Cue Clubs??

[sixpack]

I wrote an article recently for a business column for a local newspaper about monthly recurring revenue. Basically everybody from your grocery store to your healthclub is really focusing on monthly recurring revenue to sell their products.

One of the challenges with businesses like cuemaking is keeping your revenue highs and lows in check. It's easier to manage your business to a steady cash flow than solely working on projected sales which may or may not materialize.

Do you think it would work to have a 'cue club' where members paid a certain amount and got a new cue from you every 'X' months. Similar to wine clubs. People could join for different packages and support their favorite cuemakers to whatever level they were comfortable with.

Say a person can't really afford to pay $250 for a cue, but they could pay $20/month and get a $250 or $300 cue every year. Collectors and wholesalers could join several clubs and get a steady supply of cues.

20 people in the club would translate to $400/month in steady revenue.

Not sure if this would work with cuemaking or not, but I thought I'd throw it out there in an effort to think outside the box and maybe stave off the Chinese invasion.

~rc

 

[WilleeCue]

Do you think it would work to have a 'cue club' where members paid a certain amount and got a new cue from you every 'X' months. Similar to wine clubs. People could join for different packages and support their favorite cue makers to whatever level they were comfortable with.
~rc

Certainly a novel idea as applied to cues.

Some of the leagues work that way ... so much a week and a new cue at the end of the season.

I bet SugarTree would have no problem signing up 100 members.
He is very popular here.

 

[cueman]

I like the idea. Does anyone want to join the Hightower Custom Cues Club for $50 per month. You get a $600 cue every year or a $1200 cue every 24 months. I am taking sign ups now.

 

[RocketQ]

I like the idea but will it fly? "Build it and they will come"

John

 

[Arnot Wadsworth]

Certainly a novel idea as applied to cues.

Some of the leagues work that way ... so much a week and a new cue at the end of the season.

I bet SugarTree would have no problem signing up 100 members.
He is very popular here.

There is nothing new about "Lay-a-Way" or taking payments. I
have been doing it for years.

 

[qbilder]

Certainly a novel idea as applied to cues.

Some of the leagues work that way ... so much a week and a new cue at the end of the season.

I bet SugarTree would have no problem signing up 100 members.
He is very popular here.

I'm not so sure how to read this

I have done this a couple of times for people I know & trust, and it works fine. But it's not something i'd do in general. I'm not a fan of collecting money before a cue is complete. Seems people like thinking they own the cuemaker's time.

 

[cueman]

There is nothing new about "Lay-a-Way" or taking payments. I
have been doing it for years.

I agree. I have been doing lay aways for years also.

 

[rhncue]

I agree. I have been doing lay aways for years also.

Truthfully, I don't like any money up front about 3 years ago I got stiffed for 2 custom cues so I started getting a 25 or 50.00 deposit. I have had some customers wanting to make payments while the cue is being built and although I allow it, I really don't like it. I don't need the money to live on nor for operating cost. I look forward to the pot at the end of the rainbow. I know to many people who live on up front money and are continually chasing it so, to often, cues or other products don't get delivered.

Dick

 

[Mase]

Truthfully, I don't like any money up front about 3 years ago I got stiffed for 2 custom cues so I started getting a 25 or 50.00 deposit. I have had some customers wanting to make payments while the cue is being built and although I allow it, I really don't like it. I don't need the money to live on nor for operating cost. I look forward to the pot at the end of the rainbow. I know to many people who live on up front money and are continually chasing it so, to often, cues or other products don't get delivered.

Dick

I agree with you Dick. I don't take any money when the cue is ordered. I prefer it all at the end. Very rarely I will take money up front when the cue is so owner specific that I could not sell it if they don't take it.