Lost Art Press

The Company You Keep

Posted on by Lost Art Press
Our biggest project yet: the Anthe building.

If this were corporate America, I would have been fired either today or on the Tuesday after Christmas (let him have a nice holiday with his family before we can him).

Lost Art Press shrank about 6 percent in 2023 across the board – that’s sales, revenue, numbers of orders and visitors to our website. So far this year, we’ve shipped out 43,341 books, tools, posters and T-shirts directly to woodworkers (I don’t yet have the numbers for what we shipped to our wholesale customers). That’s about 6 percent down from last year.

In corporate media, shrinking is unacceptable. You have to grow top-line revenue every year and maintain your profit margin – or increase it. Sometimes the goal that was handed down was to grow by 5 or 10 percent during a year, without additional expenses.

Why did we shrink? Because we grew in other ways. We bought a building so we could bring our fulfillment operations back in-house – where they belong. Megan, John and I stuffed a lot of boxes this year and attended a lot of construction-site meetings when we could have been making books or videos. 

We also grew as an organization. We added two employees – Mark and Gabe – who run the fulfillment side of our operation. All our employees have company-sponsored health insurance (even though we aren’t required to offer it because of our company’s small size). And everyone started the job with vacation days in the bank.

How we judge success is – thankfully – different than in corporate media. Here’s how I evaluate our year:

  1. Are we eating, paying our bills on time and enjoying what we do?
  2. Do we have enough money in the bank so we can make good books, tools and the like?
  3. What are customers complaining about? Are we getting more or fewer complaints than last year?
  4. Are our authors happy with the royalties on their book(s)?
  5. Do we have enough challenging projects ahead to keep life interesting?
  6. Would I rather push a broom at Costco?

By these measures, Lost Art Press had a good year. To be sure, we had some flubs along the way. Both Megan and I failed to get our primary book projects to press. Both “The American Peasant” and “Dutch Tool Chests” were supposed to be out this year. Not to mention Vol. 2 of “The Stick Chair Journal.”

All three projects are entering the third trimester. We should begin pushing any time now. 

So what’s ahead for next year?

  1. We hope the Anthe building will be stabilized and fully operational by the end of January.
  2. Matt Cianci’s book “Set & File” will be out in February. 
  3. “The American Peasant” will be out in March.
  4. Other projects will follow: “Dutch Tool Chests,” “Stick Chair Journal,” a new book from Jim Tolpin and Geo. Walker, and full-length videos on building the Anarchist’s Workbench and my Hobbit-inspired stick chair.
  5. I’ll start working on my next book (it’s a pocket book on finishing à la “Sharpen This”).
  6. We also hope to release our claw hammer, plus a couple canvas accessories for your tool chest.

Will we be able to do all that? I hope so. But if we don’t, no one’s getting fired.

— Christopher Schwarz

75 thoughts on “The Company You Keep”

  2. The older I get the more particular I get on who I choose to support, company and tool wise. I couldn’t be happier or more inspired by the products and knowledge LAP shares freely, and commercially. Happy Holidays and a bright 2024 to everyone!

  3. Constant growth is overrated at best and dangerous when mismanaged. This is why we have winter, to let the leaves fall and nourish the soil, to let animals den up or hibernate, and to give everyone and everything a rest. We need a time to gear up for the next big climb. I will keep ordering books, reading your good advise, and wincing at the rest…

    1. As long as the roots are not severed, all is well. And all will be well in the garden. In the garden, growth has it seasons. First comes spring and summer, but then we have fall and winter. And then we get spring and summer again.

  4. Sounds like a sustainable business philosophy, keep it up. Worked for a large Corp for 32.2 years (they eliminated my job), another for 9.5 years and retired. They both started out as great places to work, but deteriorated over time.

  7. Don’t you know you will never be able to keep up with Amazon if you persist with this philosophy!
    However, I hope you keep it up.

  8. I wish I could put into words how much I admire the spirit in which all of you folks at LAP conduct your business. I’m not a prolific customer by any means and I’ve never been anything but pleased with every book and other item I’ve purchased from you over the past few years.

    I wish you all the best in the coming years.

  9. Congratulations to you and your team for breaking the corporate “profits above all else” mindset. Too bad more American businesses do not operate this way.

  10. There is a reason I bought physical copies of your books I could download for free. This is it, it’s the model I try to keep in mind for my maker space.
    Thank you for the reminder.

  11. I find it very impressive that you’re building a business and that i’s got all those positives. Congratulations and keep up the good work!

  13. Congrats and you go, Chris and Megan! Your example of what success is, exemplifies corporate responsibility. Finally, someone is showing what success really should be in this nation. Hat’s off to Lost Art Press. Wish I lived closer to watch the Anthe Building grow

  14. You forgot to mention that a bigger publisher typically does not announce upcoming books to prevent someone else beating them to the profits. You however are smart in that you are only working with the best, most knowledgeable in their area of expertise. We are willing to wait for quality.

  15. You’re doing it right. I’ve worked for large publishers of the “Let him have a nice holiday before he gets his pinkslip” variety and a place like yours is the only way I’d ever allow myself to slip back into publishing. Keep putting the world aright, Chris & Co, your customers will have your back.

  18. Hi Chris. I teach a graduate marketing course at UC, and I could have a couple of students build your marketing program to help you grow. We start in January. Contact me at drew.boyd@uc.edu.

    I was a student of Megan’s this year in the tool chest class.

    Thanks,

    Drew Boyd

    1. Also, there’s no fee for this. I can send you a description of the program and examples of past projects.

  19. Everyone starting the job with vacation days in the bank is finest brass. great work.

  21. I appreciate your hard work, and look forward to buying more of your books and tools. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone at Lost Art Press.

    1. Haha. We aren’t for sale.

      When we leave this earth, we will had the company over to a trusted young person or a trust, with bylaws for what can be done.

      I’ll be dead and won’t care what happens with the business. But we don’t want our authors’ good work chopped up and resold and regurgitated endlessly.

  24. My money is on a Christmas miracle that sees you make up most of that 6% over the next week. Not that I think it will make any difference to you. Your 2023 is already a huge success by all the metrics that matter. Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2024!

  25. Don’t beat yourself up Chris. Take avow and praise your team, you’re still here, you’ve consolidated and the future is looking rosy. We your loyal readers and followers are grateful and appreciative, just enjoy the festive season with your families and celebrate, you’ve survived and it’s good.

  27. I just acquired an additional 15-20 feet of book shelf space. I shall reduce your gross revenue decline to -5.99999%. No hurry on filling the order.

  28. Oh boy, was I on the wrong end working for corporate America, time after time.
    It led to 5 different careers over 40 years after climbing to the highest rungs each time.
    Each time I’d reinvent myself and climb the ladder again. Keep in mind fiscal years were at different times for all the different companies I worked for. Sometimes it was Valentine’s Day or Easter! I work for myself now, (my boss is a jerk) yes old joke.
    But I still live and eat well I but I no longer worry about what I’m going to do to support myself.

  29. Well done, and thanks for all your collective work! Ha be a warm, safe and Merry Christmas.

  30. Chris and Team,

    You Guys and Lady are the second ray of sunshine today (the first was finalizing the design of my Granddaughter’s Jewelry Box).

    Wishing God’s Blessing to You and Yours now and through this coming year.

  31. Congratulations on a truly great year! Looking forward to sharing next year with you all.

  32. Lost Art Press, and you, Chris and Megan, have brought me a lot of joy through the years with your books and writing, and brought hope through the way you do business.

    I’ve bought nearly everything you’ve printed and felt good about what I was supporting.

    Qapla’!

  33. Shared values. That’s why I buy stuff from you. And you make good stuff. Glad you can keep doing what you do and HOW you do it.

  35. A measure of success is the public’s desire for a company to exist. I believe there are many of us who have greatly benefited from your company’s existence, and truly look forward to the future.
    Well done!
    Merry Christmas to you, your family and staff

  37. Love the human-centred business philosophy. Merry Christmas!

    And, yay: “ I’ll start working on my next book (it’s a pocket book on finishing à la “Sharpen This”).”

  38. Thank you for everything you do for your employees, authors, and customers. I will /try/ not to complain so much. That goes for snarky comments too.

    Happy Holidays to everyone at LAP.

  39. The insight you provide on your business is appreciated. Thank you. I do find myself wondering about your “bottom line” because I think what LAP does, and how determined you all are to keep iir going is amazing.

    By the way, my CFO has just informed me that my disbursements to Lost Art Press are up well over 37% compared to last year. A banner year for me.

  40. Sorry to read that you saw some shrinkage this last year. But, on the bright side, 6% isn’t bad, considering that real inflation is several times that amount. I like your metrics for “success” listed above. Keep up the great work, please. We need you folks doing what you do.

  43. I don’t know if hand tool woodworking will be around in one hundred years but if it is, at least 6% of the credit is due the efforts of everyone at LAP.

    Thanks for all your good work in this craft!

  44. Found your company when I decided to get back to woodworking this year. My experience furniture shopping with my wife re-lit the fire. Started with The Anarchist Workbench and now something from Lost Art Press shows up here every month or so. Please keep up the good work and keep the old ways alive. My wife asked if we would ever have any store bought furniture again my response was “Not if I’m still able to build.”

  45. Publicly traded corporations are slaves to the analysts. The only way to succeed is to be privately held, than you can run your business like the British monarchy manages theirs, for the following generations, not the next quarter. Doesn’t guarantee success, just that you get to keep your soul, succeed or fail.

    1. William the Conqueror granted one of his knights an English manor to be held for ten harvests. The knight planted oak trees.

  47. God bless you. Merry Christmas. New years will be fine. Thank goodness you’re not Fine Woodworking or fine Homebuilding.

  48. Well I feel that you all have been very busy busting your buns off! And it has been very exciting to watch you grow. As a fan of you both and subscriber I look forward to each post.
    You grew by adding employees! Woohoo! That is growth so you are actually ahead. Merry Christmas to All!
    P.S. I really don’t need anymore hand tools, but I will find something to order
    I’m sure!

  50. A good insightful piece, the problem I see with this perpetual drive for growth is, there is only finite wealth on this planet, we cannot all have growth, ah, but we do in the western world because those that are deemed insignificant are not included in the wealth game, the chosen golden people get richer and the remainder fall between having a good quality of life and being destitute. Too much disparity. This is human nature in all its glory/demise. Sorry if I have stated the obvious.

  51. When time became money… that’s when life changed. God Bless America, really? and yes, this comment IS how I want to be remembered.

  52. Thanks for the update. Having spent 50 years in the workforce on 15 different job/companies I can understand your analysis and forecast for 2024.

  54. I wish everyone thought this way…life would be so much better for everyone.
    Thanks for reminding us all that life doesn’t have to be difficult if we just all stay true to ourselves and treat others with kindness and respect.

    Merry Christmas to everyone at LAP (& thanks for the great memories associated with the Shaker tray workshop in April)

  55. Thank you for the “annual report”. Your transparency and business model are admirable. Ditto to many of the comments above. Cheers and best wishes for the new year.

  56. I’m always amazed at your energy and how many irons you have in the fire at any one time. Congrats on all you have accomplished this year, and best wishes for next year!

  57. 6% is minor investment on what I would consider a reset for greater success – seems like this can easily be recouped in short order. As others have said, I greatly admire what you’ve done & your fortitude to build a business your way – starting a running a business in this day and age takes some serious “cojones”

  58. I am looking forwards to LAP’s Claw hammer. Been trying to retire my first hammer but can’t find one I like, ever since I had a kid. Been swinging it longer then I have been able to drive a car. Looking forwards to seeing and using it. Happy holidays.

  59. Gosh, what to say! First of all, I’m glad you seem to be happy with LAP and that is a fine measure of success. Secondly, I’m very happy to be in a position to support what you and your crew do. My LAP $ expenditures were a little down in 2023, but only because I’ve been getting pretty much all your books, tools, clothing and swag since 2020! Looking forward to the 2024 stuff. Carry on the good work and best wishes to you, your family and especially the rest of the folks at LAP!

  60. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I am looking forward to everything coming in 2024.

  61. Merry Christmas, it looks like I’ll be purchasing a few more books from you next year. I’m particularly interested in the Dutch Tool Chest book. My wife likes your writing so much she reads your books too, she has no interest in woodworking though.

  62. Looking forward to a new year and watching Lost Art Press continue to grow, as well as seeing the Dutch Tool Chest book to become available for sale. I want to wish you guys the very, very best for 2024, you have been an inspiration to me since the early 90’s and I hope it continues.
    Quote: Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.

  63. There’s a “hidden” item on your balance sheet called goodwill. Almost all companies in the US have zeroed that out or gone heavily into the red. You’ve followed the George Bailey model, and it shows with the comments here. You are a roaring success in the eyes of many. Much holiday cheer to you all!

  64. I’ll see what I can do to take up some of the slack on that 6% ! Chris and Megan I can’t tell how much I enjoy your videos, books and tools, Lost Art Press is to me as an adult what toys r us was to me as a child ! Please keep doing what you’re doing ! Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy prosperous New Year to you your families and everyone that keep Lost Art Press going! Thank You~

  65. Revenue drop is not a problem especially if the profit margin has gone up. And often both go down as the business is being built up for the long term which it sounds like what you are doing.

  66. Looking forward to the DTC book from Meghan. One thing I was really hoping for in Sharpen This! Was for sharpening a knife like a Sloyd. Not sure if you can fit it into a revised edition or supplement for the blog/PDF? Thanks, Alex

  67. So…. this means your plans, priorities, goals & successes are correct; which makes you NOT in corporate America, which is WHY we all do business with you.
    Growth is NOT required at ANY rate.

  68. I think LAP’s emphasis on product quality, integrity, customer, author, and staff satisfaction is fantastic.

Comments are closed.