Sunday, December 30, 2007, 02:40 PM
Last week at holiday celebrations my brother started getting down on me because I hadn't finished the engine house and it's been a year (has it really?) Well, I felt properly chastised so I have made a commitment to have it completed within 2 weeks (I have a week left). Then I can hassel him to build it chop chop.
We will have engine houses at the March meet in Chicago. I guarantee it.
Thom
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Sunday, December 30, 2007, 02:28 PM
One of the stupider things I may ever say. I'm glad sales have slowed down. There I said it. I only partly mean it because honestly its a bit of a rush to be selling faster then you can make somthing. Of course getting letters from disgruntled customers is the other sie of that coin. BUT, It's been a wild ride since November. November 16th particularily when in one day we got 5 times the orders of a usual day. Thats the day we reached an unheard of backlog of 40 orders and we are still digging out. orders have slowed down and I can now get back to some design work and filling the back log. Hazzah! We will be out from under in a week or so.
By all means, If you must order, don't let me stop you.
Happy New Year! I promiss some cool surprises for you this year.
Thom
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Friday, December 21, 2007, 04:06 AM
what have i learned about running / building a business?
One of the first questions you ask yourself is, what is this worth? what will people pay? Well, the answer is that that is not the question. The question is, Do people value quality and the answer is yes. Quality is more important then price. It took me a couple of years to figure this out. I was too concerned about price. Certainly it doesen't hurt that we are fairly priced but we have built our brand on quality. When ever I start a new design, quality is inherent because it's a part of my training. I/we ( bro dave) lucked out. We stumbled into a successful path because making a quality product was the only thing we could do. We didn't have to think about it. we were lucky because we didn't give the quality question the thought we should have. Personelly i was more concerned abot price and subject. I took quality for granted. I/we could have really screwed up.
It took 4 years but I think we got it figured out. We will always make the best kits we can. we will always try to make them better. the rest takes care of its self.
It's the holidays and we have a lot of people to be thankful to. we have been fortunate that so many people have enjoyed our kits and they have been generous with their advice and praise. the business is growing. Still a very small business in a pretty small market but I coulden't be more pleased.
One more thought.
I used to be able to know each customer by name. i would recognize and remember who baught what. Thats not true any more. a double edged sword for sure. every one who tryes one of our kits is a part of our company and we will try to treat you like family.
Happy holidays
Thom
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Thursday, December 20, 2007, 09:44 PM
Before I forget. I haven't seen this yet but Bro Dave tells me that he saw an article in the 3 rail O scale magazine where a fella took a molded plastic warehouse kit and wrapped it in our texture paper. Imagin that. Now that makes a statement. can't wait to see that myself.
Thom
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Thursday, December 20, 2007, 09:37 PM
Every time I think I'm getting aheada new batch of orders comes in, So though orders are going out we ar holding at about 40 orders behind.
We have also been getting some bulk orders from distributors so at least you may start seeing our kits in more stores.
Good news (it's all good really) I finished an update on the HO Furniture factory. The kit now comes with an extra wing that runs 90* to the main building and a new outbuilding as well. No extra cost just more kit. I love doing that and we will keep upgrading as the opportunity arise. I'll post a pix soon.
More soon, I promiss.
Thom
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