Connections

          It doesn't seem to make any difference where you turn on the internet, there something there telling you that the way to sell more product is to make more connections, get more people looking at your web site, reading your twitter posts, your blog, looking at all your stuff on Etsy, or at photos on Flickr.

            While I agree, if more people were looking at my stuff I would be selling more, what those places have in common most of the time is that they want money to help you get those connections. Only 35 cents per day or $11.99 a month, etc. etc… So what if you are a new, starting business or have a Very specific market that is not touched by the connections they offer? Not their problem, they are just selling you Names.

            What I know can happen is that my many friends can help me make the connections I need if they will just pass my posts along, like and follow my blog, take the two seconds needed to click on the Share button on Face book or to ‘re-tweet” my notices about my blog being updated.

            So my friends, are you willing to help a new business get the word out? Are you willing to click the share button, the re-tweet button, or go above and beyond and call another of your friends and tell them I’m out there and that I make some fantastic products?

            For all of you that do, I thank you in advance! For the rest of you, Shame on you, it costs you nothing but a few seconds of your time and could help me out a bunch!

Pinterest

            How many of those of you reading this are doing Pinterest? I find that I do things in bursts. There are days when I get sucked into the search feature on Pinterest and all of a sudden several hours have passed with me looking at all the great things others have posted to their Pinterest boards that they like.

            Most of those things are simply things I like myself or are things I think could be future projects. The list is long and I already have many note books full of ideas.

            What I’m wondering is this: are there others that use Pinterest in this way? Would you ever consider using Pinterest as a way to find someone to make a project for your or to purchase an item you find on Pinterest?

            There are places I know that are marketing their work via Pinterest, but it takes either time or money to market no matter the way it’s done. Since like most of you, I have more time than money, it’s one of the ways I’m looking at marketing my work, or potential work.

            To that end I have put up a board on Pinterest that is labeled, “My Stuff” http://www.pinterest.com/llamanter/my-stuff/ and one for “Lynn’s Artwork” http://www.pinterest.com/llamanter/lynns-artwork-wife/ as well. While there are many other ideas on the other boards on my Pinterest page, I can only make something that is similar to those items, I can’t make it exactly the same or I’ll be infringing on someone else’s design and I won’t do that.

            The fun thing with wood, is that it is nearly impossible to make something exactly like what someone else did. And since I can seldom leave things as they are, it’s not too much of an issue. There are always things I think need to be done differently or I can’t do the same way because I don’t have the same type of wood or the same piece of equipment needed to make it like someone else.

            So, for now, go to my Pinterest page; http://www.pinterest.com/llamanter/ Take a look at what’s there and let me know what you might be interested in having made or purchasing. While you are there, don’t forget to Share the link with all your friends and family!

            

Division is Work

            And No, I don’t mean math. I’m talking about dividing my time between Llama Hardware, Rock Rabbit Enterprises and Life! I know I KNOW, sometimes you have to burn the candle at both ends to make a new business profitable, I have no issues with that.

            However, I Do want a bit of time that is not related to work and don’t want to make the wood working, which I Love, a drudgery type of work. There are too many projects floating around in my head that I Have to get either onto paper or better, out of a block of wood!

            The slabs that I purchased a couple months ago from the Glacier Woodturners Association are starting to come to life, and I have to get those done soon. The desire to see them in a finished format is good motivation to spend my evening hours working on them. Here they are in Rough form, but sanding to 120. Already set up with a friend who is a professional painter to get them shot with multiple coats of lacquer so I need to get them sanded to at least 320 and the bases built for those that are not going to be hanging on a wall.

Sorry the photos are so bad, the sunlight was bright and I was too lazy to set up the photo booth for Rough work.

           

I have a couple more small orders to get out for Llama Hardware and then I’m going to get started with a redesign of the web site. It will take me a few weeks to get it up (at least) but I want to get started. No, I Have started on it, I spend a couple hours today scanning photos into my computer so that I’ll be able to put photos of my trips on there, making it my web site.

Look for changes to happen a bit at a time, but they will happen. Unless I get swamped with orders, then this has to take a back burner. So, the time is being divided between the businesses pretty well, but my “free” time is suffering. This week I also have to spend All day Thursday at the Western Montana State Fair in Kalispell. I’ll be one of many members of the Glacier Woodturners Association showing the public how easy it is to turn a block of wood into something useful or at least pretty. We will also be making tops for the kids that are attending the fair as well. The only issue is that the other guys in the club have a fit if I bring in my “flat” work to display! It has to be turned at least Partly on the lathe to be shown! However, I CAN carve on them after they are turned!

Swamped versus Time

            I think it’s an old discussion for almost any one that owns a business. Would you rather be swamped and never have time to do research and development?

            Being swamped is good for me in that I’m new to this business and it allows me to perfect the process of making the many products already in my catalog. I can make the details a part of my memory and not have to rely on the written instructions as much. And it allows me to pay for the business and purchase more supplies for more orders down the road. I have also been making an extra item or two when I figured it wouldn’t take much more time. Having an item here and an item there to add to “stock” will help me fill orders quicker down the road and it takes less time to do an extra item when I already have the supplies out. The drawback is that I have limited space and I don’t want to get too many unfinished project scattered about either.

            However, part of what I want to do is to expand the line of items offered to include more gear that can be added on to the Flaming Star pack system. Bow and Rifle cases, fishing pole tubes, float tubes, axe or hatchet attachment systems… you get the idea, things you might take on your llama trek but are not offered from any of the makers of llama gear. To do that, I need time when I don’t have orders to fill. Keep checking back to my main page at: http://www.llamahardware.com for updates.

            The age old catch 22 of any business I’m sure. Add in the fact that I’m still trying to make items to post on my Etsy page for wood working https://www.etsy.com/shop/RockRabbitEnterprise and the list of items there is long as well… wonder if I could get myself cloned? No? Well it was a thought.

            Also, since I have been working long hours and generally 6 days a week, we decided to take a day off and Not stay home where we tend to go back to the shop and work ‘for just a little while.’ Take a look at the photos here to see some of the beautiful country Montana is known for and that we have not visited nearly enough recently. https://www.flickr.com/photos/rockrabbit/ The power of an avalanche is very impressive and is enough to make you think about where you go in the winter.

           

Rendezvous and business update

            Well it’s been a fun few weeks! We did a week of “vacation” time in NE Oregon and did the first Annual Galloway Top Shot event near the Eagle Cap Wilderness and the location of Joe’s ashes.

            While the turnout was not as large as we had hoped, it was still very good and fun was had by one and all. We did a less formal shooting event this time to allow everyone to have input in to what they wanted for next year. The plinking was a great hit as were the cans of shaving cream. Next year we will have more targets and a more regimented competition to go along with our informal plinking time. The plinking will give everyone a chance to shoot several guns that will then be designated as the ones used by all the shooters in the formal shooting event. (formal might be too strong a word, but it will have to do.)

            If you are interested in attending, mark your calendars for the third (3^rd) Saturday in June, 2015 and meet us there!

            After coming back down from the mountain (we spent a much needed couple of extra days camping once everyone else left). We spent another day in Pendleton and returned to Elgin and moved our “77” Chevy pickup and the flatbed trailer with the 32 AA Ford to Lynn’s dad’s place in Imbler. We wanted to take it to Pendleton but there was simply too much wrong and too little time to get things fixed before I felt safe taking them up, and more importantly, Down, Tollgate.

            On Thursday Lynn and I drove to Estacada to attend the Llama Rendezvous there. It was nice to visit with old friends and make some new ones as well. The park where they had the Pack Llama Trials Association (PLTA) event was nice, and the weather was nearly perfect for hiking.

            We talked packing gear each night and the improvements that people would like to see made to the Flaming Star system. (very few actually). On the list of things I need to pursue is a system to attach a hatchet/ axe to the outside of the system along with the fishing/ hunting gear I am already working on developing. Everyone there seemed pleased that I was taking over for Barb and Sid and were pleased with the quality of the product I’m turning out.

            The return trip on Sunday was delayed for nearly two hours outside Pasco when we had a flat tire and realized the ‘four square’ tire iron was still with the old pickup and trailer in Imbler! Robert to the rescue from Pendleton and we were soon back on the road for home. Still made it in just under 14 hours and averaged 14.77 miles per gallon while towing our trailer. Not great, but I’ll take it! I think it would have been better had it not been for the head wind on Thursday in the Columbia River Gorge.

            The last couple days have been spent unloading, cleaning, and getting back to normal routine. Three pack saddles left yesterday for Switzerland and the three used systems have been sold as well. One leaves for Germany tomorrow and the last two will head for Switzerland as soon as I can get a couple of Britchen done to accompany them.

            I “hope” to be caught up on All orders in the next couple of weeks and start on new orders/ stock for the shelves.

            This time away has re-enforced one thing… the only thing better than going on vacation, it getting Home from vacation! J

End of phase one, start of phase 2!

            Well, today was the last day that Barb will be here to help me learn all the tricks to making the Flaming Star products. With her expertise and time we both feel like I have a pretty good handle on how to make everything in the product line now. How fast I make them will only increase with the number of them I make.

            She leaves for home early tomorrow and I get to finish up three halters before starting the process of loading up our trailer for 2 weeks away from the shop. I have potential orders from France as well as here nearer to home. Just waiting on them to figure out exactly what they want.

            The next two weeks will be used to recoup some much need time with my wonderful wife, and other family members. We will end the time at the Rendezvous before heading home to start on all the new orders. I will have stuff with me to work on while away, but won’t be spending 10-12 hours a day on them like I have the last couple months.

            Now starts the process of research and development for the new products I want to add to the Flaming Start Expedition gear line. Rifle, bow , and fishing rod carriers that will quick attach/ detach from the Flaming Star pack saddle system. Have always wanted a system to attach my float tube to my pack system as well. Bungee cords do the job, but they are not all that user friendly and it only worked on the one tube design. I want something more universal in design.

            If you have ever wanted something specific for your packing system now is the time to send me the idea. I’m not going to guarantee that I’m make them a production item, but I might. Big or small, complicated or simple, let me know what you are thinking and I’ll give it a go!

Learning the right mix

            It has taken some time, but I’m starting to learn the right mix of time for sewing things for Llama Hardware and doing wood working. At least a mix that is working for now. I have made a few small projects on the Rock Rabbit Enterprise side and have a couple more to do once the supplies show up.

            On the Llama Hardware side, the big order is finished and I’m working my way through the remaining orders. I have my first event coming up next weekend, an auction here in Montana. I won’t have much in the line of product to sell, but I’m making a couple dozen halters for the people doing the auction and will have a catalog (printed at home, not a “professional” printed one. I am thinking the face-to-face contact will be worth enough to make the 2 hour drive worthwhile.

            Barb and I start on the last complicated item to learn on Monday and I hope those go easy so I can complete the last of the back orders before heading out in mid June for a week’s vacation (planned before we purchased the business) and then the Llama Rendezvous in Estacada Oregon. I hope while I’m there I get to renew some old friendships with people I knew when I still owned llamas and was attending other Rendezvous, and get to  make some new friends that were not into llamas at the same time we were.

            Along with getting back into the llama world, I am being pulled back into the writing business. I’m working on an article for Leave No Trace for The Back Country Llama that will appear in the fall issue.

            Funny how the direction of our lives makes twists and turns, and spin back on its self if you give it enough time.