Dunno. Woodworking tools is a tough business.

Look at what happened to Garrett Wade. They're
still around, sure, but they're not what they were.
The catalog used to be all fine woodworking tools
and now that part of it is real scaled back in favor
of gardening stuff.

Lots more people have gardening tool needs than
have woodworking tool needs.

 

Lee Valley also has other stuff. Maybe this is a trend.

 

Garrett Wade also sells gardening stuff.

 

Japan Woodworker was one of my local bricks and mortar stores, then the owner decided to retire, again, and WoodCraft bought them. Japan Woodworker in now online only and it's no longer possible to actually go in and handle those very cool and kinda expensive tools from another land….

 

Nothing but tools in my flyer. Woodcraft must not be selling enough tools here in Wisconsin!

 

I know Woodcraft is a franchise, so each store is independently owned and operated. Sounds like the owner of your store has decided grass is the new wood…

It is cool to go to different Woodcraft stores around the country as each one is a bit different. There is one in Atlanta that carries a bunch of high-end hand tools from independent makers as well as Lie Nielsen. I could spend hours in that place.

 

Got the paper copy of their current flyer in the mail today. No mention there about anything not pertaining to woodworking, just in the digital copy.

 

Maybe they are testing the waters for a stop mower by stop saw. Could save a few toes for a couple of grand. I will stick with my local hardware store they can get just about anything and that sucks that woodcraft would go into a different market but maybe it will lower the prices if they are making profit elsewhere.

 

I can see lawn/property care equipment as part of the general DIY / Handyman market. As a woodworker, I also have a background in landscaping and electrical. They have them, but it doesn't mean we need to buy them. The best way to send a message to Woodcraft is to just patronize their wood working equipment, and worry about lawn care somewhere else. (Hopefully it doesn't put them out of business).

 

With the price of lumber in certain parts of the country, Woodcraft could start selling a bigger line of nice axes, chainsaw mill attachments, log dogs, etc. as a way to help woodworkers process their own lumber. These are also items most big box stores don't carry.

 

Several months ago they announced that they were going to have a secondary operation that did things like lawn mowers, garage organization, outdoor equipment, etc. A lot of online retailers are expanding their online offerings because they don't have to stock them at all stores and can drop ship stuff and make a few bucks. It's just like the packet you get in your Rockler packages, but digital.

 

Right on Brian,
They wouldn't even have to carry those items, Go with companies that offer drop ship on orders. Or have a place you can see the product in the real, that they have given a good deal to a woodworker on one piece of equipment, in order to allow showings.

 

I live in the desert, so I guess my local Woodcraft wouldn't be carrying items like that. It's probably local demand items carried in the stores. I've been in small towns where a hardware store was selling groceries and auto parts…. ............ Jerry (in Tucson)

 

So, do Woodcraft's employees now have to like yard work as much as we do?

 

My nearby Woodsmith Store primarily stocks woodworking tools, lumber, and supplies; but it also has a decent-sized area up front with gardening and grilling stuff. Certainly it's largely about diversifying their offerings as more stores try to become your one-stop-shop, but I suspect it's also to help your better half kill time and maybe find a few things buy for the yard, add to the honey-do list, and maybe find some gift ideas.

 

And, this may be affecting some of the sales. If these guys are hurting could be the smaller ones are also. I hate to think of how many people have lost their jobs.

http://irsauctions.com/index.asp

 

Certainly it s largely about diversifying their offerings as more stores try to become your one-stop-shop, but I suspect it s also to help your better half kill time and maybe find a few things buy for the yard, add to the honey-do list, and maybe find some gift ideas.

- Rob

Thanks for the warning! I don't need anymore on my honey-do list, things for the yard or gifts, cutting into the shops budget. I am thinking this is a betrayal of their target market- a bad business decision that will give their shrinking market share to their competitors…

 

I have only been to a few of their stores and they were always far from being busy. Most of the time less than 3 people in the entire store. I don't think it will necessarily draw in more people just perhaps get a certain demographic at Woodcraft to buy lawn stuff there also. Only makes sense as they are really picking from a very small niche market to begin with (woodworkers are limited to begin with but then they go even a little further and appeal to a sub group within that small market).

 

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