We all work with wood in some shape or form (or are reading the group for
some other reason). I assume that many of us look for machinery from time
to time as proven by the many posts about what (insert generic object title
here) to buy.

When looking for specific info, some people ask here... Some people look in
trade publications... Some people visit the net / MSC / McMaster /
ThomasRegister / Amazon / HF / Grizzly, etc. eBay is sometimes a viable
search area too since many of us look for used or low cost equipment either
for kicks or sometimes just for spare parts, etc.

For our company, I hit the trade publications and web sites as often as we
can afford to. We also work very hard to have a high page rank and many
"doors" to our business via web site(s). We are on Thomas's web "thing" as
well as a few others. Am I missing some other avenue to advertise
woodworking - or in my specialized case, production drilling machinery?

Would love to be able to grow the business... But want to make sure I'm not
missing some great opportunity to advertise somewhere just because I don't
know about it. Rather than doubling my efforts in the areas we already know
are working, I'm seeking for new ideas on where to put my time and effort...

So, I ask the question... Where do YOU look when you need equipment?

I posted this separately on a metalworking group too because we do get leads
from that industry more often. However, you never know where the next great
idea or piece of information is going to come from.

Regards,
Joe

(Sigfile removed to make sure nobody mistakes this for spam)

Mostly WORD OF MOUTH. I tend to buy stuff at Woodcraft (or HD) because if
something happens, I can walk right in and exchange it (or refund on the
spot).

I go to Amazon because they have just about everything. Example,
recently, I was looking for 3-piece Freud router bit set, no one has them
in my town (one place just outside of town stock Freud, but not the set I
was looking for). Top of everything, Amazon.com seems to beat anyone's
price (along with NO tax and NO shipping charge).

I go to ebay very little (I have only about 15 feedbacks, so I traded
about 15 times since).

Most of all, I enjoy going to WW'ing show (Milwaukee, WI). But I am still
careful in there ("Show" doesn't mean cheaper). I go when they first open
(get there 45 minutes earlier, wait in line), because later that day and
the weekend, it's packed with humanoids.

Off topic example, but idea... I buy just about all my computer parts
from NewEgg.com. I learn of that website from WORD OF MOUTH (online chat,
forums, etc).

Chuck

On Fri, 20 May 2005 14:45:25 GMT, "Joe AutoDrill" wrote:

We all work with wood in some shape or form (or are reading the group for
some other reason). I assume that many of us look for machinery from time
to time as proven by the many posts about what (insert generic object title
here) to buy.

When looking for specific info, some people ask here... Some people look in
trade publications... Some people visit the net / MSC / McMaster /
ThomasRegister / Amazon / HF / Grizzly, etc. eBay is sometimes a viable
search area too since many of us look for used or low cost equipment either
for kicks or sometimes just for spare parts, etc.

For our company, I hit the trade publications and web sites as often as we
can afford to. We also work very hard to have a high page rank and many
"doors" to our business via web site(s). We are on Thomas's web "thing" as
well as a few others. Am I missing some other avenue to advertise
woodworking - or in my specialized case, production drilling machinery?

Would love to be able to grow the business... But want to make sure I'm not
missing some great opportunity to advertise somewhere just because I don't
know about it. Rather than doubling my efforts in the areas we already know
are working, I'm seeking for new ideas on where to put my time and effort...

So, I ask the question... Where do YOU look when you need equipment?

I posted this separately on a metalworking group too because we do get leads
from that industry more often. However, you never know where the next great
idea or piece of information is going to come from.

Regards,
Joe

(Sigfile removed to make sure nobody mistakes this for spam)


Joe.. I usually ask here, or in rec.crafts.woodturning..
folks in these groups have "been there and done that" and have some pretty good
insight into equipment..
Usually, the next step would be web research, at the company/manufacturer web
site or at links the group supplies..


mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

In article 9Kmje.10277$_f7.8236@trndny01,
"Joe AutoDrill" wrote:

[snipped for brevity]

You must have an idea who your customers are and in what type of
businesses they are. Focus on trade magazines and forums that cater to
THEIR types. If your drills are used in, for example, the circuit board
business, then I'd go after the other suppliers they use, like the wave
soldering machine makers, the tin distributors, the fibre-glass
merchants..IOW, those who also cater to your customers but aren't your
competitors.

I find out from a hinge supplier who buys a lot of hinges. That would
mean he's building a lot of cabinets. They need counter tops.

One of my leads in this town is a guy I know with a back-hoe.
Somebody needs a hole for a house needs a kitchen.....

You must have an idea who your customers are and in what type of
businesses they are. Focus on trade magazines and forums that cater to
THEIR types. If your drills are used in, for example, the circuit board
business, then I'd go after the other suppliers they use, like the wave
soldering machine makers, the tin distributors, the fibre-glass
merchants..IOW, those who also cater to your customers but aren't your
competitors.

I find out from a hinge supplier who buys a lot of hinges. That would
mean he's building a lot of cabinets. They need counter tops.

One of my leads in this town is a guy I know with a back-hoe.
Somebody needs a hole for a house needs a kitchen.....

You make a very good point... Thank you. I'll digest this some more over
the weekend for sure.

Regards,
Joe

....sigless for this thread

In article 9Kmje.10277$_f7.8236@trndny01,
"Joe AutoDrill" wrote:

When looking for specific info, some people ask here... Some people look in
trade publications... Some people visit the net / MSC / McMaster /
ThomasRegister / Amazon / HF / Grizzly, etc. eBay is sometimes a viable
search area too since many of us look for used or low cost equipment either
for kicks or sometimes just for spare parts, etc.

When looking for an air cleaner a few months back I:

1) read the manufacturer details and description.

2) searched this and r.c.woodturning newsgroups for opinions -
especially negative ones.

3) read the opinion feedback on Amazon.

4) considering each of the above, made a gut decision to what I was
really looking for in features, quality and price.
--
Owen Lowe
The Fly-by-Night Copper Company
__________

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
Corporate States of America and to the
Republicans for which it stands, one nation,
under debt, easily divisible, with liberty
and justice for oil."
- Wiley Miller, Non Sequitur, 1/24/05

"Joe AutoDrill" wrote in message
news:9Kmje.10277$_f7.8236@trndny01...
We are on Thomas's web "thing" as
well as a few others. Am I missing some other avenue to advertise
woodworking - or in my specialized case, production drilling machinery?

Would love to be able to grow the business... But want to make sure I'm
not missing some great opportunity to advertise somewhere just because I
don't know about it.

As a hobbyist, I look for the normal magazines, I get catalogs from
Woodcraft, Rockler, Tool Crib. It I was running a production shop, I'd
probably look at other sources for industrial oriented equipment. Thee must
be some trade journals geared towards the pro cabinet shop. I recall seeing
one in a newspaper format in Woodcraft one day. I had no particular
interest (and don't recall the name) because it was geared to the pro shop.

I'd drop in at one of these shops and see what magazines are in the waiting
room and maybe ask the owner/buyer what he looks at.
Ed

I'd drop in at one of these shops and see what magazines are in the
waiting room and maybe ask the owner/buyer what he looks at.

That is somewhat along the lines of what I'm trying to do "virtually" with
this thread. We don't have too many large production-type shops here in
NJ - or the NE for that matter... There are a few, but nothing like the
midwest, Canada around Chicago, etc.

Regards,
Joe

....sigless... oh forget it. You know already.