I have been a member of NCWW for two years now, and it has become a valuable resource. I joined at the same time I moved to the mountains and established my company--Wiley's Woodworks. Shortly after I joined I mentioned that I was going to take a woodworking course, and several members asked me to update as I progressed. Interim steps didn't work for me, but now the journey is completed.
I have graduated cum laude from Haywood Community College in Clyde, NC with an Associate's Degree in Professional Crafts--Wood. I am proud of myself for earning a college degree at 71 years old. The entire experience was sort of like going into the Army: I'm glad I did it, it was good for me, and there's no way I would do it again.
It is impossible to mention all the benefits, knowledge, and experiences I gained from sticking with the program until I graduated. Believe me, I thought about quitting many times. Teaching an old dog new tricks is tough, especially when you're the dog. The technology side of the curriculum was especially tough for a grizzled old business owner who achieved my success the old way in the last millennium. I still marvel at getting through.
The HCC curriculum may be unique among woodworking programs of all types because it gives equal weight to woodworking skills and the business side of being a self-supporting craftsman. My characterization of the HCC program is it teaches you how to make high quality, fine furniture and gives you a fighting chance at making a living at it. In today's economic world making a living as a craftsman or artist is an odds-against proposition, in my humble, realistic, now educated opinion. To believe you have a fighting chance of succeeding is priceless.
I learned the woodworking skills to design and make fine furniture. I have the confidence to make the decision on whether or not to take on any project and the ability to do every stage of taking an idea in my head and making a piece of furniture that someone will appreciate and value because of what I put into it. I made 12 different items; I'll tell you how to view them in a few more paragraphs.
On the business side of the curriculum, over two years I wrote or developed:
I have graduated cum laude from Haywood Community College in Clyde, NC with an Associate's Degree in Professional Crafts--Wood. I am proud of myself for earning a college degree at 71 years old. The entire experience was sort of like going into the Army: I'm glad I did it, it was good for me, and there's no way I would do it again.
It is impossible to mention all the benefits, knowledge, and experiences I gained from sticking with the program until I graduated. Believe me, I thought about quitting many times. Teaching an old dog new tricks is tough, especially when you're the dog. The technology side of the curriculum was especially tough for a grizzled old business owner who achieved my success the old way in the last millennium. I still marvel at getting through.
The HCC curriculum may be unique among woodworking programs of all types because it gives equal weight to woodworking skills and the business side of being a self-supporting craftsman. My characterization of the HCC program is it teaches you how to make high quality, fine furniture and gives you a fighting chance at making a living at it. In today's economic world making a living as a craftsman or artist is an odds-against proposition, in my humble, realistic, now educated opinion. To believe you have a fighting chance of succeeding is priceless.
I learned the woodworking skills to design and make fine furniture. I have the confidence to make the decision on whether or not to take on any project and the ability to do every stage of taking an idea in my head and making a piece of furniture that someone will appreciate and value because of what I put into it. I made 12 different items; I'll tell you how to view them in a few more paragraphs.
On the business side of the curriculum, over two years I wrote or developed:
- A pricing schedule and system for placing a retail price on my time and skilled craftsmanship.
- A comprehensive, in-depth marketing plan that gives me focus and direction on where to take my business and how to select distribution channels and sales methods to generate revenue. This plan is ready to present to both lenders and investors in order to raise capital if need be.
- A Craftsman's Statement that tells a story about why I do what I do.
- A Biography that establishes my credentials as a skillful woodworker.
- Point of sale collateral materials for exhibitions and gallery showings of my work.
- An "elevator pitch" that quickly and succinctly tells someone what I do and starts a conversation.
- A speech that informs and tantalizes the audience with the joys and satisfactions of making things with my hands for the purpose of satisfying a customer.
- A business plan that set a structure for my business, organized my woodworking shop, budgeted from start-up to self-sustaining, accounts for the seasonality of my chosen market area, and significantly reduced going off in ten directions at once down to two growth strategies on which I will concentrate my efforts.
- A company image and marketing package that is comprehensive, uniform, friendly and inviting to potential customers.
- A catalog that tells consumers everything they need to know to make buying decisions on my works. I am now selling products sight unseen by the buyer just by showing them my catalog.
- A company website, wileyswoodworks.com , that is fully functional and goes a long way towards establishing credibility in the marketplace, and that I can update, maintain, and expand on my own.