Hobby or business?

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Neededwill

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Jan 18, 2013
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Location
Kensington, MD
So what do you say to people that want you to turn your hobby of turning into a business.

I have people asking me to make pens or bottle stoppers for them but some of them tell me when they need it done. Say in a day or two or by next week, etc.

Well I just have to tell them that this is my hobby and stress relief so deadlines are not an option for me. You will get them when I am done finishing it at my leisure.

Some people understand and some don't but if I have a deadline it feels more like work than fun.

I know a lot of you do this as a business and I take my hat off to you!

Anyone else have this issue?
 
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I have only had a few people want special order type stuff from me. I don't fret how long it takes but I do try to get it right out. Most of the time when this happens it is because a pens sells just before another customer was about to purchase it. For some of my higher end pens I will really put forth effort on it but for my lower end pens I am not that motivated to turn them out. I do this sort of as a hobby/business so I guess I am on the fence. I think many turners are in the same sort of spot that I am in. I have thought about going more toward a business but I do work full time and can only do so much.
 
like everything else in life, you will meet all kinds. once something goes from being a hobby to a business it takes the fun out of it. i did a bunch of special order and didn't like it, now i try to make pens for fun and sell my inventory. on the flip side i had a potential customer ask how long it would take to make a pen and i said a day or two, her reply was priceless, she said " don't be ridiculous, you are married have a house and 2 kids, be realistic, i'd imagine a few weeks would be good" must most of all, enjoy it,
 
I've had this happen as well. I simple ask when they will need it and let them know if I can or cannot achieve there time line considering the time I have between work, family, and school. Like Marc's customer if they understand great, If not sorry maybe next time around.

I'm in the same boat as Mike. This is my hobby and I sell my surplus, but finding buyers sometime is a job in its self.
 
On the occasions that this happened to me,I was so flattered that someone liked my work enough to order something that I really kick it into gear and do it with excitement.

It does make it more stressful,though.At my job,almost everything I do is real stressful,so I'm used to it.

Steve
 
When I get asked to make a pen I play the part of a slightly crazy artist. I ask them what their favorite color, fat or thin, and capped or not. Then I ask when they want it. Then tell them that I may not make exactly what they asked for but it will be made just for them. I also let them know I'll do my best to do it by their deadline but if I'm not happy with it I have no problems starting over. I will do my best to meet their requests, but most people I make them for are getting them for free so it does give me some freedom. As of now nobody has turned down one of my pens, not even the few paying customers. The ones I sell are usually they see it, want it and buy it. I find it a lot more fun to make pens without deadlines. I have a good job and do this for stress relief. I'll save the real business of selling pens to those of you that enjoy it.
 
If you approach it as a business, you need to determine your prices taking everything (kits, blanks, glues/finish, display, tools/depreciation...) into consideration. Once you do this and add your margin you will probably find a lot of those asking for something will disappear. But it's a great business!
 
People tell me the same thing. I just tell them that the product virtually triples in price, to cover insurance (health, public liability, tools etc.) a wage, taxes, superannuation, profit margins, down time (plant repairs/maintenance, unintelligent customers asking ridiculus questions, ordering supplies, answering the phone, and on it goes.
They don't ask again.
 
I can only speak to my OWN experience!! This is NOT to preach.

Sometimes we need a picture for the website. That means I HAVE to go make a pen.

This creates a "mind-set problem": I thoroughly ENJOY making pens--it is FUN!! But, now I am doing it for a purpose, so it's WORK??????????

Can't bring myself to think of it that way---it is ALWAYS FUN!!!

FWIW
Ed
 
I turn as a hobby to keep busy in my retirement... as I tell customers, "It keeps me out of the bars and off the highway"... and I turn almost every day. As a result, I have waaaaaaaaaaay too many pieces of my turnings to display in the house, so I sell at local craft shows... it's either that or burn them. On the occasions where I get a special order, if it's something I want to make, I'll give them a time line for it... if it's something I don't want to make, I tell them I don't do special orders. My time line is for when I want to get it done.
 
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