Industry Interviews: What is it Like in Your Business?
Autobody Repair Shop: Costs keep going up and up. We haven't been seeing an equivalent rise in what we can charge...rates are now set by the insurance companies.
Ceramic Artist: Like most professional artists I hope to break even. That includes the small studio I rent and sleep in and my half workshop here in this industrial park. To make your living as an artist stinks and I would not want to wish it on my worst enemy. It is the price I pay for not doing the corporate thing. I know. I would still make the same decision.
Computer Repair and Networking: We have a hard time recruiting good people. Good people for us have a wide array of computer expertise; what we mostly get are applicants that have deep experience in one area. We have fewer and fewer single user residential customers. We do mostly commercial systems and with those you can't sit down and spend hours trying to figure out what's wrong. You have to have a sense of where to look quickly or the customer gets upset.
Antiques Dealer: We are trying to get out of the business. We are selling off our inventory little by little. In the last five years the industry has gone way down. Maybe it's everybody trying to do it...maybe it's the TV show Antiques Roadshow. We did it for 15 years and did OK but not great...at least by selling off our inventory little by little we can make more. It just takes time and it may take us several years.
Coffee and Hot Dog Shop: With the college students back things should pick up. I broke even the first year and consider that a success. Wouldn't you say so? But my secret is my dear wife is supporting us while I pursue my dream here in the coffee shop. I'm a biologist by trade but never got used to sitting behind a desk.
Custom Guitar Maker: Business is good I'm booked way up. I sell upper end and there seems to be an unlimited demand for the very best. When I go, my skill will go with it. I haven't found anyone serious enough to apprentice. I've gotten very high tech and very old artisan and that's my niche. Seems to work for me.
Custom T-Shirt Manufacturer: Business is steady though it slows some in the winter. I intend to expand my lines and sell more on the Internet. I think the Internet is the way things are going more and more. I can get more of that retail share for each unit I sell direct. My secret is ecological and children. That's it. No more. Stay tuned and watch us grow.
Custom Car Restorer: There's still good money if you build the reputation. I'll often sub out to a custom outfit and do work for them. They pay top dollar and don't pressure me so I can pace myself. I'll usually do most of the work in several weeks. Then it's just touching up. You have to love the work though. It's not for everybody and even if you're good you most likely won't get rich.
Truck Rental Company: We try to go up against the big guys and it's not easy. They've got all that name recognition going for them and all the corporate cost breaks. As an independent I pay top price for anything I need. We need the same things but they can buy them cheaper. I have to charge less as well. So my margin is thinner and they are happy if I don't grow and compete.
Used and New Goods Reseller: The locker auction business tanked because so many wise guys were buying lockers and getting rich on E-Bay. Right. So the price is high and the goods mostly junk. I end up hauling a bunch of junk if I buy it. I've got plenty of stuff now...so does everybody I know. So we stopped buying from each other. With my better pieces I'll hit some of the local antique shows. It's hard to get top dollar for anything anymore so I'll get what I can.
Web-site Designer (Mid-Level). We started out doing mom and pop sites but in the past few years we have gotten into corporate designs and e-commerce sites. We bring the design and function to the table and the client brings their business marketing ideas. Together we come up with an optimal design; we usually give them several good choices. Almost always the client loves our designs but we get a few that insist on an 'ugly' alternative.
