Entrepreneurs: Craft, Commercial, or a mixture
As an entrepreneur and startup junkie (I’m just starting) I always wondered how things get started.
When my wife and I were watching one of our favorite shows, Diners, Drive Ins and Dives, I’ve been struck at who started the restaurant and why. Which, by the way, is always scouting for new “meat” to do a few new shows. Most content providers are.
After watching it for a number of years I’ve come to the conclusion that most of the establishments that Guy Fieri showcases is an aspect that the McDonalds and Starbucks has not done and will never do. An entrepreneur has a decision to make:
Going craft, commercial, or a mixture of both.
What do I mean?
I’ll use the example of my wife’s quilting.
Quilting: Handmade, sewing machine made, or a mixture.
Handmade = Craft. First, when my wife has the time she loves to do handmade quilts. I guess it is no different than if I can have a wood shop in our garage. But she loves to quilting and loves the work and the appreciation from those that receive them. They are truly made with love and care. But if you were to sell them one of two perspectives would happen. First, she’d either get paid pennies per hour for her work, or she’d charge an arm and a leg, but even then she’d have to be a top notch quilter to get those prices. But most consider her work “priceless” and therefore won’t part with them for any amount of money.
Machine made = Commercial. Now machine made is broken down into two perspectives, large companies using sewing machines or the ladies using their own. The large companies that employ lots of workers to turn out quilts in volume so that everyone can get a quilt to throw on their bed for lower costs. Or, ladies use a sewing machine to get their quilt done quicker for function, a lower “quality.”
Diners et al.
So Fieri goes for the craft of the food business, the best of the craft of the food. Maybe not the best maybe health- or calorie-wise, but he does showcase the uniqueness of each small business compared with the Olive Gardens and McDonalds businesses. They’re the commercial food companies, with some having, maybe, some craft thrown in with their product.
So describe your business, are you going craft, commercial, or a little of both?
