Frustratingly successful.

[harryball]

I can't say I'm sad about it, we've been going like crazy. We've not been caught up (i.e. no orders on the board) in several months. We got close 3 weeks ago with 7 on the board. No single order has been for more than 4 bat houses and with what arrived today we now have 30 on the board. If the "large theme park in FL" makes their usual September order of 20 to 40 houses... :eek:

Why the frustration? DANG we're moving the shop... or were. I can't take the time right now to take the bot down and move it. So I run my bot 30 miles from my shop now. I can't empty the shop to put in the floor or work on the walls so it's a mess AND with no insulation I have to stop about 10AM.

Now for the good part... October is lining up to possibly be the busiest month we've every had. Our kit and web site is being featured in a national kids magazine. I have NO idea what to expect. We could get 4 orders or 400. To add some cream... the editors suggested we improve our store to break out shipping and add coupons. I agree with the marketing. So I'm revamping our online store. It's almost done but the shipping calculator scares me.

When I get it online I'll let everyone take a look. The software has been pretty good and easy to setup. I suppose I could release a coupon for botters but I'm not sure if it will add 15% to orders or not. :)

Not complaining by no means. It never fails though, if something good happens... it'll happen at the worst possible time. :cool:

/RB

[myxpykalix]

I hope that you get so busy that you are puting in 12-14 hour days and have to fill an order for hundreds of houses and have to work your ass
off:eek:
What alot of guys have gone thru they would kill to be as busy as you so i'll say it like my granddaughter tells me when i complain...

"Too Bad, So Sad!!" lol:rolleyes: good luck!

[jkaras2000]

Hey. Good for you. Sounds like those are good problems your dealing with. Like most of us realize, You Gotta Make Hay While The Sun Shines. One day at a time, you'll get through it. Don't forget to grease tracks, routine maint, etc, don't want the bot going on strike. Joe:cool:

[stump]

On the bright side, at least you can still run the 'bot, and a 30 mile drive is probably shorter than most peoples commute to work. Last time we moved I received a large order shortly after packing up the shop. It just added stress to an already stressful move.

Now I would give anything for the hectic days of too many orders and not enough time. (orders > time) The inverse equation is not nearly as much fun.

[Gary Campbell]

Robert...
Beats the heck outta sittin on the porch remembering how much work you USED to have! Count your blessings.

[benchmench]

That's a great problem to have Robert. Maybe you could keep the 'bot closer to home with one of these:

http://www.wimp.com/concretetents/

They are also good against small arms fire and shrapnel! :)

[myxpykalix]

Dan....neat link i like those...question is...how much?

[srwtlc]

Hey, I'm thinking of two of those. One for a new shop and one for a new house! ;)

[harryball]

Those are cool, I'd love to have one but I can't imagine why... :rolleyes:

Thanks guys. It's been a good year for some unknown reason. I wish I could find out why, can it and sell that too. I suspect it would sell well.

The only things I can say is:
Get people to look at you and keep looking.
Find something you actually like to do.
Stay focused and people will know how to "identify" you.
Work hard but be sure to let what you are doing grow on it's own.
Smile and talk to everyone (which goes against my nature so it may take effort)
Look at things fresh every week and think outside the box
Persisit, out last, overcome.
Don't over sell yourself to yourself.


/RB