Suggestions For Shopsmith

[Ed in Tampa]

The biggest suggestion I have is that Shopsmith get the standalone machines in front of woodworkers. I would love to see some examples of what the overhead pin router can do, but I will guess I will end up buying a router table before I ever see a demo.

I would put together a CD/DVD of the standalone machines showing all the gee whiz and Wow things they can do and send it out to the catalogue mailing list. If there was room I would put a demo of the 520 on it as well. On the 520 I would point out all the improvements and perhaps go through some of the adjustments like aligning the fence, or adjusting a Aux table both of these are bound to impress an older machine owner.

If cost is a factor make a DVD of what each machine can do and add some value by either furnishing some plans or take us through some step by step demo's that we could follow along to use the machine and to build some things. Then sell them for a reasonable price.

Also I mentioned in another thread that we had a Shopsmith store in our city at one time. The store was managed by a man that was simply excellent but as I understand it he didn't make his sales and was replaced.

The new manager was terrible and actually drove people from the store. I visited one day and the man was simply nasty. I then called Shopsmith and a regional marketing director told me I was wrong and didn't understand retail business. My parting comment to him was I would guess the store would be closed within a year. 6 months later Shopsmith closed it.

I say get the business back into the hands of people that know woodworking and want to leave behind a legacy, instead of the marketing people that think only of today's profits.
Ed

[dusty]

There are two distinctly different thoughts going on here (more actually).

Why doesn't Shopsmith (or someone else) offer "Shopsmith Apparel"? The answer, they do to a very, very small degree. I have a Shopsmith hat and an shop apron.

Furthermore, I have placed an order (with my daughter who operates an embroidery business) for some more. I have requested some colored t-shirts, a couple henleys and a new brightly colored baseball cap that all feature Shopsmith. The problem is "logo copyright". The familiar Shopsmith logo cannot be utilized for projects like this without the express permission of Shopsmith. We are doing a take off that does not utilize the logo and we are not doing these for resale but for my personal use.

She would gear up if there was an obvious and authorized demand but there hasn't been so she hasn't. If someone from Shopsmith called, I guarantee there would soon be an inventory.

Second point: If Shopsmith is waiting for business miracles to happen as a result of their relationship with Lowes - well, we better start tooling up with something besides Shopsmith. I happen into Lowes on a very regular basis simply because they are close by and because I have a general interest in all of the stuff they have for sale.

Except for the one 3 or 4 day period, a couple months ago, when Shopsmith had a demonstrator here in Tucson, I have seen ABSOLUTELY NO MENTION OF SHOPSMITH. If this is a marketing campaign, it's a new approach to me. I find myself inspecting the Deltas and the Ryobis and the Porter Cables and comparing them to what I have.

Actually, in my analysis Shopsmith comes out 'pretty darn good' but that doesn't do much for the stock prices.

At the risk of being admonished for telling Shopsmith what they should be doing, I am here to say that Shopsmith should be spending their marketing dollars in a manner that has a chance of creating a return "for Shopsmith".

Incidently, and in closing this comment, I purchased nearly all of the Shopsmith equipment that I have as a direct result of 1) a demonstration booth at the Texas State Fair in Dallas and 2) the efforts of a sales staff in a Woodcraft outlet on Marsh Lane in Addison, Texas. Within a month after that fair closed, I became one happy, and forever dedicated Shopsmith owner. My only regret is that no one today has the opportunity to repeat that satisfying experience and I am afraid that be the reason why the profits on sales curve that we saw here on this forum looks as depressing as it does.

One last comment (question). Why do we never hear directly from those with the greatest interest in Shopsmith - the Folkerths. John, I read your little blurb in the catalog. I would really like to hear a very sincere state of the company address from My Lifetime Woodworking Partner directed at us your lifeline to the future. How about an email address (yours) where we can communicate directly during these difficult times. I vent in the online forums but there I feel like I am preaching to the choir.

Tell us, PLEASE, what can WE do to help the outlook?

[curly57]

You guys have some great ideas here, I hope SS is checking out these posts, I know I would buy the hat and shirt!!
Has anyone ever tried emailing Bob? Might be worth a try!!

Happy Woodworking and God Bless!!:D

[a1gutterman]

If he checks his "private messages" , his forum address is bfolkerth.

[reible]

bfolkerth: Last Activity: 07-19-2006 01:22 PM

This means no one is checking his messages....... could be here reading posts but the login need to read messages is not being done.

Ed

[paulmcohen]

I drove 4 hours with a friend to visit a lowes in Southern Oregon after getting a letter about a Shopsmith showing from Lowes, when we arrived no one know about it. A serious waste, I have asked my local Lowes and they seem to know nothing about Shopsmith. The times Shopsmith have been to Portland it as been to a home show and they usually have a old 510 with older bandsaw and none of the newer accerrories. I was interested in the new Bandsaw fence and the person knew nothing about it.

We have a huge woodworking show in the fall but Shopsmith never shows up. Every other company in Woodworking you can name is there selling product not just demonstrating. In June (Friday June 29 - Sunday July 1, 2007) we have an international woodturning show (http://www.woodturner.org/sym/sym2007/) and again Shopsmith will not be attending.

They also have a Portland SIN (Special Interest Night): Demonstrator rooms open to Special Interest Groups on Friday night. Email Angelo Iafrate (iafrateturns@cox.net) if you need a room for your group. If we have enough interest maybe we could have a Shopsmith room.

[Gampa]

I just received a flier for the Wood Working Shows (sponsored by Wood magazine) to be held here in the Seattle area. Shopsmith is not mentioned anywhere on it. Seems like a good place to demonstrate and take orders for accessories to me.