| | 12/04/2024 | 
It's that time of the year: the frenzied holiday buying season. This past weekend I happened to be on an errand on 6th Avenue in Manhattan near a bunch of well-known big stores. You’d expect them to be filled with shoppers, but the stores were actually not particularly crowded. And this was on Black Friday weekend. It seems that if you want a product that's not unique, and you can get something like it on Amazon, there is an excellent possibility that's exactly what you're going to do.
I think people buy from us for two reasons. The first is we have a lot of unique products. “Unique” in that these are tools we designed and manufactured ourselves, or nearly unique in that no one else in the US carries them. The second reason is we try to give a high level of service. This means we give technical advice (even to people who bought stuff from other retailers). If you are contemplating a complicated purchase, you might want to talk to someone who can actually give an intelligent answer to a question. In many cases it's faster and easier to ask us then spend a half an hour digging around the internet. We also have tried to organize the most common questions on a section of our website called "The Explainer" that is designed to get you in the info you need in a succinct text page.
In any event, we are happy to talk with you and grateful for each sale. We know that you could have bought something else from someone else or not bought anything at all. We try to make your purchases worthwhile. But what to buy? If you have a workbench, the Gramercy Tools holdfast is a standard addition. The Gramercy Tools line has many other options. If you want to feel connected to a product’s manufacture, we suggest the Spoonmaker’s Drawknife. Although it has “spoonmaker” in its name, this small, nimble drawknife is also popular with chairmakers and carvers who like its versatility. This is a knife that was dreamt up, designed and entirely produced at our Brooklyn home. Some of our tools are like that; others are designed by us and produced by artisans elsewhere. Earlier this year we designed a Spoonmaker's riffler rasp, which I think is the most complicated riffler rasp ever made. On one end of this rasp is a fairly straightforward short little rasp for regular outside work; the other side is a spiral so you can get inside the bowl. When we got some very positive feedback we introduced a coarse version of this rasp.
The Gramercy Tools bowsaw is of course available as a completed saw, but it’s also available as a kit, in which you supply the wood for the saw’s wooden frame. This is a great and inexpensive way to fashion a superior turning saw.
And of course we can recommend plenty of great products that we don’t make.
Quercus magazine has stopped production, but while we wait for publisher Nick Gibbs to make his next move in the woodworking world, we can binge-read the back issues of this wonderful global tribute to hand woodworking.
We also have plenty of reading material. The photo has a small sampling, from British greenwoodworking guru Barn the Spoon to Making Clapton’s Guitar to the book that mentions our shop to one of our many republished catalogues from 100 years ago (surprisingly useful for those interested in period furniture and homes).
Also practical reading: our friend Matt Cianci’s new Lost Art Press book, Set & Filed, frequently purchased with a Gramercy Tools Saw vise. And if you don’t mind some practicality in your gifts, we can offer some interesting items from Osmo. Many people know Osmo Top Oil and Polyx hardwax oil, but how about Tannin Remover, Wood Protector (great for your moistest environments), Anti-Slip Polyx or Teak Spray? These are far from routine products - and we’re pleased to offer them with a side of technical assistance when needed. Also practical: the Festool phone charger. If you already own a Festool 18V battery, you have what you need to give you three charging options.
Whichever route you take, please savor the warm feelings you’ll get when giving a thoughtful gift to others. And ideally the joy down the road from woodworking tools or knowledge that your gift inspired.
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| The opinions expressed in this blog are those of the blog's author and guests and in no way reflect the views of Tools for Working Wood. |
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“One of the most unique….” Is fa self-contradictory phrases. One should say, “one of the most unusual…”. But you are truly unique — one of a kind — in the products you offer, and you are “one of the most unusual” businesses in your willingness to share knowledge even if it doesn’t result in a sale. THANK YOU for all of that.
I have purchased from you in the past, and have four of your products on my Christmas wish list. Whatever I don’t get under the tree I will order in January.