S-OT: Is Wooddorking a Growth segment?

mttt asks:

>I swear the number of newbie 'dorkers (dorkettes?) I bump into is growing
>everyday. Seems like AAJ Rocklers and Woodcrafts are popping up like
>Subways. Seems like Behemoths (WMH, Delta/PC) are snapping up smaller
>players and putting more adverts on the telly...
>
>Is this simply a case of "no-real-growth rate change, you're simply more
>aware"?
>Or do market numbers show that 'dorking is a growing market segment?

I don't have any figures for you, but consider this: the boomer generation is
starting to retire. This is the largest generation in history, inheriting from
the wealthiest (WWII generation) after having a great time making lotsa bucks
(stereotypical, but ya know what I mean) for 30+ years.

What is considered true is that these people are now searching for hobbies,
that many have been out of touch with any kind of manual working skills for
decades, and that many hunger for a return to those skills (which they may
actually NEVER have had or even had close knowledge of).

So you've got a wealthy (relatively speaking) generation with many millions of
numbers, retiring over the next decade or two. A significant number are going
to want to at least try woodworking, or so it seems, with increasing sales.
When I worked at Woodcraft, an increase of 35% annually was pretty much
expected. You are not going to see that kind of growth in many places,
especially in recession years.

Yeah, I'd say it's a growth market. We may not be entering a gilded age for
hobby wooddorkers, but we sure as hell are on the edges of one that has glossy
enamel. Now, if we can convince them all to not stain cherry....

Charlie Self
"To create man was a quaint and original idea, but to add the sheep was
tautology." Mark Twain's Notebook

http://hometown.aol.com/charliediy/myhomepage/business.html

On 28 Jan 2004 19:10:36 GMT, [email protected] (Charlie Self)
wrote:

>So you've got a wealthy (relatively speaking) generation with many millions of
>numbers, retiring over the next decade or two. A significant number are going
>to want to at least try woodworking, or so it seems, with increasing sales.

Not to mention that many are retiring from jobs that provided little
artistic or manual satisfaction. Creating something "real" is very
attractive after years of working with "virtual" things.

This is the chance for retired pros to make a nice chunk of change
giving instruction! <G>

Barry

Charlie Self wrote:
> Now, if we can convince them all to not stain cherry....
>
What should we do? Paint it?

In article <[email protected]>, Paul Shirron <[email protected]> wrote:
>Charlie Self wrote:
>> Now, if we can convince them all to not stain cherry....
>>
>What should we do? Paint it?
>
Naaah. Everybody who is anybody knows that you pickle it.