Preface: I welcome you to to my “Learning Center”. This section of my blog is for “Paid” subscribers and reveals my methods of carving names that has evolved over the last 43+ years.
Whether you just want to learn to make a batch of durable keychains for everyone at the next family reunion or wish to add it to your business repertoire, I welcome the competition. There is plenty of space for everyone.
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Wholsaleability From Home ~ A Case Study
In 2013, I quit my part-time gig as a tool monger for Sears. That job was was the last step of cutting my cord of “regular” employment. I had spent two years there, after a grueling five (full-time) at a local paper mill.
In our pursuit of finding buyers for my handmade product, we spent a bit of time cold-mailing campgrounds, retreat centers, motels, resorts and tourist traps, to make them aware of the woodstuffs that we carve. Handmade merchandise at wholesale prices, to resell as souvenirs of their visit.
Over the last eleven years, we have accumulated a dozen or so regular wholesale accounts, that order as their stock dwindles. Each is different, tailored according to their needs. We offer them unique items and low minimum quantities to get pricing we can both live with. They are a blessing and usually come during slower times, as they understand that we cannot do wholesale during the holiday season (November-December).
First Contact
In 2015, we were contacted by the buyers at El Cosmico, a funky campground resort outside of Marfa, in the west Texas desert.
The area is famous for its mysterious lights (see video below), well as the filming of the movies “Giant”, “No Country For Old Men” and “There Will Be Blood.”
They saw the potential of offering my keychains for sale as keepsakes, in their camp store, in their rental’s “Mini-Bars”, and on their website.
Eleven Years On…
Since that first order, I have carved and shipped thousands of Mesquite wood MARFA (video below) and Pau Amarello (Yellowheart wood) EL COSMICO keychains, a great inexpensive memento of the visitor’s stay.
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