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11:13 pm
NWBA Member
July 9, 2010
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So, would there be any advantage or disadvantage to being recognized by the US Census/IRS?
My son is the Blacksmith
12:00 am
NWBA Member
April 19, 2010
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nothing i can think of off the top of my head... its like saying I am a mechanic .. that covers a lot of ground from the guy who changes oil at 10 minute lube to the guy working on a 747 ... all mechanics
12:11 am
NWBA Member
July 9, 2010
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For the folks who have a business license as a "Blacksmith": What is the code that you are licensed under?
Wilson and Son Blacksmith, we are blacksmiths NOT farriers, was assigned incorrectly to:
[h=3]NAICS 332999: All Other Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing[/h]This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing fabricated metal products (except forgings and stampings, cutlery and handtools, architectural and structural metals, boilers, tanks, shipping containers, hardware, spring and wire products, machine shop products, turned products, screws, nuts and bolts, metal valves, ball and roller bearings, ammunition, small arms and other ordnances, fabricated pipes and pipe fittings, industrial patterns, and enameled iron and metal sanitary ware).
My son is the Blacksmith
3:32 am
NWBA Member
November 8, 2010
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Glad to say I've been full-time now for little over a year. File under 'Metalsmith'
They only remember you when you SCREW UP~!!!
3:47 am
NWBA Member
July 9, 2010
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Steve H;16647 wrote: Glad to say I've been full-time now for little over a year. File under 'Metalsmith'
Congratulations on your one year of success!
I see you are registered as 238990 All Other Specialty Trade Contractors
My son is the Blacksmith
3:53 am
NWBA Member
July 9, 2010
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Eric G;16645 wrote: nothing i can think of off the top of my head... its like saying I am a mechanic .. that covers a lot of ground from the guy who changes oil at 10 minute lube to the guy working on a 747 ... all mechanics
I see that you are registered as: 711510 Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers
My son is the Blacksmith
7:48 am
March 22, 2010
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I have no idea how my classification was chosen, I didnt choose it but my business license says "other construction, material merchant, wholesale" which comes in quite handy as far as buying items for resale... never have any questions. (not that I would abuse it but still) I am a blacksmith, I know I am a blacksmith. I could care less what others want to label me.
Whatever you are, be a good one.
Abraham Lincoln
6:14 pm
NWBA Member
Board Member
April 26, 2010
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Are we talking about the same government that claims Winter starts on Midwinter's Day, Summer starts on Midsummer's Day, and pizza is a vegetable?
No matter where you go... there you are.
3:57 am
NWBA Member
June 8, 2010
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Lee Cordochorea;16652 wrote: Are we talking about the same government that claims Winter starts on Midwinter's Day, Summer starts on Midsummer's Day, and pizza is a vegetable?
This government has NO idea how is to be one of us!!! I was making fireplace tools the other day when my brother stopped by... Talking about how to market fireplace tools and such... He said," Who do you know, that run in our circles, that would be interested in buying a handmade set of fireplace tools for $350 or $500.??? When people like you and me might go see what Wal-mart has for less than $100???"
This government either has no idea how us commoners live, or that is how they want us to live.... Just MHO
4:18 am
NWBA Member
August 7, 2010
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Eric G;16645 wrote: nothing i can think of off the top of my head... its like saying I am a mechanic .. that covers a lot of ground from the guy who changes oil at 10 minute lube to the guy working on a 747 ... all mechanics
If you go back 100 years, the Blacksmith is called "The Mechanic". If you take the Federal Classifications today they want to call the Automotive Mechanic, an "Automotive Technician". In my humble opinion Technicians work at the Quicky-Lube. I am and I hire Mechanics, we repair things, not just replace components. I also am a "Mechanic" in the old sense of the word!
My father was a Blacksmith, but my grandfather wasn't. Unlike so many other people, LOL.
Another fine day above the dirt and not afraid to get dirty!!:)
As long as we are above our shoes, We know where we are.:happy:
11:40 am
April 7, 2011
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Since we are talking about the ability of our government remember:
The IRS levied on the Mustang Ranch in Navada. Until they could get a buyer the IRS decided that they would run the "Ranch".
In two years they had to file bankruptcy. They couldn't even run a whore house that sells liquor effectively! And they want to run our health care system?
Wayne Coe
Artist Blacksmith
669 Peters Ford Road
Sunbright, Tennessee
423-628-6444
[EMAIL=waynecoe@highland.net]waynecoe@highland.net[/EMAIL]
http://www.waynecoeartistblacksmith.com
6:40 pm
May 11, 2010
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Wayne Coe;16656 wrote: Since we are talking about the ability of our government remember:
The IRS levied on the Mustang Ranch in Navada. Until they could get a buyer the IRS decided that they would run the "Ranch".
In two years they had to file bankruptcy. They couldn't even run a whore house that sells liquor effectively! And they want to run our health care system?
would you prefer having insurance companies whose profits are made by denying you care (sorry you are over the limit. did you forget to read the small print?) run the "healthcare system"?
in spite of all the jokes the government does a pretty good job of delivering the mail*, building roads and bridges, providing for our defense, subsidies for farmers so that we have an uninterrupted food supply, social security so that old people don't have to eat dog food etc etc etc.
* the postal service was completely self supporting until recently when they were required to pay forward for the retirement costs of mail carriers that haven't been born yet.
3:28 am
NWBA Member
June 8, 2010
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Neil Gustafson;16655 wrote: Another fine day above the dirt and not afraid to get dirty!!:)
Love that quote, Neil !!!!
3:32 am
NWBA Member
June 8, 2010
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Steve H;16647 wrote: Glad to say I've been full-time now for little over a year.
Steve, please tell how you came to be a full-time blacksmith!!??? I have been striving for that!!!
6:34 pm
NWBA Member
April 22, 2010
Offline
Lynn, its simple. Just walk to the edge of the cliff. Then, keep walking.
But it really helps to be in an urban area. Basically, if you want to make a living making things, you need a market, that is, buyers.
Only two ways to do this-
A- live in a big urban area, where there is constant construction and manufacturing. I have done this, and if there are enough architects, decorators, stores and restaurants being remodelled, things breaking, shelves needing brackets and dogs needing fenced in, this can work.
It doesnt work well in a county of, say, 7000, like Wallowa county in eastern Oregon, where there are few people, and even fewer of em with disposable income. It also helps to be flexible. You take in a variety of jobs, and seldom say no.
B-Sell wholesale and retail all over the USA. Done this too. It requires developing a product line that you can repeat, that is different from anybody else's product line. Cant just make S hooks or railroad spike knives, it has to be constantly updating, new, interesting stuff. If its home decor stuff, you have to study that market. If its knives, ditto. Then, you need publicity, nationally, you need to attend national wholesale shows to find accounts, or be in magazines, win awards, enter competitions. You need to get your stuff in front of customers- if its wholesale, that means stores. If its retail, which is harder, that means in magazines, on websites, on TV, in newspapers. That means, again, being different. Same old same old aint no story.
Historically, the two largest blacksmith shops in recent times are both in rural areas- but they do extensive outreach and marketing- and they are businesses, first and foremost, not flaky artists like me.
http://www.hubbardtonforge.com/Index.cfm
http://www.stonecountyironworks.com/
I know a few other blacksmiths who sell national, but live rural- Jack Brubaker is a good example- he does well with his tulip candleholders-
http://www.bloomingtononline.n.....candl.html
but he works it, and has for 30 years. he used to do a half dozen shows a year, travelling all over, cultivating wholesale accounts, selling retail, and then, of course, changing and improving the work.
if it was easy, everybody would be doing it.
7:58 pm
NWBA Member
June 8, 2010
Offline
Thanks Ries! I'm still learning blacksmithing and marketing... Guess I'll just keep walking...:running:
6:10 am
NWBA Member
November 8, 2010
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Hey lynn, I'm living the dream alright. If I had planned it, it never woulda happened. My wife battled an illness last year and it coincided with a whole lotta absence from my employer. When I finally woke up and realized I'd made the switch, it was almost a non issue. I've not been killing it in the salary dept. but it is giving me time to do R&D and marketing. I spend probably close to 2 hours each morning on the phone or email cultivating work. I'm big on innovation too. There's alot of competition out there so what little tweak can I do to something to make it my own. I call it developing your vocabulary. Sure, we all speak metal but what do you say with it?
They only remember you when you SCREW UP~!!!
7:24 am
NWBA Member
August 7, 2010
Offline
Good Day, Eh, Steve
Sometimes the unexpected works out. Money isn't the key to happiness, but, it is important to watch the in and outflow. Try not to undercut your competition, if you go too low, nobody survives. Realistic value for real work. If you think it will take 2 hours, count on 3 or so. After you have done it a couple hundred times, you will realize how much time is used up on the phone, on the toilet, talking to whomever walked in, etc. It all has to be accounted for.
When I talk to my Accountant, she says the clock starts when you pick up the phone the first time and continues until all the paperwork is complete. It is difficult to sometimes follow that, but you have to try.
I have worked for myself for over 37 years, there is no simple!! When Ries says keep walking, KEEP WALKING, if you stop walking you will fail!! If you are too hesitant about what you are doing, you are loosing confidence. Maintain confidence in yourself, DON'T be afraid of experimenting just outside of your comfort zone. If you don't learn another way, you aren't learning.
Remember, Grant didn't answer all our questions. He would tease us into trying and learning. If something doesn't work out, That is NOT a Failure!! It just means that you have to try something a little different!!
Neil
As long as we are above our shoes, We know where we are.:happy:
5:25 pm
May 13, 2010
Offline
One of my favorite Grant quotes was "You are either making money or you are learning"
1:05 am
January 18, 2011
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Wayne Coe;16656 wrote: Since we are talking about the ability of our government remember:
The IRS levied on the Mustang Ranch in Navada. Until they could get a buyer the IRS decided that they would run the "Ranch".
In two years they had to file bankruptcy. They couldn't even run a whore house that sells liquor effectively! And they want to run our health care system?
Smells like POLITICS to me Wayne.....:poop:
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind."
— Dr. Seuss
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