Friends,
If you are one of those who does not care for the personal side of things and only wants to hear about models, I’m not sure this update will be to your liking. However, if you have any interest in what goes on behind the scenes of a small business like TMD, then hit the ‘READ MORE’ button and I’ll share my struggle with you.
THE WEEK IN REVIEW
I have ‘hit the wall’ — again! I wouldn’t say I am burned out: not yet, anyway. But I have certainly hit a point where nothing in my stash seems to interest me enough to make me want to sit down and make a new master. I have no problem filling the orders that I receive. I am keeping up with my customer service issues, emails and daily maintenance. I just can’t seem to get myself to sit at the master bench and build. The problem is, in a new product driven industry like mine, this can quickly turn into a fatal problem. So, until I can figure out what I have to do to get moving again, I am going to focus on fixing some long-standing issues with the web store. Mostly, I will work on posting new pictures and writing better descriptions pages. As I finish these, I will post them to the TMD Facebook page. Maybe it will help to remind everyone that TMD is still here, and that we have nearly 700 items in our product line. If you are building from your stash, I am sure we make something you could use — I just have to remind you of it. 🙂
OUTSTANDING ORDERS
As I write this, Friday, Aug 5, I have 2 open orders. 1 will ship later this afternoon. The other will go out Monday, after the new molds I needed to make to fill it have properly cured.
CUSTOMER SERVICE ISSUES
I have no known customer service issues at this time. So, if you are still waiting on me for something, please email me and remind me because you have fallen off a very crowded radar screen (sorry).
NEW RELEASES
I have finished the masters for the empty U.S. OVM tool mounts (welded). I have also made some tool strap ends with buckles. In addition to this, I found several smaller detail items that might help you scratch builders out there. It isn’t much, but I will do my best to force myself to take the necessary pictures and write the descriptions up so I can post and release these items. I’ll see if I can make that happen by next week.
ON THE BENCH
Next up: the M-18 tools with cast-in brackets and straps. I will not move from this until I have this item finished and on the market. Then and only then, I will get back to the M-18 driver’s compartment and the rest of the interior.
ON KARL’S BENCH
I did speak to Karl this week. He has been struggling with the same problem: he just can’t get himself to sit down and work on the CCKW or Sherman upper hull masters he has on his bench. I’ll keep you posted if he has any progress.
THE SHOP
The shop is in good shape again.
THE OFFICE
The office is clean again, as well.
ME AND MY WORLD
As I said earlier, I have hit a wall and I cannot seem to push through it. Nothing seems to interest me enough to get me to sit down and work on new masters. This isn’t new. I’ve been here before. I just hope it doesn’t last much longer. I do not like feeling as though I am disappointing my customers. I also don’t like that, even though I do not consider myself to be a ‘professional,’ this whole thing is making me feel very ‘un-professional.’ I just have to keep from getting down on myself as experience tells me that will make things worse. If anyone out there has any ‘magic bullet’ ideas they would like to share, I am all ears. Either post them in the comments section or email me direct. At this point, I am willing to try anything that might actually help me get moving again — even modeling in the nude in the middle of my street (I bet that would be cause for a local laugh/fright or two 🙂 ).
THAT IS ALL
Well, that’s all I have for everyone this week. Until next time, you stay safe and try to build something (preferably something using TMD resin).
–Joe