Full Version: Temporary walls
From: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#16]
25 Jan 2007
To: Ed (EBERTRAND) [#15] 25 Jan 2007
Thanks for the encouragement, Ed.
We've been running "numbers" for the last 3 years now, as well as looking at non-economic factors. Moving is not really an option....it's a moral imperative (I'm not going to expound here, so just take my word for it).
While there are 3 other shops in town, one of them is about to close very very soon. This guy is leasing his building, so it's of no real use to us.
In terms of location....this is quite possibly the BEST location in town. I can't help but believe that God is leading us here. There's only one piece of the equation left to "solve", and we're in.
The property owner has agreed to let us pay 1/2 rent for the first two months, AND $200 per month under his asking price for the rest of this year. As long as the interior doesn't cost us a fortune, we're virtually sure to make this move.
To answer your sandcarving question: No. That equipment is now in my garage, and will stay there. We use it so infrequently that it would simply waste valuable space at the shop.
Employees: I hired a lady today to work part-time. She works for my parents' florist (where our shop is now) two days per week, and knows my product lines almost as well as I do. She's awesome with customers, and knows EVERYONE in town. She'll be great at this... B-)
With regard to being the least expensive in town...we're definitely not. When most of our locals need a simple plaque, and just any ol' plaque will do, they go to one of my competitors. However, when they need a higher-end look (see the "Fun Challenge" thread), they come to us.
We do some of the more traditional plaques for some of our customers, but they are willing to pay a slightly higher price for them. These folks know that they are getting an award that's as flawless as humanly possible, and they know that it will be done on time. We try to hold ourselves to a standard of quality and integrity that our competition simply can't match.
This sounds like a boast, but it honestly isn't meant that way. We simply know that we're the absolute best at what we do. It all stems from having quality equipment, quality training (still in process), and quality suppliers. Throw a healthy dose of personal integrity and hard work into the mix, and you have a winning combination.
I'll dismount my high-horse now. :-)
Cody
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#17]
25 Jan 2007
To: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#16] 26 Jan 2007
Stay on it. From your post you have earned that position.
From: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#18]
26 Jan 2007
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#2] 26 Jan 2007
Dave,
After discussing the matter with my new (hopefully) landlord and contractor, we will attach everything to the existing walls and slab.....nothing "temporary".
I'll have my contractor put a hole in the back wall for the laser exhaust. You don't get much more permanent than a 4" hole through sheetrock, steel, and brick.
This is one of those projects that makes taking pictures very necessary. We'll try to journal the progress.
Cody
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#19]
26 Jan 2007
To: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#18] 26 Jan 2007
Cody,
If you do decide on constructed walls, incorporate wing walls to add more display area to your shop. It also helps to break up the tunnel effect that many strip stalls present.
From: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#20]
26 Jan 2007
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#19] 27 Jan 2007
What a great idea!! That would be so perfect for this!!
What's a "wing wall"? :-$
From: UncleSteve [#21]
26 Jan 2007
To: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#20] 27 Jan 2007
Actually it is a wall that protrudes out from the flat side wall. It can be perpendicular or at another angle to the side walls and can form a cubby or angular display areas. Many rug dealers use a pseudo wing wall by hanging rugs on pivoting walls that swing away to show the next rug.
http://www.kc-store-fixtures.com/slatwall_wing_walls.htm
http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/hi_family_room/article/0,2037,DIY_13912_3659371,00.html
Hope this helps a bit.....
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#22]
27 Jan 2007
To: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#20] 27 Jan 2007
EDITED: 7 Jun 2010 by DATAKES
From: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#23]
27 Jan 2007
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#22] 27 Jan 2007
That really is fantastic thinking!
We had already planned one wing wall, but didn't know what it was actually called. We are kicking around the idea of lattice for the wall, but I don't think it's "dressy" enough for the area. It's very likely to be some sort of movable wall rather than part of the structure.
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#24]
27 Jan 2007
To: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#23] 27 Jan 2007
Cody,
One thing to remember is that walls with slatwall or gridwall and shelving are much cheaper and versitile than display cabinets. The one big limitation is that they are stationary.
EDITED: 27 Jan 2007 by DATAKES
From: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#25]
10 Feb 2007
To: ALL
I finally got around to taking some pics today. Follow the link below to see our "shop update" page on our website.
http://eternitycreations.com/newlocation.htm
We'll sign the lease on Monday. You'll notice on my website that my exhaust system is already installed...my contractor jumped the gun a little. Oh, well.
I went to ACME Display at the World Trade Center in Dallas Friday to look at store fixtures, and I think I found everything we need. I still need to run all of my fixture choices by my wife (she has much better taste than I do).
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#26]
10 Feb 2007
To: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#25] 11 Feb 2007
Very exciting!
Well, it's OK, if you like nice-looking buildings with plenty of customer parking and a lot of natural light.
And I do. :-)
Oh, and that picture of you trying to look busy?
I don't think it's working. :B
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#27]
11 Feb 2007
To: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#25] 11 Feb 2007
One quick trick if you are installing hanging fixtures.
Lay out the hole positions on the floor with an X of masking tape, then when on the ladder you can use a plumb bob and get the holes in the right place easily. Learned that from a marvelous engineer at Lang Electronics when we built a new lab. Gus Taubert was just brilliant.
From: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#28]
11 Feb 2007
To: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#27] 11 Feb 2007
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#29]
11 Feb 2007
To: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#25] 11 Feb 2007
Cody,
It looks like things are moving right along. It looks like your new location is only a couple blocks from your old one, although it is on a main one-way feeder street from your downtown area to Interstate 30. That should be good for you, especially with Sulphur Springs being the county seat. Do you know what your traffic count is on that road on weekdays? Does your new loaction have an area for road signage?
One more question. Do you get to be a judge for the Hopkins County Homemade Ice Cream Freeze-Off? Do you also do the awards fot that event?
From: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#30]
11 Feb 2007
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#29] 11 Feb 2007
Dave,
I'll take this point-by-point...
1) I have no clue how many cars pass by this location every day. We are about 100 yards from a busy set of railroad tracks. Several times per day, traffic is stopped directly in front of our shop for several minutes....giving us some good exposure.
2) Signage - not great. The awning is going to be our only sign for now, and it faces the street. EVENTUALLY, the property owner wants to put signs at the streets (facing traffic) in front and behind us.
3) Unfortunately, my biggest competitor still gets to do the Fall Festival awards....including the ice cream stuff. The Fall Festival board is happy with his stuff, so they're not likely to change. Small potatoes, my friend.
From: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#31]
16 Feb 2007
To: ALL
Our new shop is taking shape!!
My contractor has all the studs up, and will be hanging sheetrock today. All my cabinets are here, so we should be able to have them set by the end of the day, too.
We had a "little" miscue between the electrician and the folks that installed our exhaust system. The exhaust motor was actually supposed to be wired to 220 VAC, and was to be controlled by a 110 VAC relay. The relay is to be activated by a switch mounted on the wall where the laser will be.
Well, the electrician didn't understand that (not properly communicated), so he wired the motor directly through the wall switch to 110 VAC. Not good. When I noticed it yesterday, I called both guys to come fix their parts of it. I think we're all on the same page now (hopefully). <insert very nervous, sweaty-forehead laugh here>
Our "new location" page is updated with the new pics.
http://eternitycreations.com/newlocation.htm
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#32]
16 Feb 2007
To: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#31] 17 Feb 2007
Very impressive!
Thanks for taking us on the ongoing tour.
From: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#33]
25 Feb 2007
To: ALL
While we were in Vegas this last week, our contractors were busy working on our new shop.
I've updated my website with some pics that I took today.
http://eternitycreations.com/newlocation.htm
This next week will probably mark more progress than previous weeks, since we'll be painting and putting down the flooring.
NEXT WEEK IS THE MOVE!!
EDITED: 25 Feb 2007 by BOBTNAILER
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#34]
25 Feb 2007
To: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#33] 25 Feb 2007
Cody,
Things are moving along smoothly. It's great to be able to share the experience through the picture updates.
By the way, "Wall of Plaques" in French is "Mur de Plaques". :-)
Eternity Creations is Créations d'Éternité.
Reflective Scalp is Cuir chevelu Pensif. Oops, got a little carried away with that one. >.<
If I lived a little closer I would have really loved to help you with the move. It's a big task. The more hands on deck the better.
EDITED: 25 Feb 2007 by DATAKES
From: Cindy (CINDYM) [#35]
27 Feb 2007
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#34] 27 Feb 2007
Cody - the new place is looking great!
Having moved recently myself, may I share some tips? The ONLY good thing about moving by yourself is that you pretty much do know exactly where everything is after you unload. However, make sure every, and I mean EVERY box is marked with one of those broad markers - ON THE SIDE, not just the top of the box.
Mark boxes while in your old location to what area (room) in the new location they will reside. Again, not to stress this, mark on the side of the box, not just the top. This really helps you take a box and quickly move it to the correct location in your new shop. If you have helpers, it will help them too.
When you move to your new place you will probably have a bunch of things that fall under the catagory of questionable junk. Inventory that is older, equipment that you don't use often etc. Put any boxes of that type of thing in one area so you can go back later and unpack and toss. Once you are in your new place, you'll find the old stuff looks shabby and you don't want to display, sell or use many of the things that looked just fine in your old place.
It took many truck trips to move all the acrylic & glass pieces from my old showroom to my new place. I used a bookcase & towels to wrap & pack and moved them myself - hand carrying them to and from the truck. (actually, since I moved midweek and everyone I know had to work, all items except what the movers took I "hand" carried - talk about a great weight loss program!).
Your excitement and adrenaline will carry you through the move. Good luck and hope all goes well. Realize there will be glitches - it is inevitable. Roll with the punches - it's all worth it in the end.
Congrats on your new place,
Cindy M
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