furniture designing?

[Pekka]

I'm asking you about designing furniture. Actually not for myself, but for my dad because I know for a fact that he is excellent doing everything from wood and other materials. He has done lots of chairs and tables to the house and I'm not just saying because he's my dad, but he's fricking good with his hands. Strangers has complemented him all the time, because he can do anything, I mean anything even to little details and make it really really good and professional.

So the reason I'm asking this is because some of you might know from my earlier rants that he just got a divorce, and he's not handling it very well and also got retired and now he doesn't do anything. Just sits and stares at tv and you can tell he's not even watching it. So the guy is lonely and all that, but he has started doing some chairs and bigger stuff, like a new huge terrace which looks just awesome. He's very much short of money, so you know it just came to my mind he could maybe start doing some more of these things if he could actually sell them.. Just for an example, he did this chair (I don't know what you call it... rocking chair? Chair that swings?) and sold it right away with 900 euros. So you know, maybe he could earn some because he's talented and loves do that stuff. What a long post!

Anyway, does anyone know anything about furniture designing? I'd like to get some info, and then encourage him with some real knowledge about the business so he can get his act straight and maybe make some money.
Anyone?

[chequita guevara]

Contact interior designers.

[Pekka]

What is interior designer?

[SlowwHand]

http://www.iida.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1

[chequita guevara]

People who decorate the insides of homes, businesses, etc.

[Japher]

Interior Designers are a good start. They are people that yuppies and rich people use to decorate their homes.

He might also want to talk to architects, contractors, furniture builders, and professional cabinet makers (yes there are professional cabinet makers)...

If they don't bite he might do well by learning a design program and market his designs.

Also, he might be able to sell some his stuff on e-bay to get a feel for what they might run for...

[Pekka]

Thanks Sloww for the link. How have you been lately?

che, Hmmm... I'll think that.

The idea is, because it takes so long to do one piece of chair or table or what ever so long (he's very carefull and perfectionist when it comes to these things), that he could make few prototypes of different things and maybe sell the model, so that someone else starts manufacturing it? That was what I was thinking, so you know he could get lucky maybe and make some money.. He does pretty nice stuff, I suggested him earlier that he should do those big clocks, you know that looks like a.. how should I describe it... these old clocks that has like a big wooden 'tower' and the clock is at the top behind glass.. he liked the idea, but I need to encourage him with some facts that he could sell them really.

[Japher]

Those are called Grandfather Clocks...

He should market them to furniture makers then.

[Pekka]

Grandfather clocks.. thanks for educating me

Sure, anything goes he can do it all, and make them good too. Usually people always tried to buy them, but he always said they're not for sell. But now it's different scenario so..

[chequita guevara]

Pekka, people pay good money for well-built, hand-made,solid furniture. If he can make sets of furniture, he should do well.

[Pekka]

Yep, that's what he does.. hand made, well built.. and they are also quality stuff, they won't brake down in the next 40 years. They'll hold until the end of the times. But there comes the problem of capitalising the situation and make business without real experience and knowledge of it .

[Japher]

Well, I don't know the laws in Sweden or where ever you are, but here all you need is a buisness liscence or just go around asking people to make your furniture for you of your designs, no real "buisness" involved. If you get someone else to do it for you there will be a contract that you'd want an attorny to look over. If he does it himself he'd need a buisness liscence. That's it.

I am sure if he starts posting the stuff on E-bay he'd get some leads on someone interested in helping...

[Japher]

This site looked helpfull

http://www.woodweb.com/

From that site, on starting your own business

[Pekka]

Japher, nice links Thanks.. Sweden? I'm from Finland..

oh my god I don't feel very good

[Pekka]

the woodweb is very helpful it seems like. I talked to my dad and I got him little excited. There are no down sides, since if no one wants to buy, he still can sell the individual pieces easily and he enjoys doing them anyway. I'm also pretty excited, I've finally found something I can do for him (he doesn't have know how to turn the computer on, and speaks no english), and I promised to help him out searching information and how things work, and possibly with all the photoshooting, e-mails, all that stuff, the interracting part. Maybe this things gets some air under its wings and we get to be partners in this, you never know!

Would be great.. father and son business.. fine hand made wood work, custom made, quality products.. this is true man thing, I think I need my own tool belt and safety goggles.