Stacking cash, aka the business (Full Version)

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Andy Culpepper -> Stacking cash, aka the business (Jan. 22 2010 12:43:14)

Hey..
A few business-related questions out of curiosity for you luthiers, any replies would be cool.

1. How did you start your business? Bank loan, savings, etc?

2. How did you acquire the skills?

3. Was your market at first primarily local, online, or what? How about now?

4. Who did you have to kill to acquire a market?



Stephen Eden -> RE: Stacking cash, aka the business (Jan. 23 2010 6:34:14)

well I have been setting up on my own over the last two years. So i think i can answer your questions fairly easily.

I funded my way with an evening job and savings. I bought the expensive stuff with savings £2k and the rest I built up as i went along. When i needed a tool I'd save up and buy it , I dont buy cheap tools. Then by the time I had made my first guitar in my own workshop 1 year! I sold it and with the money from that i bought 3 guitars worth of wood! After the second year of business I now have 2 years of wood stock, which is growing faster now, lots of tools for one off jobs and only have to worry about making sure I have enough glue and polish!

I aquired my skills in two ways firstly by and evening course. I built a guitar over one year with Stephen Hill and Pablo Requena. Then I managed to get an apprenticship with pablo and worked, for free, for two years. when my apprenticeship was over I worked doing repairs for pablo while i setup my shop.

Fortunatly working for pablo set me up with alot of contacts, He even sold the first guitar I had built in my own workshop. Other good methods were ebay where I sold an earlier guitar cheaper than i would have liked but plastered my website all over it so i got other insterest through one cheap sale.

I hope this helps



Jim Opfer -> RE: Stacking cash, aka the business (Jan. 23 2010 7:07:00)

I remember you from my visits to Lewes. Stephen and Pablo.
I remember Pablo showing me a guitar you were making in his workshop, I think it was your first instrument but could be wrong. Very impressive. Pablo was doing some work on a Gerundino I owned. You may remember?
Good to read about your increasing success.

Jim.



Andy Culpepper -> RE: Stacking cash, aka the business (Jan. 23 2010 8:02:59)

Thanks Stephen for your informative response! Glad you're doing well!
I also enjoyed the detailed construction photos on your website.



Stephen Eden -> RE: Stacking cash, aka the business (Jan. 23 2010 11:03:16)

Jim

I do remember you coming down to Pablos workshop I was polishing my first Blanca. I dont remember the Gerundino though. I have a few guitars up in the glasgow area now they are all classicals up there though. A couple sold through Allan Neave.

Deteresa1

No problem. Are you thinking about becoming a luthier? It takes along time before you can start to make a living at though! Ive been at it for six years and finally starting to earn enough to get by.



Jim Opfer -> RE: Stacking cash, aka the business (Jan. 23 2010 11:23:42)

quote:

Are you thinking about becoming a luthier? It takes along time before you can start to make a living at though! Ive been at it for six years and finally starting to earn enough to get by.


I'd love to have that skill and make a guitar to my own personal requirements. I mean, to touch the wood and decide if it's too heavy or too thick, that sort of thing, but it's only a dream. I guess the biggest problem is getting materials of sufficient quality and age to allow consistency in result?



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