Producing pine country furniture

[Dave Teece]

Hi all

I am thinking of setting up a small business making Pine furniture - something completely different from my day job, electronics. I have made various items for home including a very nice Pine bed for my daughter - quite a few people have said why not set up on your own as you are very good with your hands.
Have thought about it but every man and his dog seems to be doing this - has it been done to death or is there still a good opertunity for commission work and stock items. Any ideas or twists on the theme.
Regards.

Dave

[Alpha]

Dave

There are lots of people doing everything so just because there are others doing it doesnt mean that you cannot.

It depends how you want to go about the business and who you want to sell to.

As always get some research done into customers, distribution channels, competitors, suppliers of Raw Materials etc.

Put it down on paper with some financial projections and see if it will give you a reasonable return.

You will have to ensure that you are able to run it properly ie full time

As an example I have a client that produces furniture frames and now turns over nearly £400k after 2 years.

Good luck :)

[Cornish Steve]

What will make you different? Why will customers come to you and not go to the other guys?

In general, businesses succeed by offering a lower price or by differentiating. You'll be hard put to beat others on price, so how will you differentiate? Time to complete? Personal attention to detail? Willing to travel? Unique designs?

[Dave Teece]

Thanks for your replies
I would set myself apart by providing attention to detail and custom build.
I have spent a lot of time wandering around pine shops with my wife and thinking 'I could do that' I have seen some very good stuff but the majority of it looks mass produced no attention to detail and bland - who wants what everybody else has got? I would certainly buy something unique and well crafted. I have a good eye and attention to detail, and tend to be a perfectionist.
All replies and advice greatfully recieved.

[fastfences]

Hi Dave.
As illustrated above, the 'niche' market is very important. I commenced fencing after working for a guy who had very little customer service idea. Your clientele, as mine, would generally be sourced from referral or quotation/exhibition/phone enquiry. We have to capture the client at that moment. This is where the 'attention to detail' that WE both practice, wins our deal. We must always enhance where we are better and more proficient than 'the others'. In my case i make a scene of using more concrete, using thicker posts, taking extreme care with plants/foliage etc. It's the old 'features and benefits' without the heavy 'sell'.

I can see that with your product, you would win clientele in the same manner. Attention to detail, joints, finish, more seasoned timber - all means the product will last longer and be more rewarding to the owner. A lengthy warranty's a winner too!
Cheers, Nigel

[CBR1000RR]

Hi Dave

I know that in the last few years the pine industry has had a really bad time. I have been supplying the woodworking and woodfinishing industry for over 28 years with woodfinishes. We have seen loads and loads of shops disappear because the trend has changed a few years ago. People generally are not buying pine now, but are opting for oak and other hardwoods. Shops like Ikea offering cheap furniture don't help either, and now I hear they are about to open a string of highstreet shops.

We have also found that cheap imported pine furniture has damaged the marketplace for manufacturing in the UK.

Things may be slightly different where you are but I would seriously look at the demand for pine in general,

Just my 2 cents!

Paul