I have some business related questions, opinions and comments wanted!

New member here obviously... but long time hot rodder, even though I'm only 33! I've been going to rod runs and hot rod shows with my dad since I could barely walk. I've also been in the hot rod upholstery business for 12-13 years. Which is where I am looking for your opinions and comments...

Like I said, I have been doing custom interiors and upholstery work for over 12 years now. Through no decision of my own, the business has been cornered in the high end street rod market. Which to tell you the truth, I do not like AT ALL. My personal love has always been towards the traditional cars (and british motorcycles). In the beginning, I was doing a lot of roll n pleat jobs, which I enjoyed. Over the years I got more requests for higher end stuff. Which was fine, gotta pay the bills. But I did a couple higher end modern street rod jobs here and there, a few roll n pleat interior jobs in between, then some high end stuff.....before I knew it that's what I kinda became known for, the high end street rod stuff. The home built hot rodders and traditional guys probably thought I got too damn expensive. Which was no choice of my own at all, it kind of all snow balled on me.

I can appreciate anyone working on and customizing any type of vehicle, someone's need to tinker with a car and make it go faster is what got me here in the first place (which was my dad and his Model A in 1959). But like I said, my personal tastes are for the traditional stuff. So I'm not trying to insult my customers by saying I don't like their cars, I appreciate the work that goes into them, but I can just say that they aren't for me and I'm sick of working on them, haha.

So..... My main point here is that I kind of want the business to turn around, away from the high end stuff and back to the basics. Do you think I'm dumb for trying to do that? I'm certain I will piss some people off if I have to tell them "I don't do that kind of work anymore." But you can't please them all. I feel like I'm sort of in a weird situation here... Like I will be ditching my current market, and entering a new market, which I'm probably not known in, with the thought that "he's a high end street rod guy just trying to drum up more business..."

Does this make any sense? Haha, I just sorta feel like I am between a rock and a hard place. Working on cars is great, but I'm working on cars I don't really like, so it gets hard to get excited and energetic about a project you are working on, but don't really like. Make sense? Do you think it will be hard to break into the "traditional" market if I'm known for the high end stuff? My "portfolio" from the past 8 years or so is almost all high end stuff, so its hard to sell yourself as anything else. Opinions and comments greatly appreciated!

 

If you go to the traditional rod runs and the "Cruise nights" you could showcase your love for the traditional rods. I think the key is to REALLY communicate with the clients that you want to be associated with. You might make some of your older client base mad for changing direction but you are always going to upset some subset of a group.

I always tell my kids that you should work in the field that you want so you dont dread going to work every day.

Do NOT feel trapped in your field and enjoy your job. If you need to change your direction to feel as though you havent sold yourself out then make the change.

Good Luck, Tim the Toolman

 

One of the hard facts about any business is that you have to go where the money is. That usually means doing a lot of what you'd rather not be doing just to be able to do some of what you love to do. However, maybe there is a way to advertise more intensely to the traditional crowd if there are a lot of traditional hot rodders in your area. In my area, tastes tend to run more to the side of modern street rodders than the old school stuff, so upholsterers would have to cater to both in order to make ends meet.

I will also agree with Tim above. If you are getting to the point of not liking what you're doing, then you must do something to change that. You need to find the right compromise.

My 2 cents worth. The very best to you and your business whatever you decide to do. I admire a good upholsterer.

 

That's a good way to put it, thanks. As always, I've been hitting the shows I love and enjoy. Just got back from Pistons and Paint actually... made the 17 hour drive to Texas from Indiana just for the show, and set up as a vendor for the other side of my wife and I's upholstery business (custom handbags and accessories). I've been trying to drum up some traditional interior work...

 

Change! By all means love what you do. I do custom bike fabrication. In the begining I was taking on what ever came my, even service work but I hated it. I stopped. I have turned down jobs and simply told people its not what I do. Same thing, I can respect the work that goes into building some of these bikes but I just cant do it. I will sit on a bike for years, it will just not talk to me or jump out at me. Give me a little rigid chopper and I will work till I pass out. Its what I love to do and I will not go in another direction just to make the money. Now granted I have a 9 to 5 that pays my bills but I am an incorporated business with the bike fab.

In my eyes you should enjoy what you are doing and if thats not the direction you want to go by all means switch it up.

 

I believe that is the issue with my area also, hence the situation I am in. My wife and I have SERIOUSLY been considering moving to Arizona or southern Nevada and literally starting all over. Hard to do in your early and mid 30s, but I feel like its something I might need to do. We don't have kids so that will make things a bit easier.

 

I would keep the money rolling in even if you don't really like what your doing. Once you have enough work coming in that you like, you can send the other work to some one you trust to handle the job so you don't get a bad thought from the customer who came to you in first place.

 

This is the unfortunate truth of the matter. And a quick look at just the main board on here, and you'll see a lot of good guys who are down and out... no job at all.

I don't think you're stupid for wanting to get back to part of upholstering that you love, not stupid at all. I just think you need to tread carefully to ensure that you don't alienate your current street rod market, and (apparently) main source of income. Maybe some different advertising for different shows that you attend? Or maybe a contest or limited time price drop on traditional upholstery jobs to get some trad customers in the door and your name back out there in those circles? Just some thoughts. Good luck!

 

Take more opportunities to market to the cliental you prefer but I would be VERY cautious about turning away business.

 

To steer the business, advertise for the clients you want, and raise prices on the stuff you are less than happy with. Win-Win.
Your shop and portfolio can reflect your leanings.
There will always be customers that need to be shown the door, but don't turn away good customers due to your tastes.

 

Don't turn any business away! Just make room in the shop for old school stuff. Go out and get some old school type business. This work will probably make you feel better inside. The guy who did mine does both ends of it. Mine is traditional white tuck and roll. Did the whole inside upholstery and carpet for 6 bones, Granted its a roadster. Did the top for 4 Bones.

 

i would do both why limit yourself to one style of doing things if you are good at all aspects of upolestry for one you will probably not get alot of buisness in the traditional market do to most of them thinking that a mexican blanket over a roached seat is traditional

 

Ya, I'm definitely not turning away work in this economy. Things have slowed down across the board, but I fortunate that I still do have work coming and going. Maybe once I earn a good reputation on here, I could work out a deal with some HAMBers for some dirt cheap upholstery work to get some more traditional work coming, the stuff I enjoy. Work is always just that, WORK, but I would like to enjoy it more than I do now!

 

I bet a HAMB benefit auction would go over well. The winning bid goes to the HAMB, the winning bidder supplies the cost of the materials, and you supply the time. Auctions like that have been done in the past for other trade related tasks; sand blasting, etc. Again, just a way to get your name back into trad circles.

 

When my '53 chevy is ready for interior next summer I will need someone to do a custom job. Do you have a website, or portfolio of your work?

Jon

 

Where in Indiana are you located?

Whats the name of you business?

 

I was kind of hoping to not post my website on here and to get some opinions first, I got responses super fast, this message board rolls pretty fast!

 

That's a damn good idea, I might steal that idea

 

How you gonna drum up business if we cant find you?

 

I don't build cars anymore but I am a business owner.
You need to like what you do. It's not always possible though, you need to be where the money pays the best. Branch out at more traditional shows, drop cards off or better yet- pay the vender spot & set up a booth. Invite a couple of traditional cars you did to park in your spot. That will attract more customers of the traditional style, while not turning your back on the high-end stuff. Never burn your bridges. You can't always do what you like. On the high end stuff- look into more exotic materials, like ostrich or snake skins. People are willing to bay big bucks to be different. I have a friend w/ an upholstery shop that does all my cars. He would be bored to tears doing nothing but rolls & pleats. He enjoys the freedom of a high dollar build, it's like a blank canvas.

 

As a small business owner, here are my two cents.

Unless you are operating at the top of the upolstery food chain, do not turn away good, well paying projects just because they are not your favorite or you don't like the car they are going in. Instead, use these jobs to keep moving forward, to keep the doors open. Continue to provide a quality product with personal service to all of your customers. Start advertising with more emphasis on the things you do like to be involved with, the traditional styles. In time maybe you will establish a new reputation for being the best traditionalist. Then you may be able to work only on projects with traditional design elements.

I am an architect and there is no doubt that I don't like or enjoy every project. Another McMansion...yuck, another warehouse... ho hum.

So I advertise a bit to the car guys because I like designing buildings for cars. A 24' x 24' simple garage or custom man cave with all the goodies. Now we're talkin! Unfortunately there aren't enough of these to pay the bills so I can't work on them exclusively but I always get excited when I am given another opportunity. Sometimes these projects even go to the front of the line because I enjoy working on them more than other less exciting gigs.

Don't forget that times change, fads (sorry guys, cars and architecture) come and go. Don't put all your eggs in one basket but don't sell out either.

Good luck to you.

 

I'm in Fort Wayne Indiana. Northeast part of the state...

I know a lot of boards get pissed about new members directly posting their websites, so if anyone is interested, they can find my contact info in my profile, I just listed my website there.

 

Mexican Blanket - Traditional interior - DONE!

 

I have seen and used PLENTY of the exotic stuff, believe me

Problem is, the exotic stuff isn't different anymore, it's been overused in my opinion.

 

I've been in the Sign Shop business 40 years this past March....It got to where there was't enough time in a day to Hand Letter or Pinstripe enough to make a good living...I had to get into the computer sign business...I hated it at first, but I get to pick the custom jobs I want to do now. If I hadn't made the change and did the Computer stuff my business would have closed up 15 years ago.....NEVER TURN AWAY GOOD MONEY MAKING JOBS....let them make it possible for you to do the other stuff you enjoy doing......it makes it a lot better when you gt near that 60 mark to be able to enjoy life a little more......I have bad days sometimne with jobs I didn't really enjoy doing, but t cash sure makes me feel better...........the old saying "love what you do and you'll never work a day in your life".......I'm glad I didn't stay traditional and starve my family...........

 

Check my profile on here, my website is listed in the Contact section...

 

Holy crap...you got some mad skills goin' on there. I'm very impressed. I guess I'd echo some of what others have said, don't turn away work, especially in this economy. I'd say its all about marketing and exposure. Great advice about renting booth space and showcasing some cars more to your "style" preference. If you're stayin' busy in this economy, I'd be happy and work my way through it. Wish I could turn you loose on my bench seat and door panels, but my '50 MoPar isn't traditional OR custom enough!

 

In the ideal world all of us would go to work every day and love everything about the job, and there may be people who have that luxury. Unfortunately, for most of us, we like some things about what we do and hate other things, but it keeps a roof over our heads and food on the table.

There was a time when we could all be more choosey about what we did for a living, but these are different and difficult times. If you have customers who want you to do jobs for them you are in way better shape than so many others who are closing their doors because of no business.

If you want to move more into the traditional rolls and pleats business, do it, but don't suddenly turn away other business until you have so much traditional work that you are booked way in advance. The street rodders who have their interiors done spend a fair amount of money on those jobs and most shops would be thrilled to have their business. Do it in smart, logical steps.


Don

 

The goal of a buisiness is profit. The goal of a hobby is enjoyment.

It sounds like you are 99% closer to your goals than most people are.

Sometimes I do a free or cheap project for a low budget guy or kid thats just getting started. People ask why I do it. I tell them "because I can". I also enjoy doing it.

 

Good cloth costs a lot of money - I am sure you can speak of that first hand -
Sounds like you are Artist at your craft - The better you get at a craft - The
more you realize Simplicity is a art form unto its self - You need to do a Hot Rod
your way - Then let all of us see your Interpretation of Traditional!