Got out of the Army in 1970, and was unemployed and married. Couldn't find a job, but had a degree in business and was in Special Forces. Tried to get a job with different police agencies (before there was SWAT), they all thought I might have latent aggression. Can you believe that? Anyway didn't want to be a mercenary cause I like living, and living in the US. So, that's my history.
Oh yeah, back to the story. LOML and I went to a weekend arts and crafts show and a guy there was selling handmade lamps. I looked at them and thought, "I can do that". The next day I went to the lumber yard and bought what I thought I needed.
We had a two bedroom apartment and the floor was my workspace. The lamps were made from 1" thick cork, cut in strips, glued together like frames. Then I glued on the inside colored plastic K-Lux panels, and mounted hanging hardware at the top. Took them to the flea market and hung them from a 2x4 on top of two loose bi-fold doors. The first weekend none sold. The second weekend, I got better at the design and quality, and didn't sell any then. As I was packing up a woman asked If I would come to her house the next night and show them to her husband, I said "I can do that".
When I got there she had like 8 neighbors over, and they went wild and about half of them ordered lamps. I took deposits and was so excited, that when I left the house, I forgot to put my samples in the trunk, and backed up over them.
Fortunately I scored that night with deposits, because LOML was ragging on me to quit making a mess in the apartment. So, the real story about cabinetwork evolved when I would be in houses installing the lamps, they would ask "Can you build a cabinet for over there?" My answer was "I can do that".
It was a very difficult start and there has been low lows and high highs. If you are honest and are a good craftsman, creativity can make a difference. I didn't get stuck in just making kitchen boxes. Since the rent comes due every month, I take whatever I get. This led to commercial work like jewelry store showcases, restaurant and bar work, law offices, and medical cabinets. Having a good list of references and a source of leads makes a big difference. Sourcing work includes getting to the designers, contractors, and architects. I found that through the commercial work, those owners also wanted custom work done in their homes.
It's a hazardous way to make a living with toxic fumes, tools with spinning steel, caustic chemicals, and noise levels that can be deafening. There's a price to pay for all that. You can't totally protect yourself. Don't take me wrong...I'm not trying to discourage you. I must say considering everything, it's a very rewarding life. You'll just have to get used to the fact that all customers won't be raving over your work. Some will be looking at it with a magnifying glass trying to see if there's anything wrong. In the end it's the check that counts.
My father alway tried to teach me that you'll never get rich from something you do, but rather, what you know. So, I try to figure everything out and then do it. Still not rich. :laughing:
