Business for a fifteen year old

[mrpotter]

I am a fifteen year old and I am thinking about starting a woodworking business. I would mostly make cutting boards, bandsaw boxes, small turnings, and the like. My dad has an awesome shop that I can use can use free of charge (although I do chores and clean it up). I get free wood from a cabinent shop down the road, so I don't have to many expences. I have school work and soccer, so I would probably work a couple nights a week after I get home.
All that said, any tips, ideas, recomendations, anything?

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

MrPotter,

Sounds like a story behind that title. Maybe you would like to share. I want to welcome you as I see you are a new member. I see by your post you sound very ambitious. Adding a woodworking business to your plate is admirable. I will combine both your posts here to give my opinions. You say you want to give the craft show thing a shot and want to make things to sell.
You asked what to make and you sort of answered your own question when you mention you make cutting boards, small turnings, bandsawn boxes and such. You make these things and you are well on your way. Get your feet wet by doing a local small show. I would stick to a small show because there are factors doing larger shows like taxes. Make things you find are enjoyable to you not things you think people want. You will never figure out what people want. Learn to see if you would enjoy putting the time into this. 15 is young to be tied to the shop. As a hobby, and then try to sell some pieces so you can make a few dollars is the way you want to go. Good luck and hope your Dad helps you in this adventure.

[Woodbutcher68]

As JT said, welcome to the board!
It's great to see someone of your age group interested in woodworking.
JT gave you some great advice and there's little that I can add. Make the things that you like. They don't have to be cutting board related. Someone else will share your tastes and become customers. You could take the exact same things to four different shows and find that items that sold good at one show couldn't be given away at another.
I've got two different shows this weekend, both at high schools. One is a Catholic school and the other is a Christian school. (I've found that I do better at churches and church sponsored school events.) I'll be taking the same items to both. Since I turn and scroll, I have an assortment of items including bottle stoppers, honey dippers, keyrings, ornaments, plaques and crosses. Although the ornaments and bottle stoppers are the best overall sellers, crosses do better at some shows.
Sometimes you'll see lots of people at a show who bought a particular item from one vendor. A week later every other booth is selling that item, with fewer sales. As JT said, make what you like, someone will buy it.
I agree with JT, 15 is kind of young to be tied to the shop, however, if you find you really enjoy it, you could be getting a start on a future career as a woodworker or cabinet or furniture maker. With so many schools eliminating shop classes, there will soon be a shortage of qualified craftsmen and the demand is already growing.
Try to enjoy your teenage years as they tend to go by quickly and then you get to join the rest of us in the job market.
Good Luck on your endeavour!

[TimD]

As the others said welcome. They also gave you some good advice about finding what you enjoy. I'll give you some more: stay in school and keep out of trouble. I think that with your interest in woodworking that won't be much problem. Too many your age have no interest other than partying these days and then a lot of them I have to deal with when they get a little older.
For years my main interest and hobby was beekeeping but finally after too many stings and too many rattlesnake bites I became allergic to the point that it's now "life threatening" for me to get stung. I had always enjoyed woodworking but now I spend more time doing that than beekeeping. Yes, I still keep bees but I'm more careful than I used to be. I mainly turn pens & pencils and deer calls but still enjoy making a table or a lamp ever now & then.
Ny 8 year old nephew likes to help put the calls and pens together and go help me in a booth as long as I pay him as he's always needing some new fishing lure. I've turned a few fishing plugs for him which really made his day.
When I was your age I was cutting grass and doing odd jobs for people then joined the navy when I was 17 so I won't try to discourage your ambitions at that age, I'll just tell you to have fun doing it but be safety minded and play it safe. Too many people after they become familiar with a tool or piece of machinery take it for granted and start letting sloppy unsafe methods slip in mainly while they are trying to cut their time down.

[ndtroll]

I would also like to welcome you...
And tell you about a young girl here in North Dakota who did just what you are thinking about doing.... She had access to her father's shop and started scroll sawing... she made puzzles and name plaques along with other items mentioned such as crosses, etc.... she had some on consignment in various places and did all the local shows, large and small....
when I asked her about it, she told me that she could make as much money or more doing this as she could working a part time job after school.... she made enought to help her get to college....
Her older brother had done the same thing......
Find your niche and concentrate on that and it should work out fine

[HiddenTalents]

Beginning to venture into business at your age will prove beneficial later on in life regardless of the outcome. In a sense this pertains to your question, so I would just like to remind you that having good work ethics at your age is great however appreciate the youthful years while they are at your disposal. Do not allow work to consume you at the age of 15, you have quite a few years remaining to work....

Also, save your profits and invest them wisely. If you decide wood working is your ultimate career, research the internet and ask question like you are now about tools and what not. However, if you decide you want to pursue another occupation, then save your profits for college.

Regardless, welcome to the site and good luck!

[Gunny]

Welcome aboard... and like JT, I would like to hear the story behind that screen name...
School, soccer AND a business... In this day and age that's not just admirable, it's remarkable.
At the risk of being repetitious, make what you like and what you do best. See if it sells. Bandsawn boxes seem to be popular but consider the time involved and the price you have to charge to make it worth your while.
I was at a show in May and a guy was selling wooden toys, trucks, cars and games. They were going pretty fast and he told me it takes him about 40 minutes to make one. Of course he had been building them for many years.

Cheese boards, cutting boards and wooden trivets or hotplates seem like a good place to start. You can use your imagination and do inlays, or butcher block, or laminated...
Concentrate on making them as attractive as possible and they'll sell. They make excellent holiday gifts too.
Good luck...

[K&MScrollworks]

Mrpotter first welcome the the woodworking world and our wonderful forum. Everyone here will always help in any way possible so don't be afraid to ask.
Wow at 15 you have great thoughts for a part time activities but please remember that your education is the most important and being involved in your growing up activities. I have to commend you for the direction you have chosen, so many kids your age chose to follow other paths that seem so frequently to get them in trouble.
The very best to you, good luck.

Kris

[mrpotter]

Thanks guys, thats really helpful

Any tips on how to make the most of a craft show?

And Potter is my last name (no relation to harry) :)

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

MRPOTTER

First off what is your first name??? I think most of us here are going to have a problem calling you mister.

Second thing is if you scroll down a few post under this thread you will see a few topics called craft shows and within them there is some valuable info as to what can help make a show more productive. Good luck.

[mrpotter]

Thanks,
Erick