Suggestions For Shopsmith

[reible]

Since we seem to have a lot of posts about what people think Shopsmith should or should not be doing why not collect them all in one thread so in case some one at Shopsmith should care to read them it will be easier to do.

Now I have another thread for suggestions of things WE can do, so post those ideas in that thread:
www.shopsmith.net/forums/showthread.htm?t=324

Remember this may all end in /dev/null but have fun posting.

Ed

[Bruce]

In a different thread, I think it was Nick that said the woodworking magazines will not even mention Shopsmith, let alone review them. Perhaps SS should be marketing the major accessories (Planer, Bandsaw, Jointer, Strip Sander, etc.) as standalone tools, along with the power stand of course. It could be mentioned in the info that the tool can be used with the Mark V without the power station, in case a potential buyer wanted to go that route.

[sawmill]

When they hold the demos maybe they could ask some of the owners in the area to help answer questions. Make it understood that these owners don't work for shopsmith. Maybe they could give the owners a discount slip for their time. I know I would take more stock in talking to an owner than someone who was there just to sell the product. The last demo I went to they had a saw set up but did not have any attachments to look at.

[reible]

Some good ideas here I think!

I really like the discount idea... yea I would be more then happy to spend a couple of hours having people ask questions for a good discount... hey I might even be willing to do it for a free lunch.... OK maybe even for free just to keep shopsmith around a bit longer..... so where do we sign up????

Ed

[ericolson]

When they hold the demos maybe they could ask some of the owners in the area to help answer questions. Make it understood that these owners don't work for shopsmith. Maybe they could give the owners a discount slip for their time. I know I would take more stock in talking to an owner than someone who was there just to sell the product. The last demo I went to they had a saw set up but did not have any attachments to look at.


COUNT ME IN!!!

[rdubbs]

Does Shopsmith offer appareal? Does it come in really big sizes? I would wear a 5XL polo shirt to club meetings, shows, and around town.

If clothing is not profitable, perhaps a good logo graphic (reversed) could be posted to be used so that at least folks could use computers to make their own shirts.

[ericolson]

Does Shopsmith offer appareal? Does it come in really big sizes? I would wear a 5XL polo shirt to club meetings, shows, and around town.

If clothing is not profitable, perhaps a good logo graphic (reversed) could be posted to be used so that at least folks could use computers to make their own shirts.
Ya know, I hadn't even thought about that. Why doesn't Shopsmith have apparel? I, for one, would defitely buy a ball cap and a shirt. I mean, the blue apron with the Shopsmith logo is sexy and all, but not quite fitting for wear around town.

[8iowa]

The marketing arrangement with Lowes is not working out. There are a lot of reasons for this;
1. In spite of Lowe's TV ads, they have a lot of employee turnover and it's rare to find anyone in the tool department who really knows woodworking.
2. They have no Shopsmith displays, pictures, or literature. It may be somewhere but they can't find it.
3. The demo's appear to be announced in advance to local Shopsmith owners but not to the general public. The demos then have a few of us "choir members" there and very few walk-ins have enough interest to stay very long.
4. During a demo, the tool managers are nowhere to be seen, apparently having no interest in learning anything about Shopsmith.
5. In a store that sells everything from light bulbs to roofing materials to BBQ grills, on a given day the number of serious woodworkers coming into the store is quite low.

I suppose I could go on but the general drift is that Lowes is not the key to future marketing success.

Shopsmith would be better off establishing a marketing relationship with Woodcraft. The demographics are much better and the employees are knowledgeable. The local franchises have a large customer data base and could bring in serious prospects for a demo.