Calling all Virginians (Tidewater area)

thats why we generally keep outsiders out. too complicated

 

Problem I see with most of these TW vendors is that they are so small business, they can't keep up with demand. For several, the TW sales are second income/business... family happens, first job doubles his shift and other life happenings take over... meanwhile TW orders are pouring in, a week goes by with no TW work accomplished now he's two weeks or more behind and no means of catching up.

Pre-fabbing can be done but at great risk to the seller and, as Randy stated, is costly.
A few of these guys are sub contracting out some of their work as well (i.e. CNC cutting parts) due to machine costs (coincidently tho is also driving up their end product costs). That would be a lot of out of pocket expense to get 10 bumpers worth of pieces cut just to sit on the floor without a buyer.

Edit: You guys are rolling faster than I can keep up and watch this movie... disregard my ramblings that have already been stated a couple times...

 

Thanks but if we were smart we'd be running an east coast fab shop.

 

do eeeet

 

They JUST called me. I dropped them an email asking what gives... as I haven't checked back with them... and within 30 minutes they call. They are in stock and shipping today. My order was partially filled, but got filed in completed. If I didn't email, I would have never gotten them!!!

OK... Toytec is good! Just one of those things... stuff happens!

 

Capital and risk...

And as Brent said job and fam...plus a lack of patience for stupid

 

Tacoma market is already flooded with dedicated fab shops...time to jump on the new Colorado re-design. Plenty of people gonna go that route for the diesel.

 

thats what free time is for.

just keep it small scale and capital in tools and such minimal. make everything per order and only take so many orders at a time while reserving the right to push shipment/completion time back due to unforseen circumstances. as long as you dont go crazy with it I think people would understand that its a weekend hobby that isnt meant to be a full fledged business.

 

I know a small business with a sweet business model for this... Dude is BLUNT and pulls no punches... makes killer gear though!

 

No money in that...smaller scale = high operating cost. Harder to break into a flooded market with substantial lead times from the jump.

 

That would be imperative... order limits for small guys should be a no brainer.

 

Luke, then when do I mod my truck, wheel, beat the fam, and spend time with the dogs?

 

run it out of garage, already have welder and grinder. fabricators like box rocket use minimal tools (no plasma cutter and such). it can be done if you really want to. make everything to order. agreed its hard when there's so many fabricators already but if you have one signature product that will stand out you have an advantage there.

 

This is true...but the comment with people being understanding. Not so much when you have a deposit tied up and you see all these other people getting burned from small "weekend" shops. I.E. Jake

Quickly spins out of control, and you do have your assholes that have to have it NOW and will be hounding you at the exact 2 week mark when you said about two weeks. Then they will slander your name across the interwebs. Plus, a lot of people "heard that, or had a buddy who bought from XYZ and this happened" False, or misrepresented statements about a small shop can kill them in this industry

 

And that is the key... Hobby, or Business. If hobby... whatever, take your time.

If business... for Christ's sake, have a plan, get a loan for startup... do it right, even at a beginner SB rate.

Can't get a loan, only have your garage... then DON'T START A BUSINESS! It's just not as easy as it seems. The work is the EASY part... orders, invoices, social media, taxes, both income and sales... and then the ever popular... customer service. If you're going to run a legit business... even one person small... it's about impossible while working 40 for someone else. SBO's work twice as long!

 

certainly need time for all those. i think box rocket is the best example for this. minimal tools, a good product that no one else makes, and only makes a few. i recall that he saw that it was eating into his personal life so stopped production after he filled the couple orders he had and planned to start up again after a few months. maybe dedicate a weekend a month or one-two days a week after work, makes sure there is plenty of time for fam and such but still gives you enough time to fill the orders.

 

Might want to consider legal fees and the other too. Especially for bumpers. What happens if your "not rated" hitch fails or someone kills someone with your front bumper by demolishing a car....so many risk and what ifs associated.

 

Also, I used to love photography, not the digital shit, but actual darkroom and studio work. Wife and I had an opportunity to manage a studio and lab that also did one hour, took it from a losing business to very successful--nearly ended up divorced, hate photography now, and sold nearly 25k in equip for pennies, and walked away bitter. Never take a hobby and something you love to do and turn it into a job! I'm content making my stuff and helping friends out, but nothing more.


But that doesn't stop me from wanting all the cool tools--bender, plasma, brake, bigger welder, bigger air, insert tim the toolman grunt, etc. just to have when I want to do something.

 

So much truth. I've always heard don't turn something you love into a job, you'll learn to hate it.

I think you would do well to keep it local, build your own and for local members, maybe every once in a while sell ___ product to someone that's not local but don't advertise that it's going to be a regular thing to branch out beyond locals. Again, box rocket and his rear bumpers, he made his own and one or two others (Paul's being one). Keep non local orders to PM only and then you have the option to turn it down if you've got too much going on or whatever reason.

This applies to me as well. I have plans for making some hood light brackets, a rear bumper, and skids. I don't plan on opening a fab shop out of my driveway but if some of you guys/my locals come fall want something like that I'd be glad to fab something up.

 

So... why do you keep trying to get me to buy a CNC table again??
BTW, the long ram for the tubing bender is at HF for $59... almost bought that yesterday too... LOL!