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Gragg Enterprises
8400 SO 4000 W
West Jordan, UT 84088
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How To Make Money In
The Clock Mounting Business
Most successful clock making businesses started out as hobbies.
This business involves buying (not manufacturing) clock works and
mounting them in unique, attractive faces, holders and motifs
that you create. Many different types and prices of clock works are
available from various supply houses that you can fashion into works of
art.
A clock can be mounted on any number of crafted or non-crafted items:
burlwood, toys, funny faces, paintings, etched mirrors, souvenirs,
marble slabs, sculptures, photographs, family keepsakes, or just about
anything you can imagine.
In fact, you might well come up with a new idea. What about a large
picture of your child, with a clock in one corner - or one on a picture
of your mother-law (you're "on your own" on this
one!).
One enterprising couple made clocks from used circular saw blades: the
wife painted scenes and numbers: the husband applied a protective
covering and mounted clock works on them.
You do not have to know about clocks or watch repair, or have any
special talents. The clock works, whether electric or wind-up come
complete, ready to mount.
The main thing is to space the numerals evenly so they look as if they
are a part of the object. One technique is to arrange the face numbers
on a attractive slab of wood. They can be "spaced"
with a paper pattern.
Draw a circle the right size and use a compass to divide the circle into
12 equal parts of 30 degrees each. Center the numbers on the 12 dividing
lines, with the bottoms just touching the circle. When properly placed,
glue them lightly in place to keep
them from slipping and apply your finish
(usually resin on wood).
When the finish is thick enough and well cured, drill a hole at the
center of the proposed dial circle and mount the clock from behind,
letting the hands shaft project through the hole. Add the hands, and
your clock is finished. Some hand-crafted clocks are
really works of art and bring over $100 apiece!
Prices for quartz (battery operated) clocks start at about $3 each (even
less in quantity), which means that your total materials cost to produce
them is considerably lower than their potential value.. In most cases
this business results in getting
paid for both you time and a profit on the material.
Marketing hand-crafted clocks is worth a little extra effort because the
difference in price realized can be significant. Since one of the main
selling points is beauty, take some good pictures of your best clocks
and mount them in a photo album (a good quality album with nothing but
clocks in it). Use a good
camera and get shots that show only the clocks with contrasting
background.
For example, use a white sheet as a background
for a dark clock;
dark velvet or a plain, dark wall
for a light colored one. Take
pictures with negatives, which you can use to have a brochure
printed.
Another technique is to set up a display of your clocks -- at
your place, a rented display window,
or in a store (on
consignment).
The display should show off your clocks to their
best advantage -
good lighting, contrasting plain background, with no other
distractions in the immediate area. They can be displayed in a
dedicated section of shelves or a display case,
or even in a
suggested decor.
The main idea is to treat them as valuable items, which is how
you want potential customers to see them!
To get started in the clock making business, send
off for as many
price lists as you can for works and mounts. Clock suppliers will
provide you with detailed mounting instructions for their
products.
In the meantime, experiment with finishing techniques - resin
coating, painting, sand blasting
or whatever your pleasure. When
you have decided what kind of clocks you will start with, set up
your working area and get the necessary tools and supplies.
For natural wood finishes, you will probably need things like
stains, casting resin, cleaner, brushes,
tin strips, wood
finishing materials, clamps, saws, and glue.
To obtain an extra thick coat of resin, build a retaining wall
(the tin strips) around the piece to form a reservoir. Pour in
the resin and tap out any bubbles. When it has cured remove the
walls, shape and apply resin to the edges. When satisfied with
the thickness and uniformity, polish and assemble your finished
clock.
Your first few projects will probably NOT be perfect
-- in fact, they will probably include several "features" that you will have
to learn NOT to do -- or at least to do better.
These efforts need not be losses, however. They can be sold for
reduced prices at flea markets,
given to relatives (presents?),
or sold to retails stores (even second hand stores, if
necessary).
Do not show these first efforts to any store or customer that may
later be a prospect for your
best efforts (and higher prices). If
you try to sell imperfect models today, you risk damaging your
reputation before it ever gets started!
People who build successful businesses withhold their products
and services until they are GOOD. From that point, they NEVER
offer anything of lesser quality. This is why Marshal Fields can
get ten times as much as KMart for an identical item!
Although you will probably buy your initial supply of materials
from your local hardware or hobby store (Walmart carries some
good supplies), look for a good source to buy materials
wholesale, or at a significant (20-40%) discount.
Experiment with the different materials and DO NOT overlook
freebies, some of which might make fantastic clocks. Examples
are: driftwood, used (weather beaten) lumber, slabs of native
rock, magazine pictures (coated with resin), old shovels or
radios.
Also, compare brands, prices and results of products to make sure
you are using a $65 per gallon resin when a $15 would do just as
well.
Other possibilities are custom clocks (made from a customer's
materials, or idea), thematic (a pallet clock for an artist),
nature (oak slab with acorns for numbers), and clocks for special
uses (designed to fit on top of a computer, or on the dash of a
motorhome.
When you stop and think about it, there must be millions of
possibilities that have not yet been discovered -- is one of them
yours?
Once you have the materials and skill to produce clocks, you will
automatically have attained both
the skills and the means to make
many other products that can be used to augment your business.
For example, plastic [paperweights with imbedded acorns or pills
or beautiful plastic coated and/or decorated jewelry and trinket
boxes (some with music boxes) and whatnot shelves.
A word of caution about resins and finishes that
are often used
in clock making. Read the labels on the finishes, thinners,
cleaning materials carefully. Most are highly flammable and many
are toxic to breathe. Make sure your working area is adequately
ventilated and have a fire extinguisher handy --
just in case! |
Disclaimer: The information contained
in our Free Articles Library is for your information only!.. It is
always advisable to consult with an attorney or
other appropriate professional before you take
action on any business opportunity or ideas!
Please check out information before acting on it!
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