Chad Schimmel on FB

[jttheclockman]

Just watched a FB video done by Chad Schimmel of Turner's Warehouse on the topic of making and selling that $1000 pen.

In it he hits all the highlights quickly on the process needed to do this and if it is possible. He is spot on all his points. This topic has come up here a few times before and well discussed. You can do a quick search here for some of those threads. But what most pen turners here do not get is that there are basic rules and practices that can at least get you in the conversation. Things that we all should strive to do if we are going to be serious about this hobby. Yes people say it takes time to achieve that high quality product and this is true but does not take as long as some make out to believe. This forum is filled with examples of fantastic looking pens that are of high quality. Along with that the forum is filled with countless threads explaining processes that help to get to that quality. Just takes time to read and learn from others. Making that high quality unusual pen is the basic stepping stone to getting in that conversation. The sales part is just another step that has many components. But making of the pen has much less components and we all can do it.

Just some conversation material here and hope you all check out his video. If you care to show us your $1000 pen. Love to see them.

 

[Smokey S]

Check!

 

[DMacinID]

Just watched a FB video done by Chad Schimmel of Turner's Warehouse on the topic of making and selling that $1000 pen.

In it he hits all the highlights quickly on the process needed to do this and if it is possible. He is spot on all his points. This topic has come up here a few times before and well discussed. You can do a quick search here for some of those threads. But what most pen turners here do not get is that there are basic rules and practices that can at least get you in the conversation. Things that we all should strive to do if we are going to be serious about this hobby. Yes people say it takes time to achieve that high quality product and this is true but does not take as long as some make out to believe. This forum is filled with examples of fantastic looking pens that are of high quality. Along with that the forum is filled with countless threads explaining processes that help to get to that quality. Just takes time to read and learn from others. Making that high quality unusual pen is the basic stepping stone to getting in that conversation. The sales part is just another step that has many components. But making of the pen has much less components and we all can do it.

Just some conversation material here and hope you all check out his video. If you care to show us your $1000 pen. Love to see them.

Just watched a FB video done by Chad Schimmel of Turner's Warehouse on the topic of making and selling that $1000 pen.

In it he hits all the highlights quickly on the process needed to do this and if it is possible. He is spot on all his points. This topic has come up here a few times before and well discussed. You can do a quick search here for some of those threads. But what most pen turners here do not get is that there are basic rules and practices that can at least get you in the conversation. Things that we all should strive to do if we are going to be serious about this hobby. Yes people say it takes time to achieve that high quality product and this is true but does not take as long as some make out to believe. This forum is filled with examples of fantastic looking pens that are of high quality. Along with that the forum is filled with countless threads explaining processes that help to get to that quality. Just takes time to read and learn from others. Making that high quality unusual pen is the basic stepping stone to getting in that conversation. The sales part is just another step that has many components. But making of the pen has much less components and we all can do it.

Just some conversation material here and hope you all check out his video. If you care to show us your $1000 pen. Love to see them.

Hey Chad, I just watched your video, and 100% agree that making a high dollar pen involves quite a few variables.

Just watched a FB video done by Chad Schimmel of Turner's Warehouse on the topic of making and selling that $1000 pen.

In it he hits all the highlights quickly on the process needed to do this and if it is possible. He is spot on all his points. This topic has come up here a few times before and well discussed. You can do a quick search here for some of those threads. But what most pen turners here do not get is that there are basic rules and practices that can at least get you in the conversation. Things that we all should strive to do if we are going to be serious about this hobby. Yes people say it takes time to achieve that high quality product and this is true but does not take as long as some make out to believe. This forum is filled with examples of fantastic looking pens that are of high quality. Along with that the forum is filled with countless threads explaining processes that help to get to that quality. Just takes time to read and learn from others. Making that high quality unusual pen is the basic stepping stone to getting in that conversation. The sales part is just another step that has many components. But making of the pen has much less components and we all can do it.

Just some conversation material here and hope you all check out his video. If you care to show us your $1000 pen. Love to see them.

Hey Chad, I watched your video today and really appreciated all the info. I agree that a high dollar pen, in addition to being both perfect and artistic, needs to have materials and a story to engage the buyer.

You mentioned having made/sold several in that $1K price band, and I'm really interested in some of the aspects you incorporated that set yours apart from the competition?

- DMac

 

[jttheclockman]

Hey Chad, I just watched your video, and 100% agree that making a high dollar pen involves quite a few variables.

Hey Chad, I watched your video today and really appreciated all the info. I agree that a high dollar pen, in addition to being both perfect and artistic, needs to have materials and a story to engage the buyer.

You mentioned having made/sold several in that $1K price band, and I'm really interested in some of the aspects you incorporated that set yours apart from the competition?

- DMac

Chad has not been here for years and it was I who linked his video that I had seen on Facebook. To answer your question and speaking from an outsider point of view, he makes some real detailed watch part pens as well as other material pens. The blank is one part and the more out of the norm the better. Then pair it with a highend kit that actually blends well with the blank. Choosing kits properly is another step that can get overlooked. The quality of fit and finish and matching details of blank to components is another step. He being a person who knows and visits many well to do areas can probably make contact with more people that have that throw away cash or even people who are pen collectors. This is another point. Not sure if he does shows but he mentions having a broad range of prices mixed in with your selling pens. This gives an illusion. These are a few points that can lead to that path of selling highend and high $$$ pens. Conviction in what you sell is important as well. You need that ego that tells everyone yea I am that good. My pens are worth every $. There is always the last point and that is venue you sell at the people passing through that venue can dictate pricing. Just some thoughts.

 

[DMacinID]

Chad has not been here for years and it was I who linked his video that I had seen on Facebook. To answer your question and speaking from an outsider point of view, he makes some real detailed watch part pens as well as other material pens. The blank is one part and the more out of the norm the better. Then pair it with a highend kit that actually blends well with the blank. Choosing kits properly is another step that can get overlooked. The quality of fit and finish and matching details of blank to components is another step. He being a person who knows and visits many well to do areas can probably make contact with more people that have that throw away cash or even people who are pen collectors. This is another point. Not sure if he does shows but he mentions having a broad range of prices mixed in with your selling pens. This gives an illusion. These are a few points that can lead to that path of selling highend and high $$$ pens. Conviction in what you sell is important as well. You need that ego that tells everyone yea I am that good. My pens are worth every $. There is always the last point and that is venue you sell at the people passing through that venue can dictate pricing. Just some thoughts.

Hey John,

Thanks for correcting my assumption on who posted. (Noob move...)

I don't sell, so mostly curious about how to ensure the gifts I give are perceived as valuable.

One slab of wood I have is bog oak, harvested from a well-known river in Ukraine, whuch was carbon-dated at over 4,000 years old. I've already turned a cane for my son, and will be working on some pens in the near future to match the cane, and for a Ukrainian friend of mine here in ID.

- DMac

 

[jalbert]

Just some conversation material here and hope you all check out his video. If you care to show us your $1000 pen. Love to see them.

$1200

$1200

$1200

$2000-ish (this went to a charity auction so not sure if someone would have paid me that much)

 

[leehljp]

You need that ego that tells everyone yea I am that good. My pens are worth every $. There is always the last point and that is venue you sell at the people passing through that venue can dictate pricing. Just some thoughts.

John, I agree whole heartedly with this!

I hope you don't mind if I add an input for others to contemplate:

A clarification needs to be made on the development of that ego - for some. There are some who think because they own it or made it, then it is the best. NO. Ego comes from experience, knowledge, competitors comparisons and responses and feedback from customers and confidence in how all the variables come together to make a great pen.

I was very slow in learning Japanese and learned to get feedback by minute' and almost indiscernible body language, which in the end helped me bypass my peers in "understanding" the language (the culture). Letting this kind of feedback teach you - leads to confidence in building or making the better pen, and it teaches the value (good or bad) of what one has and what pens are worth it and which ones are not high end.

One other aspect that was hinted at - knowing one's market area where there are lots of people with an excess of disposable income, and the type of pen that sells better in which market such as: Some people do not like shiny. In Japan, shiny (combined with perfection) sells better than matt. Different colors matter in different regions or countries.

 

[jttheclockman]

Do not mind at all Hank. I probably should as well as Chad have mentioned when speaking pens that not only kit pens can command numbers as this but a prime example from John Albert is his great metal work when making kitless pens. He graciously shown a few examples and many here have seen quite afew examples of his work over the years. His work always winds up in the WOW category for sure. There are many other artisans that over the years started out creating the basic pens that we all do but have honed their skills and took it up many notches and now can sell their work for $$$ as mentioned.

What Hank said about my comment about ego is also true. My point was and hard to express is that you need the confidence in yourself to sell your work. If you truely believe you did your very best and made that one of a kind item that is not seen everyday then you are well on your way of selling it for top $$. This conversation use to come up in scrollsawing forums I visited also. The same can apply to that type work and in fact most everything else today. Don't be a follower, be a leader. To do that you need all the other factors mentioned to go hand in hand. Is it easy? If it were everyone would be doing it but then again everyone can be doing it. Establishing a name brand and following sure helps along the way. Look at what some big name pen making companies get for their pens and the $1000 pen seems cheap. Anyway have fun and keep an open mind. Do not sell yourself short.