Ipad2 slide show marketing

The secret to our marketing campaign finally arrived, the Ipad2 slide show marketing.  Actually, I have been using the High Point show as an excuse to purchase one more Apple toy.  I would like to use it in the booth in High Point to allow customers to run some self directed slide shows, directly on the Ipad.  As before, we'll have a general slide show running on a large flat screen monitor, but this one might only show the new "seating" line, or ??.

Yesterday I completed the graphics on the 10 page press kit as well as our handouts for the show.  Also designed and ordered a few handouts for the Shaw booth, with directions to our space down in InterHall.

Today my primary focus(es) are the slide shows, the signs that'll be applied to the acrylic (that'll be applied to the four big slabs).  Each will tell one piece of the story;  No clear cutting, no importing, no veneer, no stain.

Still haven't quite completed all the last minute samples that we keep tweaking.  But we're making great headway.

Tomorrow we've got some deadline's for press, and hopefully we'll have all of our samples completed.  All is actually looking good at this point.  Might even have an example on the site this afternoon of my progress on the Ipad2 slide show marketing campaign.

converting to water based finish

 

We've been planning to convert our operation over to water based finish for a year or so.  We've visited the leading American manufacturer of water based finishes, ValSpar for traininig.  And they've been down to make sure it "took".  And, between jobs, my buddy David McAffee has been in and out of the shop fabricating and installing all the metalwork.  Looks like he's back on the project and should have it complete very soon.  20x20 filters go in each cubicle.   And the big vent hood on the floor (left pic) should be installed above these filters next week.  You should be hearing more about this big environmental step, once the project is complete, and we really have something to brag about.

Converting to water based finish.

acrylic display fabrication

 

Although aesthetically, I'd like to design some furniture with extra thick clear acrylic legs, etc, we've chosen not to - for the environment's sake.  But I did make a bit of an exception last week in that I ordered a 4x8' sheet of acrylic to help tell our story.  In the booth with be two slabs on each of the left and right opposing walls.  Each will have aluminum stand off hardware in the corners to attach these four pieces of clear acrylic to.  Then, we'll attach the vinyl lettering that tells the story;  No clear cutting, no importing, no veneer, no stain.

The easiest way to clean the edges of this acrylic seemed to be to give the edges of little "flame" treatment.  Worked like a charm.  The pic on the right is the 4x8' of acrylic in our panel saw.  Although I like the "look" of acrylic, I'm going straight back to the most environmentally sensitive product to make furniture from - American Hardwood.

Acrylic display fabrication

modern solid walnut love seat

 

Modern solid walnut love seat.  If all goes well, this will be our last sample to make for the upcoming Spring Market.  It's looking pretty good, but maybe because it's Sunday, but every time I look at it, I'm thinking church pew!.  Just like most of our furniture, this one's really simple.  Unusual in that their are no natural edges.  And except for the 10 big timberframe screws that are holding it together, there are only four pieces.  This one's only 48" long.  Can't wait to get it finished, and placed in our mock-booth to see how it looks!

print media and mountain laurel

Seven days till we depart for High Point's Spring market, and I haven't completed the art for the press kits or handouts.  Yikes!  Been pretty much dug in all weekend with one objective; to complete this project.  Well, the weather's been awesome and I keep sneaking out.  Spent the morning at the lake.  Today's the first day of spring, and it feel's like mid summer.  Hallelujah!  But, it's 2:41 pm, and it doesn't look like anyone's going to offer a miracle today. 

I'll catch up on a couple of blog posts and try to "get my mind right".  I love using all these wonderfully creative computer tools (photoshop, iphoto, digital cameras, Illustrator, etc, etc) to create marketing pieces, but with the turn in the weather (and a very cold winter, I feel like I've been sent to my room till I complete my homework!  Oh, here's a pic of what is probably my favorite flowering plant, the mountain laurel.  It seems to thrive on our northern banks overlooking cypress creek.  I'll try to remember to take and post a pic of the flowering part that should take place before long.

Does the "slow studio" need to slow down?

I vote yes.  Preparing our babies for market is always interesting.  The last few weeks before a show, I always get a little nervous.  We all start running around, somewhere near a frantic state, thinking nothing's good enough.  And this show, unfortunately, is no exception.  We've got 6 working days left before we pack the trailer for High Point, and I'm nowhere near ready.  I haven't ordered the handouts (or even designed them yet), some samples are still in process (just getting started on a small walnut couch this morning).  Half of of the display pieces haven't been finished(as in hand rubbed oil finish), and the remainder of the pieces (that are finished) probably need one more scuff of steel wool and a final coat of oil.

Will I ever become more confident, and be happy with our product, and be calm (and slow) before a show?  My guess is no.  But they say awareness is the first step toward something.  So maybe I am getting there.  Pictured are two samples from a new line that we'll be showcasing at Market.  We just need to sand these down a bit, and apply a few coats of oil before they will be ready.  I'd stay and chat, but I've gotta get back to running around in circles for a while.

cherry chaise made from scraps

Cherry Chaise.  Just out of the finishing room is a solid cherry chaise made from scraps.  It was designed so that a cushion can be added should the customer require one.

gnarley maple console table

          

I set up the lighting and backdrop to take some more pics of our newest stream of furniture:; seat, and this beautiful gnarley maple console kept getting in my way.  I think it wanted in the picture.  So here you go.  It's available, but unfortunately we won't have room in the High Point booth for it.  If you want more pics, dimensions and details, let me know.  Gnarley maple console table.

buy a song, benefit the environment

Ok, I'm a Patagonia fan.  I don't climb mountains, or do million mile walk-a-bouts, but that hasn't kept me from enjoying this very cool, environmentally sensitive company's clothes for decades.  And, they just gave me another reason to LOVE.  This new benefit, "buy a song, benefit the environment" is perfect.  I will be "benefiting the environment" today, if in no other way than with a song. 

Gospel, Grits and Greens

Love the new marketing campaign that the Alabama Mountain Lakes association kicked of yesterday at the beautiful Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail/the Shoals club house yesterday.  Gospel, Grits and Greens.  Linda and I just happened to show up with our dear friend Sucy Canon and her mom.  Sucy is visiting from the Baton Rouge and wanted to seem the 14' long solid  conference table that's been on display at the clubhouse for several months.  Can't wait to see just how the group celebrates Alabama's Gospel, Grits, and Greens throughout the year! 

Timberframe, american made screws

This is a pic of the underside of a walnut console table we were working on Friday.  We mortise out a little 1" deep  area for the leg to set in.  And use these oversized, massive timberframe screws to attach our heavy legs to the top.  They, just like our logs and our furniture, are made right here in the USA.

Modern sofa in solid oak slabs

Modern sofa in solid oak slabs.  Our first sofa is made from only four solid oak slabs.  The back slab has the remains of the natural edge of this big, local oak tree.  Next week, I'll get the dimensions of these new tables and add to the appropriate photo galleries on the website.

rotten oak dining table

This amazing dining table has to be the roughest one yet.  This slab must have had an unusually tough time either while in the log, or during the drying process as a slab of lumber.  The color is amazing.  Worm holes throughout.  Clearly the rotting process started many years ago.  But after air drying for a couple of years, then a month or so in the kiln, nature's artistic skills in the areas of rot, decay, and worm holes can be seen in our gallery.  Just let us know if you'd like to make an appointment.

Brand new - modern walnut chaise chair

Here's v.02 of this funky chaise chair.  Our modern walnut chaise chair.  It's  a couple of inches taller (still very low) and the back is a couple inches taller than v.01 (the one in cherry). 

brand new - modern cherry chaise chair

We've been thinking  a lot about seating this year, and it has nothing to do with my 54th birthday coming up this summer.

This funky solid cherry low slung, kindof a chaise, sort of a chair just arrived out of the finishing room today, and straight into a photo shoot.  If it looks low it is.  And if it looks like it's made from some of our saved cherry scraps from other tables, it is.

finishing friday

It's friday, and we are finishing our week's work with our hand rubbed tung oil/linseed oil blend.  In addition to a walnut bench, maple bench, and a beautiful walnut console, we have a couple of really unique items, at least for us.  A modern walnut slab dining chair, made very much like the walnut slab low chair that came out of the finishing room a couple of weeks ago.  Also Linda's new favorite, and a piece that you'll be seeing in our High Point Spring Market in a few weeks, a 30" x 36" dining table (for two) pictured left.

IHFC Preview Publications

Yesterday we received the three IHFC Preview Publications for Spring Market.  We will have a big presence in the Resource Guide (that isn't available until the first day of the show), but we didn't purchase any advertising in these "Preiew" guides.  But that doesn't mean we aren't quite visble here.  In total our new products are featured nine times in these three guides.  The above right pic features our St Luke MB table thats over 4'x8'.

making two natural walnut timber tables

With less than a month before the High Point Spring Market, we are scampering around doing almost nothing that doesn't involve the show.  This will be our first showing in what I believe to be the best wholesale furniture location in the world, IHFC InterHall, and we are hoping to make a splash.  The space is a little on the little side, and it feels important to get it right. 

After marking off the booth space in our studio, it's apparent that most of our FULL sized furniture just won't fit.  So we are making a few smaller than normal pieces for the show.  Here we are using our panel saw to cut a matching pair of natural walnut timber tables.  Although I haven't measured the thickness yet, these little ones must be in the 6" thick range.  They should be finished and ready for pics by the end of next week.

thank you steve jobs

It was great seeing the great Steve Jobs last night (on the news).  Back doing what he seems to do best - showing off/selling his latest creation (or recreation).  Looking so frail, it has to make you wonder if this might be his last presentation, and just how Apple will transition without it's creator.

I've been a Steve Job's fan since purchasing his first Mac in '84 - gosh has it been 27 hears!  Steve's combination of out of this world creativity, business acumen, attention to detail, and acceptance for nothing (or very little) short of excellence is impressive.  Thank you Steve for the wonderful products, but even more for being an amazing role model.

I hadn't been interested in the Ipad previously, but after seeing his presentation, it seems like the perfect way to display our creativity at the next trade show (if it's available in time).

Art is in the Soul of the artist

I receive Seth Godin's blog on my phone.  And I seem to only take a look at it while I'm waiting for something.  Waiting in the doctor's office, waiting on Linda  somewhere, or  . . .  Over the weekend, I waited in the car for just a few minutes for her to pick up some produce at Aldi, and caught up on a few of Seth's posts.  I've often wondered about "art", and he shared a wonderful description. Art is in the Soul of the artist.  Makes sense to me.  And I really like that the description leaves the "artist" part wide open.  Since I think I've always felt that the artist is nature.  And the art that I seem to be most impressed with comes from nature's soul.  Here's Seth's blog post: 

Art is what we call...

the thing an artist does.

It's not the medium or the oil or the price or whether it hangs on a wall or you eat it. What matters, what makes it art, is that the person who made it overcame the resistance, ignored the voice of doubt and made something worth making. Something risky. Something human.

Art is not in the eye of the beholder. It's in the soul of the artist.

From SethGodin/blog