How to Make $Money$ With Your HSRT.
She was a very nice blond woman, and the two young men, who were attending my in-store HSRT Demonstration, were playfully teasing her about dental work with the HSRT. After the lowbrows left, the Blonde explained to me that she was a Certified Veterinarian Surgeon, and used her HSRT,with Flex-shaft, to grind the back teeth of horses! So she was using her HSRT to help her earn money in her chosen profession. The same is true for woodworkers, mechanics, plumbers, electricians, and many others. A HSRT can be a very useful aid in many skills.
However, we are more interested ai making money more directly from a HSRT, or where a HSRT is the major tool in our enterprise.
Manufacture something of value and sell it: For a small local enterprise to be successful, it must manufacture an item that is:
1. Unique. We all want "something different", something that stands out as being special or personal.
2. Useful. A novel item that we can see a need for.
3. Practical. Safe and easy to pack and carry home, and durable so it won't fall apart.
4. Local material. We all have pride in the area we live and products made of native materials have appeal to locals as well as tourists.
5. Non competitive. Your item must be very difficult for a large factory to copy. Don't try to compete with a mass manufacturer who can undersell you.
Personal Wineglass: Sample
Often, when I am demonstrating the HSRT by engraving on wineglasses, people will ask me "How much are these glasses?" or "What do you charge for engraving?" I have to explain that it's the tool that's important, and they can buy one, and learn to make their own wineglasses, if they wish. However, I am left with the feeling that someone could make a little money with this idea:
Find a local craft fair where you can plug in your HSRT and sell your glassware.
Purchase low cost wineglasses at a discount store and practice engraving on them. Engraving, by it's very nature is slow detailed work so you will have to develop a skill at doing it more quickly.
Prepare the wineglasses. For example, engrave "MERRY CHRISTMAS" across the top, and a few little holly-type decorations, but leave a space to engrave your customer's name. Also "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" OR "HAPPY______BIRTHDAY" ( the space is for you to put 40th, 50th, etc. ) or, "CONGRATULATIONS"
The craft fair is the place to engrave your customers name on the glass. The activity of engraving will draw a small crowd to watch, and one of them will be your next customer. Be sure to package the glass nicely and include your business card.
Take orders for custom work. Put up a sign for customers who don't have time to wait, informing them that they can order a set of glasses and have them delivered. ( shipped, picked up, etc ) It's really nice if you have a helper!
Also: Contact any Bride-to-be, or Anniversary celebration, etc to see if they would like a personal wineglass for each member of their party. The glass becomes a "place-holder" for the guest and a remembrance gift for them to take home. Are there any business (how about a local wine-making shop) that could use a few wineglasses with their business name or logo on them?
Are you creative enough to etch artwork or pictures on the glasses? This can lead to new markets.
Other Similar Products: Don't like wineglasses? Clear glass coffee mugs are even easier to work on. Mirrors are more difficult as you cannot place a pattern behind them and must work free-hand. However, they can be made much more elaborate with a spray of flowers up each side and the name of the Bride and Groom across the bottom.
Sign Carving: As you become adept at carving and begin to enjoy it, there is always a market for hand carved signs. Do good work, promote your self locally, and, to get started, give away some samples, especially to a local charity. If you can find a local wood or develop your personal style, this will help.
Wood Carving: There are a large number of people doing this now so you will have to check your local market and see if you can carve something different. Can you hike into country areas to find special woods. Driftwood from a beach, or very dry pieces from a desert are unique. Try carving pine knots. It is a little tricky to find them large and solid enough to carve, but very nice to work with. Remember, no wood is too hard to carve with a HSRT. Market your carvings in a similar manner to the wineglasses, above.
New Ideas: If you have any new ideas or suggestions that you would like to share, please send an e-mail or Post to the BLOG.