. Good luck with your goal for heightened sales, I'm sure your tenacity will continue yielding fruits. Edited by wish i knew more - 13 Oct. 2023 at 5:19am |
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My name is Cameron Koehn.
1946 CJ2A, Frame: -----, Body: 17909. Engine: Flathead V8(proposed), Originally Harvest Tan I think. |
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52 M38
Member Joined: 26 Nov. 2012 Location: New England Status: Offline Points: 1286 |
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I have concluded chicken coop construction for this year. It was very successful. I will start back up in the very early spring. I had a total of about $30k in gross sales from March 1st through October 1st. I definitely learned a lot. This is just a part-time business at this point. I now better understand the saying, "time is money." It is all about efficiency in production and logistics. I have my supplier base set at this point and I have ironed out my ordering cycles. My ad messaging seems to be spot on. Next year I will reassess my equipment requirements and makes some decisions on if my mill and material handling equipment is still the right fit.
My site is below if anyone is interested in checking it out or giving feedback:
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dasvis
Member Sponsor Member Joined: 07 Sep. 2019 Location: Salem, Oregon Status: Offline Points: 1546 |
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Those coops look great!
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1947 CJ2A #88659 "Rat Patrol"
1953 CJ3A #453-GB1 11266 "Black Beauty" 1964 Thunderbird convertible ..... & one of them moves under it's own power!! |
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cpt logger
Member Joined: 23 Sep. 2012 Location: Western Colorad Status: Offline Points: 3040 |
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It is good to hear this news. Thanks for the update, Matt W. PS. I am still pulling for you.
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SlaterDoc
Member Joined: 03 Mar. 2020 Location: Catskills, NY Status: Offline Points: 222 |
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Justin, congrats on the business startup (lifestyle change)! And, the first successful season! If I had any use for one of those I'd be a customer! But, retirement and trying to get out of Mass means one of those wouldn't fit in my motorhome!
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Once a Navy man, always a Navy man!
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Bob3b
Member Joined: 08 Mar. 2010 Location: Akron, Ohio Status: Offline Points: 3097 |
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That's just crazy, how do they expect people to make a living when they are scraping every penny they can from you?
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1946 CJ2A #23881
1953 CJ3b, nice! 1949 Jeepster 1947 Empire Model 90 1985 CJ10A Spen "S" Utility trailer Kubota l3400 |
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