Hat’s off to UU forum

Hluth · Apr 10, 2015

I have been building in relative isolation for many years and generally shy away from anything like social media except to sell my stuff. I joined the forum not knowing exactly where it would lead, and then received a tip through private message about contacting Andrew at the Hawaii Site about selling my instruments. I sent him one of my ukes and he sold it right away after listing it. (This will be the last underpriced instrument I sell!) You can see/hear it here: http://www.theukulelesite.com/hoffmann-lutherie-a-style-custom-tenor.html. More importantly I am totally inspired by the work of builders like Beau, Chuck and others, and have decided to forget about selling to a low “price point” and let high quality and artistic expression become the primary motivating force. There is no better place to learn and be inspired than here.

sukie · Apr 10, 2015

It's a wonderful place here. There is something for everybody.

Vespa Bob · Apr 10, 2015

I totally agree with you, both about this forum and about selling to a low "price point". The help given me here by those who selflessly give up there valuable time, has been invaluable in my search for knowledge! Your tenor ukulele is so beautifully executed, and the nut pin concept is brilliant!:bowdown:

Bob

hawaii 50 · Apr 10, 2015

Hluth said:
I have been building in relative isolation for many years and generally shy away from anything like social media except to sell my stuff. I joined the forum not knowing exactly where it would lead, and then received a tip through private message about contacting Andrew at the Hawaii Site about selling my instruments. I sent him one of my ukes and he sold it right away after listing it. (This will be the last underpriced instrument I sell!) You can see/hear it here: http://www.theukulelesite.com/hoffmann-lutherie-a-style-custom-tenor.html. More importantly I am totally inspired by the work of builders like Beau, Chuck and others, and have decided to forget about selling to a low “price point” and let high quality and artistic expression become the primary motivating force. There is no better place to learn and be inspired than here.

haha..nice to see that your uke sold so fast...I was the person who filled you in on Andrew.....
not only is he a great person...but he knows and has seen some of the best and sometimes not the best custom ukes around.....no one has seen and played as many ukes as he has(maybe Corey..haha)

he gives great advice to improve each uke if there are some kind of problems.....everyone comes out ahead....the builder the seller and the most important the buyer.....sometimes the ukes are not perfect but if the builder understands that Andrew is trying to get the buyer the best uke than things work out very well....

I remember Rick Turner saying that builders need a shop/store to have their instruments to show....when selling on your own website you will only get a certain amount of orders before it stops.....I think it makes sense...if you are as good as others a shop is your best bet...and HMS has all the reviews/sound samples/photos etc....

good luck Jerry in the future.....

Moore Bettah Ukuleles · Apr 10, 2015

Andrew has been instrumental in my life as well.

He has seen it all and has some very good advice. Not to mention that he's the nicest guy in the biz.
(And damn Len, you got a LOT of ukes!)

Kekani · Apr 10, 2015

What Chuck said.

BlackBearUkes · Apr 11, 2015

Yes, selling through stores is one way to go, but if you make ukes in the mid price range, say $600-$1200, taking 50-60% of the total selling price is a tough way to go and I don't know any full time luthiers who can survive on that cut. Plus, once your instrument is in a store environment, you are competeing with everything on the walls. Just some thoughts.

hawaii 50 said:
haha..nice to see that your uke sold so fast...I was the person who filled you in on Andrew.....
not only is he a great person...but he knows and has seen some of the best and sometimes not the best custom ukes around.....no one has seen and played as many ukes as he has(maybe Corey..haha)

he gives great advice to improve each uke if there are some kind of problems.....everyone comes out ahead....the builder the seller and the most important the buyer.....sometimes the ukes are not perfect but if the builder understands that Andrew is trying to get the buyer the best uke than things work out very well....

I remember Rick Turner saying that builders need a shop/store to have their instruments to show....when selling on your own website you will only get a certain amount of orders before it stops.....I think it makes sense...if you are as good as others a shop is your best bet...and HMS has all the reviews/sound samples/photos etc....

good luck Jerry in the future.....

Dan Uke · Apr 11, 2015

congrats Jerry! The luthiers are so generous with their knowledge and Andrew really knows what buyers want and is such a genuine person!!

hawaii 50 · Apr 11, 2015

BlackBearUkes said:
Yes, selling through stores is one way to go, but if you make ukes in the mid price range, say $600-$1200, taking 50-60% of the total selling price is a tough way to go and I don't know any full time luthiers who can survive on that cut. Plus, once your instrument is in a store environment, you are competeing with everything on the walls. Just some thoughts.

Wow..i did not know other shops take 50-60% of your uke prices....not right too me
usually the real nice uke at HMS never make it to the store.....they are sold in a few days off the website....

Dan Uke · Apr 11, 2015

Len doesn't work there but he's a good salesman for HMS. He looks out for the HMS crew!

BlackBearUkes · Apr 11, 2015

The shop usually gets 40-50%, the luthier 50-60%. So if a soprano koa uke sells for retail of $600 and the shop takes 40%, the luthier gets $360. While this is standard practice, it is tough to make it on that money working full time in a one man shop, unless you can crank them out fast, which I can't nor would I want to. Such is life.

hawaii 50 said:
Wow..i did not know other shops take 50-60% of your uke prices....not right too me
usually the real nice uke at HMS never make it to the store.....they are sold in a few days off the website....

Moore Bettah Ukuleles · Apr 11, 2015

nongdam said:
Len doesn't work there but he's a good salesman for HMS. He looks out for the HMS crew!

I though Len owned the place.

hawaii 50 · Apr 11, 2015

Moore Bettah Ukuleles said:
I though Len owned the place.

Haha Chuck I need to buy into HMS and Moore Bettah Ukulele....

just joking
but I really just like seeing uke fans get the best they can get at the right price.....and the custom builders getting what they deserve too .....

btw Daniel is the banker he knows money better than me....

Moore Bettah Ukuleles · Apr 11, 2015

hawaii 50 said:
Haha Chuck I need to buy into HMS and Moore Bettah Ukulele....
but I really just like seeing uke fans get the best they can get at a fair price.....and the custom builders getting what they deserve too .....

I've seen you work and you're a great asset to HMS. Tell Andrew to give you a raise! Haha.

coolcow · Apr 11, 2015

Moore Bettah Ukuleles said:
I've seen you work and you're a great asset to HMS. Tell Andrew to give you a raise! Haha.

A Moore Bettah Uke can do right, Len?

hawaii 50 · Apr 11, 2015

coolcow said:
A Moore Bettah Uke can do right, Len?

haha..in my dreams.....

Hluth · Apr 11, 2015

BlackBearUkes said:
The shop usually gets 40-50%, the luthier 50-60%. So if a soprano koa uke sells for retail of $600 and the shop takes 40%, the luthier gets $360. While this is standard practice, it is tough to make it on that money working full time in a one man shop, unless you can crank them out fast, which I can't nor would I want to. Such is life.

Right, 50% is the standard in the music business on the manufacturer end, and the retailer usually nocks it down to 40% for street price. But it’s not like HMS is taking 50% of your hard-earned money, because you get a lot in return. Andrew has gone out of his way to promote high-end instruments, and nobody else I know of is doing this. He also has a professional team that does all the stuff a luthier can’t always do for himself. This includes a professionally managed website that will devote an entire page and numerous pictures of your work, you get Corey to play your ukulele in a video that’s posted along with your instrument, and you get a sales people who believe in what you’re doing and will do what it takes to sell your ukulele. This adds up to more time for you to make ukuleles and less time trying to sell them.

Personally this is an opportunity to do what I really want to do and not worry about dealing with sales and promotion. My education is in fine art and I have been self-employed for over 40 years doing work in graphic arts, architectural design, publishing, and artist-blacksmithing. In all these things I have struggled with the balance between promotion (making money) and artistic expression. Besides, I’m not the best promoter even when I devote a lot of time to it. For me, it's a good move.

Moore Bettah Ukuleles · Apr 11, 2015

Hluth said:
Personally this is an opportunity to do what I really want to do and not worry about dealing with sales and promotion.

Andrew has given me the freedom to do the work I've always wanted to do. Less stress and anxiety. To me that's priceless. I've wholesaled to retail shops for over 40 years and I've never run across a company like HMS that treats it's "vendors" so fairly. Andrew's passion for his work equals the passion I have for mine. I couldn't ask for anything more.
(BTW, in case you didn't know, this is national Andrew Kitakis appreciation day. Mahalo Andrew!)

AndrewKuker · Apr 11, 2015

Haha, you guys. I can only show what I have to show. To Jerry and Chuck and Aaron and the handful of guys I admire, doing your instruments justice on a computer screen will always fall short . Of course I enjoy the challenge.. A million mahalos for the opportunity.

LittleCeci · Apr 12, 2015

Hi Len, thanks so much. I could not get my dream uke without the help from u and Jen

And Andrew is such a nice person, too. I am so thankful. Moreover, Chuck is the most wonderful person I have ever seen! I love him and his Moore Bettah ukes soooo much

hawaii 50 said:
Haha Chuck I need to buy into HMS and Moore Bettah Ukulele.... just joking
but I really just like seeing uke fans get the best they can get at the right price.....and the custom builders getting what they deserve too .....

btw Daniel is the banker he knows money better than me....

Hat’s off to UU forum

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