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Post by sbreed on Mar 3, 2010 12:29:24 GMT -5
At what point does selling rock become work instead of fun?
I am afraid to sell to much cause I don't want to loose the enjoyment by having inventory to fill and orders to ship! Selling at occasional craft shows and occasionally on the board seems to be ok, but full time? Don't think it is for me.
I want to continue to enjoy my hobby and participate with the people on this board with what I have learned and share what I have made. I am afraid that all I would ever post is stuff for sale.
Just think'n..............
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Post by NatureNut on Mar 3, 2010 12:58:33 GMT -5
Hey Sheri, I do think that the creative aspect of working with rock calls for a freedom that can be encumbered by the business aspect. Maybe it is like all things and requires a balance that is unique to each individual and can change according to what is going on in their lives. I really do appreciate your holding your love for what you do in importance, keeps the art in the hobby alive. Jo
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Post by Bikerrandy on Mar 3, 2010 18:18:27 GMT -5
I share the same fear, that's why I've never sold anything on here. I do, however, enjoy purchasing from others. It almost doesn't sound right, but if this makes any sense..... people (like you) who post what they have to offer, keep this hobby alive for me and many others. I've received 4 packages from you, 4 from Micheal John, "numberous" from Jamie, and many many gift boxes from other members. There may be a fine line between what you'd consider to be business VS hobby, but a lot of us here do in fact make a good bit of side money doing this stuff. My wire wraps paid for all of my equipment last year! Keep on selling, if it begins to feel like a chore, you can always back off a little. Go out and have some fun, raid someone else's claim (kidding ;D )
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Post by rockmanken on Mar 3, 2010 19:26:31 GMT -5
Sheri, I agree with Randy. I also have purchased from you and from others on this board and on other boards. I have sold on here, also. Lately I have slowed down selling, just posting pictures of the knives I do. Donna won't sell on here because she has literally tons of specimens, not cutting rocks. We do about 5 shows a year here in Mo. She sells enough there that she doesn't have to sell online. She also sells a LOT of wraps. But, she won't post but 1 in 10 pictures of what she does. I now sell most of my knives on bladeforums and E-bay(cleaningguy) sells a lot of my custom knives. WE DO NOT WANT A BUSINESS TO TIE US DOWN. Been there, done that. Owned a construction firm and a bakery. The bakery tied me down every weekend. Sold both out and retired. when it ties you down, it is not fun anymore. We could do a lot more shows, but don't want it to tie us down. Rather go digging in the dirt. Enough ranting, Ken
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Post by frane on Mar 3, 2010 20:03:15 GMT -5
It's OK to make some money but just like everyone else says. When it is a chore, pass it up. Keep the fun alive! Fran
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,487
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Post by Sabre52 on Mar 3, 2010 20:06:35 GMT -5
Boy that's a pretty tough question. Years ago, I made a few belt buckles and bolas for friends which led to orders from other folks and so on and so on. Got very tired of working on orders for other folks instead of my own stuff and actually got burnt out and quit the hobby for a few years as it was no longer any fun. Now, I work not to sell stuff. I like buying new stuff much better cause that is fun!*L*....Mel
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Post by 150FromFundy on Mar 3, 2010 21:47:27 GMT -5
Like many others, I sell only enough to pay for the addiction. I've paid off most of my equipment and always have a little cash on hand to buy some material that I can't collect here.
I consider it a "break even" hobby, unlike most hobbies that run you into the red. Once I break even, I give the stuff away and earn only smiles. Often, that's enough.
Never allow it to stop being fun!
Darryl.
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Post by roswelljero on Mar 3, 2010 22:36:53 GMT -5
I can't answer your question, but it sounds to me like you really don't want rocks to be a full time job. Keep doing what you're doing if you're happy with the volume. If you get too many orders, raise your prices or vice versa. :2cents: The only things I've ever made with rocks were gifts for family. They were a labor of love. A friend of my sister saw the picture frames I'd made for my nieces and asked what I'd charge to make one. I really wasn't interested and told her some ridiculious figure. LOL Later, jeri
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rockhound97058
freely admits to licking rocks
Thundereggs - Oregons Official State Rock!
Member since January 2006
Posts: 760
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Post by rockhound97058 on Mar 3, 2010 22:54:37 GMT -5
As a dealer myself... Trust me - these were the words of a relative of mine. He said to keep it a hobby as long as you can. Don't get me wrong, I love to have my shop and I enjoy selling my items and love to see them travel all over the world. However Often times it does it stressful trying to remember every detail. I myself don't do the rocks full time and work construction almost full time and the rocks are a part time deal. It's great doing it this way but is too easy to fall behind. The reason I do it this way is exactly for that reason. I feel if I was forced to cut rock 8-5 to pay the bills, the fun factory goes right out the door. The worse part of being a dealer/shop is doing custom cutting. It takes so long to finish some projects the money isn't even worth it. On the other hand though some good things about having the shop. I meet tons of people each year and enjoy helping people get started. Also the extra income really helps with construction sucks (like right now... been off work for 7 weeks now). So really my advice to you - if you really want to sell, start small. Sell enough to help pay for your supplies and so what you feel comfortable doing. I think in this economy everyone could use a few extra bucks. If you keep under a minumum amount you don't have to claim taxes on it. Once you get over that though.. taxes kill you. Being self employed I pay right at 32% of my shop income to taxes. On the bright side though I do get some nice write off's. Food, Fuel, etc..etc... is all a tax write-off for going out and digging rock
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dbrealityrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2010
Posts: 1,084
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Post by dbrealityrocks on Mar 4, 2010 9:58:53 GMT -5
I had been looking all my life for a hobby that would pay for itself, tried many things. Most of my life has been spent as a farm worker which never allowed for extras. As luck would have it I ended up making lots more and started polishing opals. I wish I had had a pc and knew about this site, I'm sure it would have saved me a lot of time learning.I sell my cabs and jewelry at farmers mkts during the summer which has given me enough cash to pay for 1/2 of what I buy. I always refuse any requests for jewelry repair or most custum jewelry cause that's not fun for me. I consider all the rough I buy to be a rock solid investment and part of my retirement account. I never figured that SS would be there for me [and probably won't] so I'll be able to travel to shows and enjoy my hobby. So to sum it up, only do what's fun for you.
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Post by Bejewelme on Mar 4, 2010 13:23:12 GMT -5
You really need to balance what you want, but a hobby can become a chore. You are so gifted with your talents, you would hate to lose that aspect, so sell a little, hound a little, cab a little, wrap a little, just keep mixing it up to keep it fresh. The whole selling thing is incredibly frustrating to me, making custom things for people is hard,when they are paying, if I am making it for them as a gift it is a different story. I have never sold anything on here, but I certainly enjoy supporting other RTHers before buying on ebay or at shows, it is good to keep it in the family. Amber
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Mar 4, 2010 17:30:47 GMT -5
You need to do what I do. I have no urge what so ever to actively sell stuff, but there is one guy in our local club who goes to craft shows all over. He buys stuff from a few people in the club then sells it at the shows. I don't get as much as if I sold them myself, but I don't have to sell it myself either. There are no quotas, just whatever I have that my wife doesn't want he buys off me. I'll never get rich but its paid for my equiptment and the occasional ice cream with my kids.
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pebblepup
has rocks in the head
Succor Creek Thunder Egg
Member since July 2008
Posts: 515
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Post by pebblepup on Mar 4, 2010 17:58:03 GMT -5
I think selling is fun when it is to subsidize my hobby as I do now but I think it would get old quick if I had to do it to make a living.
Lately I have been getting calls form people who find me via my website which is cool but they seam to get upset because I use my personal phone and answer with a simple "hello" not a company name. They also don't like that I can't cut a rock for them right now, today. I explain that I work full time and this is my hobby. That is getting old quick.
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MikeS
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2009
Posts: 1,081
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Post by MikeS on Mar 4, 2010 22:31:55 GMT -5
I'm a firm believer in the expression that as soon as you turn a hobby into a business, it ceases to be a hobby. I was an avid homebrewer for a long time, and I ended up being a brewmaster and part owner of a microbrewery (long time ago). Needless to say, I don't have any desire to homebrew any more, even this long after not having the brewery anymore....
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chromenut
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2009
Posts: 1,971
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Post by chromenut on Mar 5, 2010 0:06:53 GMT -5
Same thing here on a different subject, used to race non-competitively, just trying to better my time's on the track. Then a bunch of guys got me into it so heavily that it was almost all I did, and traveled the southeast doing it. Got to the point where fixing the car up was all I thought about. Forgot to have fun, so stopped. Now I might hit the track a couple times a year but that's all.
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Post by stoner on Mar 9, 2010 14:27:17 GMT -5
Well, I'm having fun at selling cabs and I just wish I didn't have to still work 3 days a week at my day job. I love doing what I'm doing just as much now as I did 3 years ago and I don't think I could get burnt out cutting and selling cabs.
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Post by stonesthatrock on Mar 11, 2010 10:36:16 GMT -5
we love doing the shows, meeting new people and traveling. This is also part of selling. Not a bad way to go....... I think the best part of selling is meeting all the new people, stories and ideas from everyone. If we didn't sell, all this would have never happened. You can all see from my posts with ralph and the handcuffs etc, that after 3 years we still haven't lost the fun part of it.
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Post by fishenman on Mar 11, 2010 11:19:20 GMT -5
I'm with Ed and Mary Ann. I love to cut and sell my cabs. I hope to travel some kind of show circut. My wife makes jewelry and we have talked about selling. I'm 48 now and I feel it is time to start-up something that can hopefully carry us into our retirement. Mary Ann also mentions the social aspect of it can be the best part.
Geoff
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baojiazhi
starting to shine!
Member since October 2008
Posts: 40
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Post by baojiazhi on Mar 11, 2010 11:43:56 GMT -5
For me the best balance is doing stuff for me most of the time. I get occasional requests for cabs and cutting but for some reason it is not as fun as when I am cutting stones just because. I try to do stuff that I like most of the time. If I could turn this into a full time business vs my day job, I would do it in a second. Like Mary An, I love doing shows and talking to people.
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