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“Time’s fun when you’re having flies.” –Kermit the Frog
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Well, my annual work retreat is over and I am pooped.
This year I spent 2 weeks in San Diego and like all the previous work retreats over the past 12 years, I had no preconceived notions as to what I was going to accomplish.
The nice thing about a work retreat is the ability to go down rabbit holes to see what lurks in the recesses of one’s mind. This is really not possible in the office or at home–the blocks of time you think you might have everyday get whittled rather quickly. It is just too hard to have continuity of thought. Maybe that is why it is called “work”.
I am excited about what transpired in San Diego. I hope you will be too–more later.
Right before I left for San Diego, I received a copy of an email that Tom Lie-Nielsen (Lie-Nielsen Toolworks) received from one of his customers;
“Have you ever thought about buying Bridge City Tool Works?”
We laughed, particularly since I told Tom that I would pay him to buy us. It then occurred to me that the woodworking tool business, by comparison, is a rather little place.
How big do you think the woodworking tool business really is (not including the imported junk at box stores)?
Before I answer, consider the 2011 income for the following athletes;
1) Tiger Woods: $62,294,116
2) Phil Mickelson: $61,185,933
3) LeBron James: $44,500,000
4) Peyton Manning: $38,070,000
5) Alex Rodriguez: $36,000,000
This is almost a quarter billion dollars–for five guys.
If you attended Woodworking in America, you were able to rub shoulders with just about every boutique tool maker in America. The combined revenues of all of these tool makers? About what Tiger Woods made last year, but if you want to split hairs, throw in the revenue of Phil Mickelson. If you want to add the last three, then you can include all the revenue from the top three or four selling woodworking magazines–maybe all of them.
Dean Kamen, in speaking about America, claimed that as a culture we are what we celebrate.
According to a recent article in The Daily, the average monthly revenue for “Simpsons” merchandise is $135,000,000 which makes it a 1.65 billion dollar industry.
Why do I share this? It’s just a little hug to remind you that all of us in the woodworking tool business greatly appreciate your support!
Duh!
–John
PS: Last time I checked the annual revenue in America for screwdrivers was $185,000,000. No wonder I can’t find one when I need it.
$185 million for screwdrivers?!? Are these the alcoholic ones, or the metal ones?
I’m thinking maybe BCTW should make screwdrivers…
Glad your work retreat was a success. I’m sure looking forward to seeing the fruits of your labors!
– Peter
It would not surprise me if the orange juice version was an even bigger market…
-John
Dean Kamen’s comment may be true in an average sense. Fortunately, we are not average. There are lots of, say, sub-cultures that celebrate quite different things.
Perhaps another interpretation is that we celebrate excellence and high achievement. In which case, BCTW falls right in there with Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. But with fewer affairs.
– Peter
John,
Hugs right back at you; we’re extremelly lucky as woodworkers that there are so many high quality tools available to us. High end tool makers aren’t doing it to get rich, (well I hear some get into it for the chicks,) but for the sheer joy of producing functional tools that are also beautiful.
Thanks,
Rutager
http://www.elkheadtools.com/drivers.html
For people who know the value of a good screwing.
-Robert
It seems to me the baby boom bubble guys remembered their high school shop classes and thought they would love to do woodworking, had lots of disposable money, and wanted the very best for their hobby – therefore creating the truly golden era of woodworking. I wonder what a woodworker in 1750 would have thought if someone pulled up to his door in a horse drawn wagon and delivered one of every BCT tool ever made?
For me making money is NICE, but not the real deal. Having the joy of using the best tools ever made IS the real deal. Now if I could just make something as magnificent as my own “Newport desk” that will be remembered 200 years from now like the “priceless BCT tools” which every one will be fighting over – probably auctioned off at Sothbys….
John, You need to figure out how to jump ahead in time about 200 years and take a few tools with you – you will be it the Tiger Woods income bracket for sure!
Dennis,
I can’t imagine high school without shop class–I never would have graduated. I don’t recall school shootings occurring in the 50’s, 60’s or 70’s….
Two years ago while back in Iowa I looked up my old woodworking teacher–over 40 years have passed and we had a terrific afternoon talking shop. Funniest story is when my little brother entered high school and he asked, “Are you related to John?” –he couldn’t believe there was more than one of “us”. I blazed a trail of disaster–until my little sister arrived… What memories… we put the fun into disfunctional!
Anyway, thanks for the kind thoughts… It might take us 200 years to deliver the CT-18…
-John
To be maudlin (hey, I’m a lawyer) I have to admit wondering sometimes if you had plans for succession–I’m imagining hundreds of orphaned JMP owners someday looking at a $1,300 manual tablesaw forever unusable for want of a $50 proprietary blade.
Of course that’s *none of my beeswax*, so I apologize for even thinking it, much less uttering it, much less doubting a Tool Potentate’s immortality.
Or, hopefully, tens or hundreds of thousands of orphaned JMP owners, to end on a hopeful note.
I like the words demise and maudlin…
Never fear JMP owners, when I croak your saw won’t croak with me.
Now, about that pesky Mayan calendar…
-John
“Now, about that pesky Mayan calendar…”
Men, we just can’t get a break here in Mexico. We are blamed for all that ails the US, immigration, drugs, Obama winning the elections… and now we are going to be blamed for the end of the world as well….jeeezzzz….. :-))
Thanks for the hugs John, but I want my precision fence… 🙂
Me too! I can’t wait for that darn thing.
Speaking of school, I was in south Texas this week visiting my in-laws in Pharr. As it turns out, my FIRST GRADE teacher was next door so we had dinner with them. I hadn’t seen her in 50 years. She was very excited to see me and said I would never do my school work until she discovered the secret. She promised that as soon as I got it done I could go behind the “curtain”. (that is where the art supplies and drawing stuff were). I got right after the school work with that incentive… She is an amazing lady. She cut off her finger in class one day – I still remember it. She was at the paper cutter and just whacked it off. She left the room and went to the principal’s office I think. One of my class mates took the finger up to her. She did get it sewn back on and it is nearly as good as new. She also got in a train wreck – broke her back and had 6 vertebra fused together and both knees shattered. She is still walking at about 85 years old. The story goes on, but I won’t bore you with it. I too went to school in Iowa (N.W. Iowa that is). You see, we have great schools in Iowa and shop class (along with art class) were what I lived for. The rest – well I had to do it.
I’ll bet your sister wasn’t so bad John – she either had to clean up the family reputation after you blazed your trail, or she felt compelled to out-do your reputation – I’m not sure which…
Dennis
Dennis- What town in NW Iowa? I grew up in Storm Lake (graduated in 1984)
Craig
Ayrshire, which is a suburb of Emmetsburg, which is a suburb of Spencer.
I graduated in a class of 19 persons.
Dennis;
For what it is worth, I was arrested in Spencer, Iowa in 1967. You are dying to know why aren’t you?
The arresting officer, after talking with me for a half-hour or so, told his superior that I was not a bad kid, I just had a “zest for living” that was “challenging for authority figures”.
Now here is the good news–I left Iowa in 1973 and haven’t been arrested since. Aren’t you proud of me?
–John
PS: Congratulations on your graduation! 🙂
I had a similar experience in Spencer. I had a 1970 GTO Judge (which was a relatively inconspicuous vehicle..) I was driving through town with a friend when suddenly 5 (no exageration) police cars surrounded me with their lights on. I had had a couple of beers, but was dumbfounded at the display of authority. I was escorted in a round about way to the police station where I parked in front of the station – preceded and followed by two of the five police cars. When I got out of my car, the lead officer apologized and said it was a false alarm. Someone had reported persons in a “blue car” had broken into a newspaper stand. That was in 1975. I guess Spencer police are on their toes!
Dennis,
Please use the proper nomenclature on this totally awesome and worthless blog…
You owned a 1970 GOAT!
Just saying’…
–John
PS: Due to your totally awesome and worthless contributions to this blog, you are forgiven.
– Your Benevolant Tool Potentate
Got me there. I was using the “proper english term” for the beast (which is was). Some of our younger readers may have gotten the wrong impression if I said I was escorted through Spencer with a Goat….
Have a great day my fellow Iowan!