Selling items with clocks

[JohnB]

G'day all,
As you've probably seen in previous posts, I sell a number of scrolled items with a clock inserted.
One, DUMB question which people never seem tired of asking is "does the clock work" "No - I just put it there for decoration"

I got sick of trying to explain how to remove the little bit of plastic and the battery will make contact and away will go the clock, thus ensuring that you have a fresh battery.
So I bought a bulk lot of the 2 different types of batteries, set all the clocks working and gave a spare battery with every purchase (When I remembered).
The batteries, being as small as they are, probably will lost long before they are needed.

Yesterday I had a rush of blood to the head while finishing some key racks, 2 with clocks. and came up with this idea that works perfectly.
Just drill a small shallow hole in the back(wall hanging) or bottom (standing) and slip the spare battery in and cover with a piece of sticky tape.

I did all my pieces that required it and today at the markets, they all received a"Good idea" and I think the spare battery was even the deciding factor in a couple of purchases.

[knothead]

I feel your frustration John. My favorite is "DID YOU CUT THIS?". It is sometimes very difficult not to answer the question the way your mind tells you to.
Tom

[Forester21]

Great idea John! Thanks for passing it along.
Theresa

[Forester21]

John and Tom - when I am selling and I get those kinds of questions, it gives me something to talk to the customers about - and if you can interact with the customers, it is easier to make a sale. Yes, the questions can seem dumb, but it can be a great conversation starter.

Theresa

[thumbs]

One of my favorites at the craft show is when a lady is looking at an item and her husband pipes in saying he could do that. I always want to say something but I just smile and say nothing. Even if he could, would he. If he could , she wouldn't be looking at my stuff---Richard aka thumbs

[Neal Moore]

When people ask me "did you cut that?" I tell them,"no, my dog chewed it out. He has no thumbs so he can't use the scrollsaw!!" BTW Thumbs, that is no reflection on your screen name. LOL!!

[Janette]

I get that all the time - usually phrased as "YOU make these?! " Well, I'm sitting here in a juried art show....hmmmm . Usually the comment comes from the fact that they ASSUME that my husband does the woodworking because he's a guy. I get a kick out the old timers who do woodworking- they go and start talking to hubby and he just points at me and says "MY wifes work.." Once they get over themselves they'll chat all day if you let them!

[JohnB]

Originally Posted by thumbs

One of my favorites at the craft show is when a lady is looking at an item and her husband pipes in saying he could do that. I always want to say something but I just smile and say nothing. Even if he could, would he. If he could , she wouldn't be looking at my stuff---Richard aka thumbs

G'day Thumbs, Another I like is when a husband and wife are looking at something and she turns to him and says "You could make that couldn't you?".
The looks on some of the blokes faces are priceless, along with mumbled "yea,...sure, no worries..."

[Sawduster]

I get my clock inserts from Sloans and the little plastic piece simply insures that the setting knob stays popped out which stops the clock . When doing a show, I energize and insert a clock face, but offer the customer a choice of inserts .....some like regular numbers, some Roman etc. This also gives me a chance to explain battery changes and that the clocks are energized at the time of the show and still have plenty of life . Sloans guarantees 2 years but I have not had the opportunity to confirm that yet .......heck, 2 years is about how long I have been scrolling in total
When the show is over, I pop out the clocks and extend the knob back out , stopping the clock until the next show
I have had at least 2 customers who bought based on being able to choose the clock style

[NMScroller]

I'm encouraged after going to a craft show this Saturday. One booth had some scrolled ornaments (basic snow flakes and such) that weren't very well scrolled. Great paint job, but there were nibs in all of internal cuts and arms of the snowflakes didn't match. Aside from the basket at that booth, there were no scrolled items at this craft fair. Planning ahead for next year......

I think what floored me the most is the booth with the wooden wheeled toys. The average price per vehicle was $100. Not usually a problem for this kind of stuff, but they were mainly pine and not as detailed as the excavator pictured elsewhere on this forum.

To stay on topic...in our current society of precision work done mainly by lasers, it is difficult for many to believe that somebody is capable of creating by hand. My friend and talk often about the need for a shop class or two out our schools. We are creating a generation of people that probably wouldn't know how to fix something at home if they wanted to. Goodness, you don't even have to know how to spell anymore, texting cell phones do that automatically now.