Willeecue.com back up ...

ELBeau said:
Glad to see you active in pool-related items again.
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Thanks ElBeau.
Looking at what some of the other cue makers are producing I feel like I am still back in the stone age.
What nice work and fantastic designs.

With the coming invasion of the Chinese cues targeted right at my level I doubt I will be in the cue making business much longer.
I looked at some new imported cues last night and the shaft alone was worth more than the whole cue was selling for.
I was very impressed with the quality of materials and level of workmanship at $75 to $200 retail.
If I had made those cues they would be priced $300 to $400.
 
WilleeCue said:
Thanks ElBeau.
Looking at what some of the other cue makers are producing I feel like I am still back in the stone age.
What nice work and fantastic designs.

With the coming invasion of the Chinese cues targeted right at my level I doubt I will be in the cue making business much longer.
I looked at some new imported cues last night and the shaft alone was worth more than the whole cue was selling for.
I was very impressed with the quality of materials and level of workmanship at $75 to $200 retail.
If I had made those cues they would be priced $300 to $400.
Click to expand...

I doubt the buyers of $99.00 Chinese cues are your customers. Just build your cues and pay more attention to marketing. Along with repairs, you probably don't need to sell more then a 100 cues a year to be successful. You know, every time you finish a cue whether it has an owner or not you are a richer man. Your net worth has increased by the value of that cue. It "Will" sell at some point be it at your shop, a tournament, trade show, wholesale or ebay. It is likely every cue you ever build will find a home. I have a feeling you like building cues. Not many people have the privilege to do what they like to do for living. Most dread their jobs. You are more blessed then you think, you just need to maybe learn a little more about business. Coincidentally here is a story and video that may be inspiring. It has nothing to do with cue making but does lay out some interesting principles that every business owner or self employed needs to think about. One thing you need to work on right away is your website. It is very unprofessional and lacks anything that would make someone seek you out to build them a cue. I don't mean to be insulting but as the premiss of your original post indicated, it is competitive out there. You are throwing away one of the best tools used today. There was a time you had to spend thousands of dollars to get your message out there in the form of print advertising. The internet has leveled the playing field. I mentioned ebay. You put a cue on ebay, (A legitimate and respected place to sell by the way). priced right and not necessarily cheap. Even if it does not sell it will bring hundreds of possible buyers to your website who will discover you. That is all you can ask the rest is up to you do deliver a product people want to buy and recommend.

http://www.chelseagreen.com/content/richard-wiswall-discusses-the-business-of-organic-farming/
 
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macguy said:
One thing you need to work on right away is your website. It is very unprofessional and lacks anything that would make someone seek you out to build them a cue. I don't mean to be insulting but as the premiss of your original post indicated, it is competitive out there. You are throwing away one of the best tools used today. There was a time you had to spend thousands of dollars to get your message out there in the form of print advertising. The internet has leveled the playing field. I mentioned ebay. You put a cue on ebay, (A legitimate and respected place to sell by the way). priced right and not necessarily cheap. Even if it does not sell it will bring hundreds of possible buyers to your website who will discover you. That is all you can ask the rest is up to you do deliver a product people want to buy and recommend.
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Thanks MacGuy, constructive critizim is always welcome here.
I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer by any means and I learn something everyday.
Your comments reflect those of others and I am thinking I need to seek out some professional help with a new web page.

The local pool pro, Robbin Adair has the largest pool pro shop around here
(the only one in Corpus Christi) and possibly the largest in Texas.
He has been a great help to me over the years and a very good friend.
Seeing the new cues he got in from China really depressed me.
Not because they are cheap but because they are cheap and good.

I'll take a pill (prescription of course) , drink a beer, make a cue, and see how it all plays out.

Thanks again for your honest opinion and helpful criticism.

Willee
 
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