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In this episode of Smalls that Sell, the host discusses the power of selling small items by comparing the profits of building a full-size Adirondack chair versus a smaller version. He explains that while there are already many videos teaching how to build a full-size chair, he focuses on teaching how to make high-profit, low-cost items. The competition for full-size chairs is high, with big box stores selling them for $70 each. The cost of materials alone for building a full-size chair is $115, making it difficult to sell at a profitable price point.
On the other hand, building smaller Adirondack chairs in batches of three using cedar wood costs only $2.52 per chair. Selling them at $40 each yields a profit of $37.48, with a profit margin of 93.7%. The host also times himself building the smaller chairs and is able to complete one in less than 30 minutes, resulting in a profit per hour of almost $65. The article will provide step-by-step instructions on how to build the smaller chairs.
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Key Takeaways
- Building smaller Adirondack chairs can yield a higher profit margin than building full-size chairs.
- Cedar wood is a cost-effective material for building smaller chairs.
- Building smaller chairs in batches of three can increase efficiency and profit per hour.
Reasons for Not Building a Full-Size Adirondack Chair
Matthew explains that there are several reasons why they have not made a video on how to build a full-size Adirondack chair. Firstly, there are already many videos available on how to make these chairs. Secondly, the competition for these chairs is high, with big box stores selling them for $70 each.
The cost of building a full-size Adirondack chair is also a factor. Using the same materials as those sold in big box stores, it would cost around $115 just for the materials. Even if the materials were purchased cheaper from a local sawmill, the time and effort required to join and plane the wood would bring the price back up.
In contrast, he suggests building smaller chairs in batches of three using cedar, which costs $2.52 per chair. Similar chairs on the market sell for around $30-$40 each, with a potential profit of $37.48 per chair sold at $40. This profit margin is much higher than that of a full-size Adirondack chair, which would need to be sold for $1,875 to achieve the same profit margin as the smaller chairs sold at $40.
Furthermore, the time required to build a full-size Adirondack chair is also a consideration. He timed themselves building the smaller chairs using jigs and templates and found that they could build one in less than 30 minutes, with a profit per hour of almost $65. In contrast, a full-size Adirondack chair could take up to two days to build, resulting in a profit per hour of only $2.19.
Overall, Matthew argues that building smaller, high-profit items such as the Adirondack chair squirrel feeder is a more profitable use of time and resources than building full-size Adirondack chairs.
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Profit Comparison: Small vs Full-Size Adirondack Chair
In this episode of Smalls that Sell, Matthew compares the profit margins of building and selling small Adirondack chairs versus full-size ones. He explains that while full-size Adirondack chairs may be popular, they are not as profitable as building and selling smaller chairs.
He explains that the cost of materials alone for a full-size Adirondack chair is around $115, which is almost twice the cost of materials for building three smaller chairs. Additionally, the competition for full-size chairs is high, with big-box stores selling them for as low as $70 each. This means that in order to make a profit selling full-size chairs, one would have to sell them for over $1,800 each, which is not realistic.
On the other hand, building and selling smaller chairs can be much more profitable. The cost of materials for building three small chairs is only $7.56, and he suggests selling them for around $40 each. This would result in a profit of $37.48 per chair, with a profit margin of 93.7%. Even if the chairs were sold for as low as $20 each, the profit margin would still be 87.4%.
He also notes that building smaller chairs is much quicker than building full-size ones. Using jigs and templates, he was able to build a small chair in under 30 minutes, with a profit per hour of almost $65. In contrast, building a full-size chair can take up to two days, resulting in a profit per hour of only $2.19.
Overall, he emphasizes the power of building and selling small items, and encourages viewers to consider adding small items to their inventory in order to supplement their income.
Profit Margin Analysis
The video presenter in Smalls that Sell demonstrates the profitability of selling small Adirondack chairs compared to full-size ones. The presenter argues that while a full-size Adirondack chair may cost $115 to build and can be sold for $70, the profit margin is low at 23%. In contrast, building small Adirondack chairs in batches of three using cedar that costs $2.52 per chair can result in a profit margin of 93.7% when sold for $40 each. Even at a lower price point of $35, the profit margin is still high at 92.8%. The presenter also notes that building small Adirondack chairs takes less time than building full-size ones, resulting in a higher profit per hour. Building 45 small chairs with $115 worth of lumber can result in a profit of $1,462. The presenter provides step-by-step instructions on how to build small Adirondack chairs, which can be found in the video or purchased as plans on their Etsy shop.
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Production Time Analysis
In the video, Matthew conducted a time trial to determine how long it takes to build each small Adirondack chair. Using jigs and templates, he was able to build one chair in less than 30 minutes. If he were mass-producing the chairs, it would take even less time to build each one.
On the other hand, he found a video by Steve Ramsey that teaches how to make a full-size Adirondack chair in a weekend. Assuming it takes two days to build one full-size chair, the profit per hour would be 2.19 dollars. However, if the builder uses patterns and jigs to build the chair in half the time, the profit per hour would be 4.38 dollars.
Based on these findings, he emphasized the power of selling smalls. By using the same amount of money that would have been spent on lumber for a full-size chair, a builder can make 45 small Adirondack chairs and earn a profit of 1,462 dollars.
Profit Per Hour Comparison
Matthew in the video compared the profit per hour for building a full-size Adirondack chair versus building smaller chairs. According to Matthew, building smaller chairs can yield a higher profit margin than building full-size chairs.
For instance, he calculated the cost of building a full-size Adirondack chair using the exact same materials. The cost of the materials alone was $115, which is higher than the price of a finished chair sold in big box stores ($70). Even if one were to sell the full-size chair for $150, the profit margin would only be 23%.
On the other hand, building smaller chairs using cedar can yield a profit margin of up to 93.7%. For example, if one were to build three chairs in a batch, the cost of materials per chair would be $2.52. Selling each chair for $40 would yield a profit of $37.48 per chair. He tested how long it takes to build one chair and was able to do it in less than 30 minutes, resulting in a profit per hour of almost $65.
In contrast, building a full-size Adirondack chair may take up to two days, resulting in a profit per hour of only $2.19. Even with the use of patterns and jigs to speed up the process, the profit per hour would still be significantly lower than building smaller chairs.
Overall, he emphasized the power of building and selling smaller items, such as the Adirondack chair squirrel feeder, as a way to supplement one’s income. He provided step-by-step instructions for building the chair and encouraged viewers to give it a try.
Investment and Profit Projection
The video explains the profitability of making small Adirondack chairs compared to full-size chairs. The cost of materials for a full-size chair is around $115, and the competition sells them for $70. In contrast, small chairs can be made out of Cedar for $2.52 per chair. The selling price of the small chair is around $35, and the profit margin is 92.8%. It takes less than 30 minutes to build a small chair using jigs and templates, which translates to a profit per hour of almost $65. In contrast, it takes two days to build a full-size chair, which translates to a profit per hour of $2.19.
If someone spends $115 on lumber for the large chair and instead buys lumber for small chairs, they would have enough material to build 45 chairs at $35 each, resulting in a profit of $1,462. The video concludes that small chairs are more profitable than full-size chairs and can be made quickly and efficiently.
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Building the Small Adirondack Chair
To build the small Adirondack chair, the first step is to cut the fence picket into two pieces using a saw. The first cut is made at 12 inches, and the second cut is made at 10 inches from that point. After that, the pieces are ripped down into smaller parts on the table saw.
The chair is designed to use the dog ears that are made onto the picket as part of the stand. The rest of the parts and their dimensions are provided in step-by-step instructions or in a downloadable plan available on the creator’s Etsy shop.
The small Adirondack chair can be built in less than 30 minutes using jigs and templates. If mass-produced, it can be built even faster. The profit per hour for building the small chair is almost $65, while building a full-size Adirondack chair takes two days and results in a profit per hour of $2.19.
Building small Adirondack chairs can be a profitable side hustle as they can be sold for $30 to $40, resulting in a profit margin of 87.4 percent to 93.7 percent. In contrast, the full-size chair’s profit margin is only 23 percent.
Materials and Measurements
The Adirondack chair squirrel feeder design chosen for the one picket challenge allows for the construction of three feeders using two fence pickets. The traditional design includes a screw for a corn cob or a bucket for peanuts. The cost of building a full-size Adirondack chair using three-quarter inch material is $115, which is the same as the cost of purchasing one from a big box store. However, due to the competition and mass production, selling a full-size chair for $70 is not profitable. Building and selling small chairs in batches of three using Cedar at $2.52 per chair would yield a profit of $37.48 per chair if sold for $40, resulting in a profit margin of 93.7%. In contrast, a full-size chair sold for $35 would yield a profit of $32.48 per chair, resulting in a profit margin of 92.8%. Building a small chair using jigs and templates takes less than 30 minutes, resulting in a profit per hour of almost $65, while building a full-size chair takes two days, resulting in a profit per hour of $2.19. By using patterns and jigs, a full-size chair can be built in half the time, resulting in a profit per hour of $4.38. Building 45 small chairs using the $115 lumber budget would yield a profit of $1,462. The design uses the dog ears of the fence picket for the chair stand. The first cut is made at 12 inches, and the second cut is made at 10 inches. The remaining parts are ripped down into smaller pieces on the table saw. Detailed step-by-step instructions with dimensions are provided, or plans can be purchased from the Etsy shop.
Assembly Process
The Adirondack chair squirrel feeder is built using fence pickets. The first cut is made at 12 inches and the second cut is made at 10 inches. These two boards are used to create the stand that the chair sits on. The remaining parts are ripped down into smaller parts on a table saw. The dimensions of every part are provided in a step-by-step guide. The process takes less than 30 minutes using jigs and templates. Mass production can further reduce the time required to build each chair.
Final Touches
Matthewin the video has made a compelling case for the power of selling small items, citing the example of building Adirondack chair squirrel feeders out of fence pickets. The design allows for three chairs to be built out of two pickets, making it a cost-effective and profitable venture.
Compared to building full-size Adirondack chairs, which can cost up to $115 in materials alone and sell for only $70 in big box stores, building and selling the smaller chairs can yield a profit margin of up to 93.7%. He timed themselves building one of the smaller chairs and found that it took less than 30 minutes, resulting in a profit per hour of almost $65.
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