How busy are you?

[firewhatfire]

In the last month I have been busier than I ever have in the pen studio. So busy in fact that I have not had time to make a pen that I want to make. I have only had time to fill orders, not that I am complaining. That way it keeps the hobby self funded. I closing in on the 50 pens made mark in the last 30 days on my off days from my regular job. The crazy thing is I need to start the next 25 pens in order to replace those I just delivered, they are expecting to sell out very soon due to an open house event.

Just curious if others business is picking up as well.

Here is story where you can see one of my latest being delivered and why I have been so busy. Pretty exciting for me.

Alabama investment by Japanese firms tops $4 billion as expansions continue – Made in Alabama

 

[ttpenman]

I have a store front for my laser shop. Business has been terrible this year. Not sure how I'm going to make it through the Winter unless I have an amazing Christmas season. Sold a pen yesterday, first one in months. I keep a couple dozen on display, a mix of wood and acrylics. Even offer free lasering of a name on any pen sold.

Going to be a long, hard Winter up here.

Jeff in northern Wisconsin

 

[Mason Kuettel]

I have a show this weekend and have been turning like crazy to keep up with orders and build a stock of pens. I will be pressing together somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 pens tonight and tomorrow that have been produced over the last 2 weeks. I have about 20 pens on order that are stacking up behind the ones that are for the show.

Super busy but, like you said, it helps feed the addiction (hobby/small business/etc) so I wouldn't change it. My wife is looking forward to seeing me again, though!

 

[MichaelD]

I do purely word of mouth. September was about thirty five, October was two. November so far: last week was ten, this week is a presentation FP with custom presentation box both engraved. I meet on this last one tomorrow afternoon for design approval.

 

[bobleibo]

I've been a woodworker for most of my life. When I started turning pens a bunch of years ago, I thought it would be great to have a web site so I could sell my pens and at least cover the cost of some of it. That is when I realized the most important thing........once it became a business, it took all the fun out of it for me. I had to meet deadlines, keep costs in mind, deal with various requests, etc. The entire reason I enjoyed woodworking so much was because it gave me a chance to just sit back and plan out my next project in my mind and imagination at my own pace. Giving my projects away to friends for free was much more enjoyable.
That's when I took down the web site. Life is good again.

 

[Jim Smith]

I'm with bobleibo on this one. I use pen making as a relaxing way to enjoy some time away from my consulting business and a time to express my creativity. When I graduated from college as a biology major, I worked for NH Fish and Game in the fisheries division. I loved fishing and always wanted to work with fish. After a few years of working with fish every day and guiding people for Brook Trout fishing, I found that I wasn't enjoying fishing any more. I moved on to another career and I now live on a beautiful 50 acre lake and love to go fishing again.

Anytime your hobby becomes your work, you've just lost a hobby and gained a new job. THe pens I don't give away as gifts I sell though a couple of local stores which brings in enough to offset some of the expenses I incur with my hobby. For me, it's the cost of my hobby, much like the cost to go golfing or skiing. Just one man's opinion.

Jim Smith