Wifes grand idea - X Marks the Scot

Downix · #1 04-27-2009, 07:16 AM

My wife is taking a business class right now to help finish her degree, and over the weekend she starting putting 2 + 2 together. She saw that I was more relaxed around the house while working on the kilts for myself and my son (and soon my nephew, father and bro-in-law) and then started reading here and other sites as to the demand, so she approached me to use a kiltmaking enterprise as her project for school. So, last night we went through possible domains, business names, and hit "Kiltgeek.com". Dunno where it is going, but giving folk a heads up. I'm going to be making a few for non-family for the cost of material in exchange for visibility and some reviews/critiques before diving in, so keep an eye as I work on them.

Colonel MacNeal · #2 04-27-2009, 07:58 AM

Hmmm - don't like the name myself, but good luck anyway.

Downix · #3 04-27-2009, 09:55 AM

it fits with me is her thinking. I'm a computer geek (to the extreme, I decorate my walls with dead computer parts) and I like Kilts. I know a lot of other geeks that also like kilts. So, her thought was, I was a kilt geek.

TheBlueCow · #4 04-27-2009, 10:08 AM

I like it! Probably because I'm a geek though. Keep us updated!

I've given some thought of making it a "hobby side-business"... except I haven't made any prototypes yet

It'll be one of my future projects. I think there's definitely a decent sized market for it, at least as a side biz.

What are you interested in making, traditional or contemporary?

Downix · #5 04-27-2009, 10:23 AM

Either or, I've made both (knife and box for traditional, and my own take on the x-kilt for contemporary) and enjoy it. I don't machine sew however, mainly as I lack a sewing machine.

Kiltman · #6 04-27-2009, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colonel MacNeal

Hmmm - don't like the name myself, but good luck anyway.

I agree with Colonel MacNeal. A business names should give an idea of what the business is about. This one just confuses.

JolyStNicholas · #7 04-28-2009, 05:41 AM

After retiring from a 45 year successful business I started from the ground up
as you are doing now, I say Research, and then go with what works best for you. Stick with it.

Alan H · #8 04-28-2009, 11:32 AM

I would crunch numbers VERY carefully before jumping into this. I've done it and I always walk away, glad that I've got a solid job in IT.

You haven't sewn up a kilt on a sewing machine, yet, because you don't own one and you're thinking about starting a contemporary kilt business? ALARM BELLS SHOULD BE GOING OFF, HERE.

I would strongly... STRONGLY... recommend reading my semi-annual reviews in the General Kilt Talk about "Why a kilt costs as much as it does". It's one thing to make one kilt every couple of weeks for friends on a home machine and turn over a couple of thousand dollars a year as a little retirement cottage industry...that's eminently doable. To create a kilt-making business that is NOT associated with a retail storefront, and actually turn over say a $30,000 a year or more annual, personal income, is something entirely different.

If you decide to actually do this anyway, then best of luck!

Downix · #9 04-28-2009, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan H

I would crunch numbers VERY carefully before jumping into this. I've done it and I always walk away, glad that I've got a solid job in IT.

You haven't sewn up a kilt on a sewing machine, yet, because you don't own one and you're thinking about starting a contemporary kilt business? ALARM BELLS SHOULD BE GOING OFF, HERE.

I would strongly... STRONGLY... recommend reading my semi-annual reviews in the General Kilt Talk about "Why a kilt costs as much as it does". It's one thing to make one kilt every couple of weeks for friends on a home machine and turn over a couple of thousand dollars a year as a little retirement cottage industry...that's eminently doable. To create a kilt-making business that is NOT associated with a retail storefront, and actually turn over say a $30,000 a year or more annual, personal income, is something entirely different.

If you decide to actually do this anyway, then best of luck!

Just talking a small once-every-few weeks business, not a main income. I enjoy computers too much to give them up. I much prefer cottage business than big business.

The way I see it, to do a full-time kilt business I'd have to find sources for things such as sporrans, jackets, all of the accessories necessary to be a complete business, and that does not interest me. I'm just talking a simple enterprise in spare time that will let me enjoy some peace and quiet away from the electronic hub-bub.

piperdbh · #10 04-28-2009, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downix

a small once-every-few weeks business, not a main income. I much prefer cottage business than big business. ...a simple enterprise in spare time that will let me enjoy some peace and quiet away from the electronic hub-bub.

Guid on ya! I think a lot of folks are going to start heading this direction, and in my opinion, it's the diretion we should have been headed in all along. There should be a local, independent neighborhood baker, mechanic, doctor, kiltmaker, and so forth, instead of all the commerce being centalized and controlled by somebody somewhere else.

Tirade over.

How many kilts would you have to make to be able to buy a heavy-duty sewing machine? Maybe somebody here has one they'd sell you. Good luck with the venture!