Hmmm.... Interesting thoughts have been raised here including a few questions. Let me respond to a few of them.
My intent with the dialectical spelling was that folks would understand the tongue-in-cheek nature of "perfeshunel". I make a very good living managing a power station for a major electric utility. Turning always has been and always will be a hobby. The wine stoppers are just pocket change. Mostly I get a kick out of knowing that someone likes my work. Yeh, it's a little bit of an ego thing for me I suppose.
This wine shop is unique in that it caters to common people. He doesn't have hundred-dollar bottles. He finds quality wines from small growers. He also find good values from large distributors. In short, his store is all about finding pleasant wines for working people who enjoy a nice bottle now and then and don't feel a need to impress folks with the price sticker.
Charlie, your post raises a few questions:
1. How do you define "overpriced"? The same stoppers have been at the front counter for six months. In our neighborhood, $15 is not a spontaneous purchase. Less than $10 is. By the way, half the stoppers I sold him were gone within the first two weeks.
2.How do you know what the store owner paid for those overpriced items? Retail of $15 with a 100% markup. Pretty basic.
3.Many turners are trying to make a livlihood with their turned work...How can someone trying to make an honest living by selling his items expect to compete with your prices? If someone is trying to support his family by hand turning wine stoppers, his business model is flawed. He needs to re-think his line of work.
4.For five bucks each, how much emphasis do you put on form, fit, and finish? I push boundaries and experiment every time I go to the lathe. Sometimes I'm more successful than others. The standard for what I sell to the shop is pretty simple: Would I give this stopper to my parents as a gift? If the answer is "yes", then form, fit, and finish are up to snuff.
5.Are you willing to drop you prices even further when the store owner tells you he can have each stopper made for $3.00 EACH... or less? Maybe. Maybe not. It depends on a lot of factors at the time when he asks.
6.As an experienced cabinetmaker, what is your time and experience worth? I used to do commission cabinet work. 'Found out it just wasn't much fun when deadlines and paychecks were involved. I now do it for fun and give away most of my work, and that includes cabinets, furniture, and turnings.
Not trying to rain on your parade, but please define "professional" for me. I am a registered professional engineer. I earn my livelihood by applying engineering skills, at all times keeping the best interest of the citizens of the State of Ohio and other domiciles at the forefront of all work, whether performed by me or under my supervision.
I be a perfeshunel wood turner, having fun and making a little pocket change along the way.
