John I think you are right, I am agree gnomonics must combine art and
science, but here they combine money and approximation:
http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/451238171/Garden_decorations_of_stone_garden_sundial.html
Every diallist knows the difference between a sundial and this jam (sorry my
english is too poor to define what I have in my mind) but who want a sundial
at home often has difficult to separate an 'outdoor scientific instruments'
(definition of Rudy Piralla, an italian gmomonist) from a garden decoration.
I think this is the greatest effort to explain what we can do. Most people
can not imagine what is e what can show a sundial: art, science and culture.
Difficult to find in a gypsum dwarf.
Anyway, in the advertise they indicates a minum order of 1000 pieces (it was
1500 last week) and they can supply 50000 pieces per month.
If I considered they are built for a unique latitude, for example 45°,
calculating how long is the parallel, removing that part occupied by seas
and oceans, we could find these sundials, one every few feet. A nightmare.
ciao Fabio
Fabio Savian
[email protected]
Paderno Dugnano, Milan, Italy
45° 34' 10'' N 9° 10' 9'' E
GMT +1 (DST +2)
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Carmichael" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2011 4:45 PM
Subject: RE: Asking for advice, on starting-up a sundial business
Hi David:
I doubt anyone can "get rich" by making sundials, but I could be wrong.
One big reason for this is that by their very nature, good sundials can't be
mass-produced. Every good sundial must be custom-designed and made. So
every good dial has a high cost and must be sold at a higher price than
mass-produced dials to cover costs.
It's been my experience that homeowners, schools and parks are the biggest
customers- in that order. They want dials that keep time and that look
good. You MUST combine art and science.
Make what you know how to make, and have fun doing it, or you will never be
successful!
my two cents worth...
Good luck,
John
John L. Carmichael
Sundial Sculptures
925 E. Foothills Dr.
Tucson AZ 85718-4716
USA
Tel: 520-6961709
Email: [email protected]
My Websites:
(business) Sundial Sculptures: http://www.sundialsculptures.com
(educational) Chinook Trail Sundial:
http://advanceassociates.com/Sundials/COSprings/
(educational) Earth & Sky Equatorial Sundial:
http://advanceassociates.com/Sundials/Earth-Sky_Dial/
(educational) Gnomons, Styles & Nodi:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/1207180@N23/
(educational) My Painted Wall Sundial:
http://www.advanceassociates.com/WallDial
(educational) Painted Wall Sundials:
http://advanceassociates.com/WallDial/PWS_Home.html
(educational) Stained Glass Sundials: http://www.stainedglasssundials.com
(educational) Sundial Cupolas, Towers & Chimneys:
http://StainedGlassSundials.com/CupolaSundial/index.html
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On
Behalf Of David Andersson
Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2011 8:01 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Asking for advice, on starting-up a sundial business
In message <[email protected]>
David Andersson <[email protected]> wrote:
In message <[email protected]>
Martina Addiscott <[email protected]> wrote:
> As well as Len Honey ("Science Replicas"), if anyone else may like
> to consider producing a commercial 'Teaching Sundial' - then there
> is likely to be a huge profit potential available, for suppliers.
>
> With around 30,000 primary schools (in the UK alone), even if just
> 5% (1 in 20) of them bought a Teaching Sundial at a cost of (say)
> 500 Pounds - that is a 'turnover' of three-quarters-of-a-million !
>
> Thinking about a worldwide market, you can see the possibilities.
I have only been a member of this "SML" for about 3 months, (having a
hobby
interest in sundials) - but was very 'intrigued' to see just how much
money
can be made, and should like some advice on starting-up a sundial
business.
Although more profit might be made by supplying 'physical' products, I can
see that the "Modern Sunclocks" technique of selling just information may
be better - since it can simply be E-mailed, or downloaded from a website,
and so there are obviously no costs associated with production or
delivery.
I looked at their website ( www.sunclocks.com/profit.htm ), and they offer
this as a 'free Franchise' - but prefer to run things myself, and so want
to request details from other members, about how to proceed. For example,
should I just 're-sell' for other people - or offer my own range of items?
I can see that being associated with a well-established existing business
has advantages, but developing my own products would take time and money.
Exactly a month ago, I asked for information or advice on starting a sundial
business - but only received one response to this List, and none privately.
I am not attempting to 'copy' any existing items, or designs - preferring to
develop my own, and using some limited "market research" which I have done.
Based on earlier information from Martina Addiscott in the UK, I am tempted
to concentrate on the Educational Sector - though I can see that Architects
or Landscapers may also be a good source of orders, for their own projects.
I was even thinking about metal-studs, for interactive 'analemmatic' layouts
on wooden garden decking - simple, cheap, plus "adding value" to properties.
Can anyone recommend the best type of information (and/or products) to sell,
plus where the largest 'customer-base' might be - like schools/gardens, so
that I could begin to think about this. There are obviously lots of sundial
businesses in the world, and I like the idea of making money from my hobby!
Any appropriate information or suggestions, would be very much appreciated.
My regards to all,
David Andersson.
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