Need advice for my toolcabinet again

[jesko10]

A while ago I posted this cabinet and asked for opinions. In the meantime I made one and disassambled it and did it again, and changed it again and so on. Now the dimensions are right ( so that everything can be welded properly and so that I get to the internal screws )...
Originally I just wanted to make one for myself, but yesterday came this guy who makes custom Mercedes Benz's like AMG and Brabus and he saw this. He wants a couple of them for his new workshop and needs a quote.

That's where I am stuck. Some people say I should make them very expensive to make them exclusive and other people say I should make them cheaper.

The quality is definitely top notch, extremely strong, everything welded and in a way that one does not see the seams, the drawers are on roller bearings and have dampers that also pull the drawers back themself.
I also want to offer custom made foam inlays ( laser cutted, thanks to a link from a member here) for the tools the customer has.

So they cannot be really cheap. The question is, are there enough people who are willing to pay for the quality? What do you think?

 

[Packard V8]

Very nice presentation.

FWIW, I had a friend in the high-end stainless steel tool box business. He doesn't do any retail, but goes to race teams, hospitals and industrial customers.

Maybe, start high and let the market tell you if you are too high. You can always come down, but it is next to impossible to raise prices once they are out there in the public domain.

jack vines

 

[ZRX61]

I'd go with "Time + Materials" to see what it costs to build & then double it. See what that comes out to.

.. & I'd be billing *time* at $100/hr minimum.

 

[Hoss356]

Materials + labor = price. So the question is, how much is your time worth? If I think my time is worth 20 an hour for 25 hours then that's 500 in labor, then lets imagine materials cost you 300 then your cost to make the "widget" is 800. Mark it up 50% for profit and charge 1200. Btw, I won't believe you made your own box unless you post up pictures...

 

[scott37300]

So those 3 pictures are of boxes you have already made? They look nice.

 

[canuckian]

That seems like a great design and has a very "high end" look to it. Do you plan on offering different work surfaces (stainless steel, butcher block, etc)? The reason I ask is, though the shiney painted surface is nice, I'm sure most techs would like to have a durable work surface they could use. Another thing to consider would be different drawer configurations.
I would also start out on the high end if you think the box can compete in that arena. If it doesn't work out, like someone said earlier, you could always lower your prices and go that route. But, I'm sure there are enough high end german car tuning shops in Berlin to support a business venture like this. Just make sure to make the inside as nice as the outside looks and stand behind your product. If a customer has an issue, get on it and get it fixed. Word of mouth, good or bad, spreads fast amongst any group of people.

Good luck!!

 

[jesko10]

So those 3 pictures are of boxes you have already made? They look nice.

These are just promo shots, because the guy wanted to see how they would look like in color. I personally like the one with wood best, and he too. He just wanted to compare.

And I agree with the polished surface. Totally unpractical. But if somebody wants that...

The frame I made is scrap now because some things I thought would work didn't. I think I have it figured out now. The problem was that I don't want to see any welding seams from the outside, and no screws either. I think the next thing to do is to build a jig for welding.

 

[ibedayank]

without the BUILD pics!!!

 

[Weps]

well now. this is most interesting. i'm not comfortable commenting on the market viability, because i don't know enough about europe. however, i do like the lines and design. particularly with the wood. perhaps you could make that your high-end as it is more in line with garage furniture. metal with real/exotic wood facings would be my choice - especially if you think it might actually be used under weight. for that line, however, i'd like to see a reworking of the caster design. i don't believe it is on the same level, visually, as the rest of the piece.

with that, i'm also wondering why you chose two fixed casters? in my experience, this is a trade off typically made to cut costs while usability suffers. is there an engineering advantage here? if not, and you plan on a high end market, i'd consider this a possible weakness.

as it is, i have a particular interest in combining metal and wood for furniture design. i missed your initial post, but was excited to see this.

i hope you'll keep us updated!

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

That's where I am stuck. Some people say I should make them very expensive to make them exclusive and other people say I should make them cheaper.

The quality is definitely top notch, extremely strong, everything welded and in a way that one does not see the seams, the drawers are on roller bearings and have dampers that also pull the drawers back themself.I also want to offer custom made foam inlays ( laser cutted, thanks to a link from a member here) for the tools the customer has.

I think you answered your own question right there.

 

[jesko10]

well now. this is most interesting. i'm not comfortable commenting on the market viability, because i don't know enough about europe. however, i do like the lines and design. particularly with the wood. perhaps you could make that your high-end as it is more in line with garage furniture. metal with real/exotic wood facings would be my choice - especially if you think it might actually be used under weight. for that line, however, i'd like to see a reworking of the caster design. i don't believe it is on the same level, visually, as the rest of the piece.

with that, i'm also wondering why you chose two fixed casters? in my experience, this is a trade off typically made to cut costs while usability suffers. is there an engineering advantage here? if not, and you plan on a high end market, i'd consider this a possible weakness.

as it is, i have a particular interest in combining metal and wood for furniture design. i missed your initial post, but was excited to see this.

i hope you'll keep us updated!

Thats true. The casters look a little bit cheap. I would love to have some with alloy rims but havent found anything usable. That two of them are fixed is on purpose. If a box like this is full and heavy it is nearly impossible to push it straight or on an uneven surface when all four can turn. Like a heavy shoppingtrolly.

 

[PT Doc]

I don't think 4 swivel casters would work very well.

 

[Mr Ratchet]

Very nice! I have a background in office furniture and it reminds me a lot of that industry.
Looks like there is no bottom panel/s, I would add one. Other than that, I think you're good.

How about some shots of the inside and dimensions.