Opportunity or Failure? Advice needed.

[Justin RC]

I live in a pretty small town, but billiards is HUGE here. Little by little word has gotten around that I make pool cues and I have been approached by 2 of the busiest bars for pool and in general really, and have been asked if I could put display cases in their bars and sell my cues out of there. Obviously cut the owners something, but my concern is this....

The business side of me says "hell yeah! money money money!!", but the other side of me who has been playing pool since I was 10 years old and takes pride and enjoyment in the slow, time consuming, cut fingers, and bruised knuckles that is cue making. I'm worried that the required quantity will over take quality at some point. Right now, people love playing with my cues, but if things change and I slack on quality this will all backfire.

So I'm wondering if any of you are in this situation selling cues at bars or other retailers, and any advice you would give on the best route to take. I only work on weekends at my main job, so I spend 10-12 hours a day making cues as is. Thanks

 

[mortuarymike-nv]

show case in a bar

I live in a pretty small town, but billiards is HUGE here. Little by little word has gotten around that I make pool cues and I have been approached by 2 of the busiest bars for pool and in general really, and have been asked if I could put display cases in their bars and sell my cues out of there. Obviously cut the owners something, but my concern is this....

The business side of me says "hell yeah! money money money!!", but the other side of me who has been playing pool since I was 10 years old and takes pride and enjoyment in the slow, time consuming, cut fingers, and bruised knuckles that is cue making. I'm worried that the required quantity will over take quality at some point. Right now, people love playing with my cues, but if things change and I slack on quality this will all backfire.

So I'm wondering if any of you are in this situation selling cues at bars or other retailers, and any advice you would give on the best route to take. I only work on weekends at my main job, so I spend 10-12 hours a day making cues as is. Thanks

The only way I would put a show case of cues in a bar is if I was the only one who had a key to it,
Showing cues in a bar sooner or later some one is going to break a cue.
MMike

 

[jecues]

Bar display

I had the same situation as you are in. I put a display in one bar and have had great luck in doing so. I keep them stocked with 12 cues 4 cases and several accessories. I cut them in at 15% and I restock every 2 weeks. As for the time commitment it has been more I finish up 2-3 cues every week. I currently have over 200 cues started which had helped with not spending as much time. Any questions send me a message.

 

[Justin RC]

I started this thread 3 days ago and it finally got posted. Since then I put a case in 1 bar and sold 3 cues my first night. things are looking great, but I'm still nervous about keeping up with demand.

 

[Dirtbmw20]

Alot of cuemakers can't keep up with their demand, that's why they have a years long waiting list. The main rthing is BE HONEST with your customers, you'de be surprised how many people will wait a year or more to have their cue made, and then some want it NOW. You can't please em all and make everyone happy. If you are back logged and there is a wait time, just BE HONEST and up front about it.

 

[ratcues]

You are the only one that will let the demand affect your quality. If you are out, then you are out. Most people will understand, especially if you talk with them about the intricacies that go into cue building. If they do not understand, you do not want your cue in their hands.

 

[cueman]

If you get to where you can't keep up, just hire some help to do some of the easier or more time consuming parts of your cues. What ever you do, don't let the quality drop. You would be surprised how good and fast someone could get at putting in A joints, rings and butt sleeves and such if that is all you have them do. Just get them to do one part on a bunch of cues. Then move on to the next part. Put cut off switches on your tapering machines, so you have very little hands on time tapering.
I wish you well and I hope you sell enough to need a lot of help.

 

[Justin RC]

Thanks for the advice. I have enough wood on a turning schedule to where I can kick out 3-4 a week. I'm sure sales will slow down a bit after the initial boom, so hopefully that will give me time to catch up.

Chris - thanks. Hopefully I will get that busy b/c that will mean that I will need another lathe from ya

 

[Canadian cue]

I would be cautious about putting cues out that fast.

 

[whammo57]

If you get to where you can't keep up, just hire some help to do some of the easier or more time consuming parts of your cues. What ever you do, don't let the quality drop. You would be surprised how good and fast someone could get at putting in A joints, rings and butt sleeves and such if that is all you have them do. Just get them to do one part on a bunch of cues. Then move on to the next part. Put cut off switches on your tapering machines, so you have very little hands on time tapering.
I wish you well and I hope you sell enough to need a lot of help.

I started building to cues 3 years ago 6 months after I started I had 20 Q's on order. I have never had less than 20 on order for 3 years. I sold 28 Q's last year. I thought about getting some help but..... I feel that if someone else makes it then its not my cue and I wouldn't put my name on it. But that's just me.

Kim

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[Jim Baxter]

I had 10 cases , between western Washington and Eastern Wasington , I stocked it with inexpencive Players , Adam, , Meucci , you name it , No Custom cues , I was not building then . I would take 3 new cues out and just rotated them so each box had 3 different cues taken out and 3 new put in everyweek . Worked real good for a while . I had a couple look after them in E. Wash . I took care of w. wash .

One thing to keep in mind , if you put your phone number on the box , you will get calls all times of the night . They just want to hold it .

Good Luck Jim