Well! Aren't we all a little excited around here! I really liked the comment about grabbing some popcorn and sitting back, Now that was funny.
Everyone wants to make some money. I saw a lot of good points brought up in the previous discussions. At first I thought OS was going off the meds again, but as it turned out, he has some good points.
But so does Van.
Folks, ain't nobody stopping anyone from spending money on their dreams or obsessions. The fact of the matter is it takes a lot of money to get a tannery up and going. And that is IF you know what you are doing from the start.
And guess what? Your customer is going to tell on you. Good or bad, if you are tanning, word will spread about you and what kind of work you are doing. Kinda like a built in extermination factor. Play around too much and you are toast my friend.
I wish anyone who wants to start a tannery luck....You will need some. Shelby, I hope you do well. Here is what you can expect:
Saturday and Sunday? just another day.
50-60 hour work weeks? Oh for the good ol' days!
Vacations? Hope you can cast a rod from the back/front of a staker/comber/shaving machine
Job Description? Marketing/Shipping/Product Quality/Supplier Quality/Logistics Support/Material Planner/Accountant/Administrator/Administrator's assistant/Receiving/Assembly Planner/....then comes actually tanning:Prep service/Wet Room/Shaving Room/Dry side/Finishing
You will wear all these hats and still have to have time to chat as a Customer Relations contact for that guy that shows up at 7:30 PM with that rush whitetail cape that the "other place" just couldn't get to quick enough.
This is brutal reality folks. Working as your own boss has it's benefits, but it also has it's costs. You will have to sacrifice. I did, so you probably can too, but don't fool yourself about it. It will take blood, sweat and tears from you.
Again, best of luck to you people that are considering the ownership of a tannery. Put together a business plan, triple your bottom dollar cost and then you might have a starting place.
Oh yeah...don't be afraid to ask questions about what you are doing. Nobody in this business knows it all. There are many resources available from people who post here regularly. Use that to your benefit, but come prepared to spend money.
We all want to make a living.
David Patton
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I agree with you all the way from os and his med's to working Saturdays and Sundays , 60 HR weeks,Vacations? Hope you can cast a rod from the back/front of a staker/comber/shaving machine
Job Description? Marketing/Shipping/Product Quality/Supplier Quality/Logistics Support/Material Planner/Accountant/Administrator/Administrator's assistant/Receiving/Assembly Planner/....then comes actually tanning:Prep service/Wet Room/Shaving Room/Dry side/Finishing.
BUT aren't you talking about a taxidermy shop or for that matter any business you own?
The American dream; work for your self.
Thanks for the heads up... I know most of the business end of it already.
Saturday and Sunday? just another day. {Of Course! I probably work more on those days.}
50-60 hour work weeks? [I have animals and a retail business]{www.promiselandranch.net}
Vacations? What are they?
Job Description? Marketing/Shipping/Product Quality/Supplier Quality/Logistics Support/Material Planner/Accountant/Administrator/Administrator's assistant/Receiving/Assembly Planner/Customer Relations Rep....[ Business management 101]
....You will wear all these hats and still have to have time to chat as a Customer Relations contact for that guy that shows up at 7:30 PM with that rush whitetail cape that the "other place" just couldn't get to quick enough... [As far as this part... I plan to tan just for myself and my own business. At this point there is no plan to tan for others. I just want to add to my retail inventory and cut out some of the middle men.. and have more quality control. I never planned to open up a Commercial tannery, just add to my skills and product lines. Maybe someday way in the future after I have proved my skills to myself and my customers I will offer a tanning service. But not anytime soon.
All of this working towards maintaining that great american dream wilson spoke of.
Thanks
Shelby
I was told the other day that a good tanner is as scarce as hen's teeth. If you are successful, you will quickly find that your plan to keep it small is out the window. If you turn out a good product, people are going to beat a path to your front door.
I too signed up for Business Mangement 101, and 201, 301, 401, and 601. Still it never quite prepares you for the fact that when the day is over and you are dog tired from being up at 4 AM and working until 8 PM, you are facing the fact that the job is still not finished.
I left out a lot that Wilson brought up. Sure does sound like any business owner's life.
But what other business do you know of outside of taxidermy and tanning that depends so highly on heavy manual work combined with artistic ability. I know many on this site don't regard taxidermy and tanning as art or anything other than manipulating hides, but our kind of work can just wear a body down.
How about meds? Have you ever had a Cortisone or Prednisone steroid shot just to make it through the night because your arms were numb from the elbow down? Shoulder feels like a knife is going through it? Those steroids are enough to put you on edge and flame anyone who comes around you. These and so many other wonders await you as a tanner (tongue in cheek). Cows, goats, and buffalo will do that to you and I see that you are interested in those types hides.
IF you are not planning to do those hides yourself, then you have to train someone else to handle them. There is another headache not taught in BM school. No one even had a clue what I was talking about in class when I asked how to train a shaver. My professor's just stared at me like I was some kind of a bug or something.
You are one of the fortunate since you already have a business experience under your belt. If you ever need any help, call me. My number is 919-606-4235.
Living the American Dream,
David Patton