Business marketability research in a specific area

I may be able to help you a bit with this. I would need more information though. Could you describe a bit more what you envision for the shop/studio? Location (in general), size, equipment, membership cost, hours, how you would deal with consumables, storage space for members, etc. It doesn’t have to be a detailed business plan but enough to understand what it would look like.

Well, right now I’m in Baltimore and I was thinking along the lines of what I have at the shop I work at now. About 20 by 40 or so, 2 table saws (Maybe), Band saw, a few full size lathes, a few mini/midi lathes, planer, joiner, and all the assorted hand held tools needed. Five or six work benches. As for project storage, that can be a room with a series of spaces divided that patrons could rent. I haven’t figured out membership fees yet, Not sure if I just want to do a per hour charge or a monthly/yearly fee with unlimited access. Consumables can be sold in a small storefront type area. Not sure if I want to provide much lumber for sale or just have members bring there own in. Hours, maybe 6 days a week, late morning to evening, that way I can get people after work who want to work in the shop. I was planning on offering classes for all levels as well as have open shop time.

That’s all I can think of right now, let me know if you want more info.

Thanks.

-- "At its best, life is completely unpredictable." - Christopher Walken

Not to discourage you by any means, as I owned a machine shop for years. The people I hired were either highly skilled Tool & Die makers or unskilled production workers who had to take safety courses and specific job training, prior to letting them do any operations. Difference between what I did, and what your proposing is they were all bonified employees, covered by liability insurance and workmen’s comp.
You’re going to have strangers walking in, many having no skill sets, no ideas of speeds and feeds, the dangers of operating lethal machinery, and just maybe they stopped at the bar on the way over, etc., etc.
I’m not trying to discourage you, but I would talk this over with attorneys, and professionals who can layout the pitfalls of turning over machinery to people who would sue at the drop of a hat for their carelessness.
I would be deeply concerned of this litigious mentality we see with the public today.
I’m thinking of a scenario where you have Power-matic table saws, and a guy cuts off his finger. You’re in court because you didn’t equip the place with the Saw Stop table saw.
You can make people sign all the “not responsible” “hold harmless” papers in the world, but a half-ass attorney can still take you to the cleaners.
Be VERY careful.

-- Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them.

You might see if these guys can you give you any info. They’re a non profit club, but the same idea that you’re interested in doing. I don’t have any personal experience with them, just know that they are around. Best of luck and let us know how it’s going.

http://www.communitywoodworking.com/

-- Karen - a little bit of stupid goes a long way

I doubt if yio ucan afford teh liability insurance. I would sugget trying it through a nonprofit community help or rehab organizatoin.

-- "some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence Wake Up America!! Please read; http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/01/26-0

I really like the idea. I was without a shop for several years during one stretch and it was miserable.

I also really like the non profit that was posted in this thread. Going that direction could give you more protection but I am not entirely certain. At their site they mention skiers and that for sure is a good parallel. You can be sure they have passed a basic safety course but once they are on their own it is up to them to use common sense or not. I imagine that non profit would be happy to refer you to their attorney or even share the attorney’s opinion with you. Woodworkers are usually good people and most non profits will share with others what they have learned.

Even if you are doing it to make money it could be set up as a non profit. Non profit directors get paid salaries and can expense lots of things. There are only a few minor differences in how finances and assets work. (I have created and run non profits for over twenty years)

So if you really want to do it and have some cash to get started it seems like it could be a good idea. Especially if you can offer classes. Having a “school” is the best way to get shop customers/members. And there are tons of inexpensive ways to market the shop.

If you would like step by step assistance / guidance let me know and we can talk about it.

Good luck

Don’t let these dire predictions that you can’t afford the liability insurance discourage you. This is data you need to find for yourself.

As for market research, is there a college or university nearby? Your real world question might be music to a professor’s ears.

-- "...in his brain, which is as dry as the remainder biscuit after a voyage, he hath strange places cramm'd with observation, the which he vents in mangled forms." --Shakespeare, "As You Like It"