MATERIALS: WOOD

Fuentes, Laser Wood Supplies

USE IF A WOODCHUCK COULD USE WOOD? SHOULD I USE)

1/4 is best when sturdiness/stability is the main concern. Usually its used as the bottom layer (backer) for wall pieces. But it can also be great for ornaments, candle boxes/desk boxes, etc.

Natural wood tones: Double sided woods or Hardwood. These products gorgeous as is and display the wood as nature intended. Just seal it with your favorite clear product to make the colors come alive (bottom half is clear-coated).

IS BUDGET A PRIMARY CONCERN?

Wood Species

Do we use MDF, Baltic Birch, some nice double-sided wood with MDF core, or some hardwood? This decision is primarily driven by the artist and the desired end state. But there are a few questions we can ask to help narrow it down.

Is the project to be painted, stained, or left as is?

Painted: MDF or Baltic Birch. Both of these can take paint well and are low cost materials. Double sided wood or hardwood is too expensive and honestly too pretty to cover up with paint.

Stained: Baltic Birch. Baltic Birch is cost effective and takes stain well as it has wood grain to it. MDF does not stain well at all as it has zero wood grain. Nicer materials should not require any sort of stain since they are already pretty as is. They just require a clear coat to protect them and get the colors to pop.

If trying to keep cost down, then using a material like Baltic Birch or MDF will reduce cost. Keep in mind though that usually what you save in money will cost you time and effort. $3.50 for a piece of Baltic Birch plus the effort to stain it Cherry or $8 for a piece of Cherry that just needs clear coat?

IS WEIGHT OR THICKNESS A CONCERN?

If the project is going to be a layered wall piece with 7 layers, using 1/4 is probably not the best idea. It will make the piece too heavy and almost 2 inches thick. The project will usually dictate the thickness, not the other way around.

MATERIALS: WOOD... continued

Is the project going to be handled a lot? Does it have a living hinge?

If the project is going to be handled a lot, hardwood is usually not recommended as it is brittle. Earrings can be the exception but they should be kept to simple designs. If there is a living hinge involved, hardwood is not recommend at all as it will crack along the grain line.

Soooo….WHAT WOOD WOULD A WOODCHUCK USE IF A WOODCHUCK COULD USE WOOD?

As you can see, it really depends on the woodchuck and what that woodchuck is making. But, if I can leave you with one final piece of advice it would be this.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with new wood types. You’ve always used Mahogany, why not give Sapele a try? Love Zebrawood but don’t like the high sticker price? Check out some Black Limba. There’s a huge variety of wood types, colors, wood grains, etc out there. So go out, have fun, and let your inner Woodchuck go wild.

Alex and Antoinette Fuentes are approve fundraisers and purchases. Make sure to have the APA introduce you to the president and the treasurer as they are the keys to opportunity and prompt payouts and then make your move and ask for an opportunity to sales pitch to the coaches. Make sure to:

1. Create a PowerPoint with your services, photos of your work, and all your contact info.

2. Bring samples of items you’ve already made for visual representation.

3. Discuss opportunities for fundraising and have a price sheet and a plan for those items

4. Be willing to deliver the items to the school; it’s a reason for you to be on campus and connect.

5. Offer teams that fundraise with you a discount when they buy their trophies/items from you.

So go online or make some calls to find out the names of these people and then take the chance and go meet with your local schools ASAP. End of the year opportunities are here: prom is happening now, teacher appreciation is next month, and end of the year awards are right around the corner. So put this info to the test and go speak with administrators and coaches who are already planning for next year with fundraisers, new teacher gifts, and signage that needs replacement over the summer.

Matt Boddiford is the owner of ELC Creations. You will also find him on Laser Everything as an integral part of that team. You can reach out to him here: Matt@ELCcreations.com, Instagram: @ elc_creations, Laser Master Academy: LE Matt

Having a logo is an excellent place to start your business. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect. You can change your logo, rebrand, and change things as you grow. In the last 20 years, we have rebranded three times. The important thing is to start the process of making your brand visible with a good logo today!

When creating a logo, another helpful hint is to have a horizontal, and a vertical or stacked version. In addition to the colored variations, you may want a solid black and white version for watermarking photos or videos.

An engravable logo can be a stepping stone in building brand awareness for products that might attract future clients.

Hi, I’m Hope, the entrepreneur behind Designs By Hope Yoder. I started my journey in the embroidery and fabric industry by creating products, courses, designs, and fabric for the home market. I have had the privilege of inspiring many along the way with our magazine articles, workshop, and corporate projects. Most days, you can find me dancing to Cupid Shuffle, in front of my computer designing, or behind my laser creating handmade happiness. Find all my social links here, including our laser courses and retreats.

The results show that in addition to people that purchase files (i.e., do not design their own), almost half of the 44.15% that do design files also buy files!

I will always recommend building and implementing a Customer Service System, it’s quick to implement when you get a new customer, and you have it every step of the way a guided system with excellent results.

When I started, I remember needing to be more diligent about my customers’ journey experience with my business. I often wondered why they never ordered with me again, even though they were so happy with my work. Now I know it was my nonexistent Customer Service System; I didn’t have the tools to ensure that satisfied customers were retained and transformed into repeating customers, ambassadors, followers, or fans.

A customer service journey in my business is a visual representation of the end-to-end experience that my customers have when they interact with my service or try to accomplish a goal through something I offer (an order, for example).

The customer service journey has to be tailored to your products and services, but here are a couple of points that will help you tailor your own:

The number one rule in putting a plan together is to do it! Start planning and building your next steps now! Guess what is going to be challenging! My first plan could have been better, it was not even close to perfect, but I had something to work with. To build momentum, you need to start moving. You can always go back and revise, make changes, and adjustments, but you have to start somewhere.

Anca Wetegrove is the owner of Hp Designs by Anca, based in McKinney, Texas. Anca has been in the laser business since since 2020. As a maker she is active on all social media, you can find her everywhere using @hpdesignbyanca. Feel free to contact her with any questions.

Step 1

Cut the bottom piece out of your acrylic of choice.

This piece will be the one that shows the most so pick your favorite.