What’s something you gave away that turned into a later sale??..Include photos and the story.
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donated a quick serving board (est. ~80$) to a golf tournament raising money for the local foodbank.
Ended up getting orders for a giant custom butcher block 800$ (31" x 18" x 2.5")
and an order for a set of serving boards for a local catering company $725, 3 boards with laser engraved logo. 28" x 11" x 1"
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BOOM…Exactly what I’m talking about. Well done
I created 5 coasters for my kids teachers at the end of the year using the school logo. One of those teachers immediately started collecting orders from other teachers. I haven’t closed the deal yet but am hopeful.
Had someone inquire about a custom sign yesterday and ask for a quote. I am thinking about giving it away for the word of mouth.
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Nice Cullen.
My perspective: If you have a willing, paying customer do not give it away. In fact, charge the real value of your time, materials, creative process and mark it up 30%. If you produce a quality item, that person will give you word of mouth, along with a “Testimonial of Value”.
You are setting your price with that person and everyone they tell. Remember that in pricing.
Custom stuff is amazing and it costs real money.
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Thanks. I am working up a design for her now. We will see what she thinks.
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Made the first one for a local tattoo artist and the second one for my man cave, gave the first away as well and has created a lot of business as it hangs in the shop. The second has promoted buzz from friends and clients which created more business. Also I gave the last one away to a local Chiefs mess they are 3 x 5 magnets and that created most of my business for the past 3 years averaging $200 or so a month and up to my best month of $950!
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These are excellent stories from which people can draw ideas of WHAT to make and WHERE to give things away specifically to generate business.
Keep em’ coming.
I think I’m on my 10th Latitude Longitude sign. Made one for a friend & all orders came from that one.
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I made a random piece on the CNC for a friend’s birthday, whose favorite things in the world are flowers, butterflies, and T-Rexes.
I gave it to her at work. It sparked 3 coworkers to commission a high school graduation gift, a glassless frame, and “anything to do with the titanic” for that one’s kid. I think people are increasing into things you can’t simply buy on Amazon.
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Agreed. People are tired of the same old thing from The Bezos Super Store.
Those who claim the Custom or CNC marketplace is saturated clearly need some encouragement and ideas. The business is out there.
Keep the stories coming.
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Really like those barrel hinges!
Me too. Super fun to work with. Will not be their last appearance in a project.
I just saw the new youtube video you posted and that reminded me of the box’s I made a couple weeks ago using those barrel hinges. I’ve used them quite a bit in the past for gift box’s just for a different kind of look. When you shop for those be sure to check ebay along with amazon, the prices can be all over the place.
If one is too cheap to buy hinges, it’s pretty straight-forward to integrate them and use a bamboo skewer:
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Very clean looking box @WillAdams, care to share that file?
Sliding lid version at:
and it’s
(and no one as yet has downloaded the files)
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Somehow I missed this one, Thanks!
Well, almost no one. 
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