Every year about this time, I look back at the last 12 months and ask myself, “What the hell am I doing wrong?”
The complete list is too long for a blog entry. The short list relates to Lost Art Press and my work as a furniture maker and teacher. So here it is, with as little navel-gazing as possible.
The good news is that 2019 has been Lost Art Press’s biggest ever by all metrics: sales, profits, units shipped, etc. It is shocking that the enterprise we started 13 years ago now ships more than 30,000 books a year. That’s still small potatoes in the publishing world, but it’s good to be small potatoes that are not in the toilet – which is where most of the publishing world is today. (Boy, the SEO on this entry is gonna be weird. Maybe I should throw the word “boobs” in for good measure.)
Thanks to your support, Lost Art Press is now big enough that I don’t need to teach classes or take furniture commissions to eat. And at 2:49 a.m. on Monday while I was laying out Chris Williams’s new book on John Brown, I thought seriously about putting a full stop to teaching and commissions. Maybe get some more sleep and become a moss enthusiast to relax.
The morning sunshine and coffee brought me to my senses. Teaching and commissions keep me honest. And they are a safety net if books become suddenly obsolete. But I should reduce my burden.
So I’ve doubled my prices for commission work. If I’ve quoted you a price, then it’s still valid. All new work will be quoted at the higher price. I really do enjoy building for other people, but I also feel bad about how long my customers (sorry Bill) have to wait.
Second, I’m significantly raising my day rate (again) for teaching, which will kick in in 2021. I’ll continue to teach here at the storefront. I make more money teaching here, I have all my tools at hand and I sleep in my own bed. But I’m sure I’ll be dropped by many schools.
One of the revelations I had this year is that every one-week class consumes three weeks of time. A week for preparation, packing and travel. A week of teaching. And one week of travel, unpacking and catching up on everything I neglected during the previous two weeks.
The bottom line is that I have too many books I want to write, dozens more books to edit by people I admire and several dark corners of the craft that I want to research. The only way to do this is to cut back in other areas of my professional life.
So if you are here for the books and the tools (as I am) then the news is good.
— Christopher Schwarz
Good for you and “us”.
Thank you for your writing, insight and humor.
+1
Sounds like a sensible plan to me. Best wishes and happy holidays!
Can’t deny your high level of candour. I’m happy it’s worked out so well for you and I hope it continues to increase over time. Well done to you and your team.
HI Chris , I read this Blog several times and it has provided a few chuckles . For what it’s worth I have never taken one of your courses or considered buying a commissioned piece of furniture from you . However , I spend my woodworking hours at a Knockdown Nicholson Bench you designed . Much of my understanding of this hobby ( craft ? ) has been shaped by reading the Anarchist’s Tool Chest and the incredible books of Robert Wearing . Many of my favorite books are from Lost Art Press . So I am selfishly delighted with your new focus ! All the best of the Season ..
ditto except, replace “Knockdown Nicholson Bench” with “Big box yellow pine Roubo”
ditto except “big box yellow pine naked woodworker bench the DVD you sold me taught me how to build”
To Chris and team thank you all for wonderful year while I do not comment much, I do read a lot. I collected quite a collection of LAP books now and have enjoyed each and everyone of them. I would also like to thank all the other folks at LAP for all there hard work in getting the products out the door, while I know it is not easy dealing with us sometimes please know all your hard work is greatly appreciated.
To all the wonderful people at LAP I look forward to more great reading and learning in 2020 and beyond. Thank you all for all you do and My my family to each of yours may you all have a safe and Happy Holiday Season. Oh and please give the kitty a nice pat as well. Thanks Richg
I’d rather you learn to knit campaign furniture than become a moss enthusiast; but if you must, I have a butt load on my trees here in Washington. I’ll put you up for free and in the evening you can teach me to build Welsh stick chairs after you have studied all my mosses.
The good news is that you are now able to do these things on your schedule. As someone who spent way too much time in airports, motel rooms, and on airplanes I applaud your decision.
So the takeaway is I should wait until books become obsolete to take a class when the prices come back down? I still have quite a few books I still want to get. Then I guess as my skills improve I’ll want some more(chair builds look like voodoo to me at my current skill set). Keep up the good work! Its mich appreciated.
You’re such a unique mind, Chris. I love the way you think. I hope you keep sharing your thoughts for a long time to come.
Thanks for sticking with us Chris! You’ve built a strong community around your willingness to do ALL of the things you do (write, publish, teach and build) to advance woodworking. But you deserve the balance that works for you.
In my mind, you’re living the dream. A dream I hope one day comes true for me as well.
I’m still working the grind. Punching a clock for someone else, who has already taken the best years of my life. Time I’ll never get back. Meanwhile, the things I want to do…the things I love to do…get put on the back burner as a part-time hobby.
Being able to live a comfortable life and set your own prices? Yes, please. Congratulations, Chris. In my book, that’s what it’s all about.
Chris, your plans for the future sit soundly, let the masses come to you.
Glad to hear, we get a lot out of your time and you should be compensated for it. Happy holidays 🙂
Chris –
As a frequent reader, a long time customer (with many but not all LAP books on the shelf, I wanted to share a long overdue thank you for all that you do. Your work inspires me to do more and to do better and you raise great questions in the day to day life that we all get busy leading. Best of luck to you and the best to you and yours after another great year!
You’re getting good at quitting your job and upgrading your life. I’m jealous. Best wishes.
Chris, I’ve not had the pleasure of meeting you or being in one of your classes, but I can say I have had years of experience with the books you have written and those you have published. Based on that experience, I can say that you are definitely having a bigger impact with your writing and publishing on most woodworkers and wannabes like me, than you could ever have teaching or building commission pieces. Do what makes you happy, but please try to stay as active with writing and publishing as you have been in the last several years. We need you.
Good for you, Chris. Do what you need to do. I consider myself lucky to have taken a few classes from you over the years. I will always follow and support you and LAP.
Books and tools sound good to me. Congratulations for your success, all of your passionate and hard work is paying off.
Congrats Chris! This selfishly makes me happy because I anticipate and then devour everything LAP publishes. It’s all excellent. Having taken a step back from and re-evaluating my professional obligations in the past 2 years to focus more on the furniture design and building I love has made me infinitely happier. Hope the same for you in the new year! Cheers.
BTW, any chance of the return of forums? Or somewhere to ask specific questions about parts of the books? Even if they have volunteer moderators than can field most questions.
A little sad, a little jealous. Okay maybe a lot, but sincerely happy for you…and our craft.
Congrats
I’m only here because my bot pinged the word “boobs” on your page. Boy, was I disappointed.
Here is a Rorshach test for you: https://blog.lostartpress.com/2014/02/27/cover-test-ship-date-for-campaign-furniture/
🙂
Love the way you express yourself, so effortless and concise. Years of practice tell.
These changes do not affect me in the least, and I am far more interested in the ‘Anarchist Book 3: finishes that are not toxic’. Two notes though. While I accept that some furniture is an investment, and some learning is an investment, increasing costs guarantees that only people with more disposable income can get on this investment. I accept that some students are not worth teaching to, and some clients are more of a pain that anything, yet increasing the prices might make feel people more entitled and annoying. I am sure you considered both points and decided that, on balance, your solution is still the best — I would not be able to offer a better solution (but I have not thought about that either).
Hey, don’t miss the secret lesson here. Chris is a sneaky teacher and that’s what makes him so good. The point of him raising his rates on commissions and for teaching is not just about him. Yes, it’s great for Chris to have more time to focus on what he loves most and to develop new ideas. Heck, maybe we’ll see more things like the dugout chair with antlers.
But the subtler point he is making is that perhaps YOU should stop being so timid. Don’t let people chisel you down on your prices for your custom work. Demand a fair price for your teaching. Your work is valuable and recognition of that has to start with you.
John
One of the questions we ask when interviewing college & MBA grads:
“You own a successful pizza restaurant. There is a line out the door every night and you can’t keep up with demand. What do you do?”
Most kids answer “open a second restaurant” but the better answer is “raise your prices.”
Classic supply and demand right there. Good on you!
Who could fault you for making a change that you expect to improve your quality of life? (I know, I know, the assholes abound.)
Anyhow, have a good holiday season and 2020.
I was already ecstatic that I get to take one of your classes in May, but now I’m so grateful as I might now get another chance! See you in May.
Chris: Good for you. I took a class with you last spring at the Greenville Woodworkers Guild. The class was a great experience and worth more than I paid. I have read both Anarchist Tool Chest and Design Book; just ordered the updated version of Anarchist design Book. Keep writing. Best wishes to you, your family, and Lost Art Press. I hope to be able to take another class from you in the future.
Thanks,
Charlie
Oh, I hope, you will come to Germany next year to Dictum, I need the table, this year I had to buy the DVD of the dutch tool chest, because you was ill; so I hope to learn of you not only on television, but one time in real, because you are a wonderful teacher.
Kindest regards, Merry Christmas an a happy new year
Martin
I’m coming this summer – promise!
The surprise here is the 13 years. From this end, I can’t believe LAP has been around so long. Thanks for all of it!
As a consumer of LAP’s books, blogs, knowledge and opinion, I’m very happy to hear you’re having the success to do what you want and continue to run LAP as you see fit. I don’t think maximum profit is your goal or you’d have different products.
I hope this kind of model is the future of business as much as possible: find something that scratches an itch (yours and your customers), build it without becoming beholden to a bank, profits, other owners and provide a living. Not everyone needs to be the #1 producer of their product. If that were true, we’d all still be drinking Budweiser instead of all the unique micro brews.
Read a book “Memory Bible.” One thing that got me back into woodworking was this book. I getting close to retirement and they said to improve your memory, woodworking was a good hobby for get into. Maybe you or some other wizard 🧙♂️ could look into the health benefits of woodworking i.e. mindfulness, completing something that you’ve made that will last for years…… Give it some thought, look into for the next 10 years and write an article or book on it.
Enjoy your holidays Carey Delzell
P.S. I enjoy the quality and honest prices of your tools and books.
Sent from my iPhone
>
Good on you! Fair winds and following seas.
I’ve done a fair amount of business counselling, and it is remarkable how hard it is to get people to raise their prices when they are working themselves to death keeping up with demand.
Be proud of your work people!
Researching the dark corners sounds interesting, can’t wait to see what you find and write about!
Merry Christmas
Congrats and good on you, mon ami! I know of a guy who back in the day decided to double his prices for the work he was doing. His clientele halved overnight! Which means he was making the same money and doing half the work as before. It left him with room to explore other areas of his life as well. He was a happy fellow too. Good luck to you, Chris. We’ll all be watching and learning along with you. Happy trails and pour yourself a dram. Happy New Year! Cheers!