Laser Focused November/December 2022

November/December 2022

TABL E OF CON TENT S

Cover Story: Emily the Inspirer - Emily Caroline 3 Amazing Things Your Laser Can Do 12345Dan Shapiro, Glowforge Heirloom Ornament: Sell Now, Stay Busy in January 12345Braden Todd, GS2 Supply Designed to Sell 12345Matt Rise, Talk Laser

Tips and Tricks Recurring Columns Business: Grow Your Business With Wholesale Orders Sumita & Anuj Patel, Home Bound Custom Decor Design: You're a Maker/Designer...So Now What?

12345Victor Havens, Excited Atoms Maintenance: Things Your Laser Wishes You Knew...

12345Summer Shigley, The Spotless Forge Materials - Acrylic: Your Top 10 Acrylic Style Guide 12345Chelsea Sauder, Houston Acrylic Materials - Wood: Plywood; Understanding What You're Buying Brian Agan, H & H Creations Suppliers: 10 Things to Look for When Deciding on a Laser Supply Vendor 12345 Will Louie, Crazy Laser Dad

Classifieds Robin Roberts, Editor & Publisher Laser Focused Magazine, Spring, Texas www.LaserFocusedMagazine.com. Info@LaserFocusedMagazine.com

What can I say? Emily Caroline - That Mom With A Laser – is amazing! She is one of the first people I checked out on YouTube when I began my laser adventure. I am tickled pink and honored to have her grace the November/December cover of Laser Focused.

This woman started from ground zero, built a tremendous business to this point, and looks intent on building an empire! Make sure you read the article to see how she got started, the organic maturing of her business, what she's doing now, and how she continues to help others in the laser industry find their own path. She is the model of Givers Gain and Win-Win! And the total goodness doesn't stop there! This issue is absolutely jam-packed with information: building new avenues of business, how to sell designs, teaching your laser tricks, a great holiday money-maker, and so much more! There is something here for everyone!

None of this would be possible without the fantastic guest contributors. The articles they write for you are informative and helpful, hopefully answering some of those questions you have had in the back of your mind. If you would like to be a guest contributor, please follow this link – even if it is just the beginning of an idea, send it. Then, we can flesh it out together!

Right now, we have requests for articles on fiber lasers and intellectual property rights... and so many questions on marketing that we will be adding a seventh recurring column on marketing. From photo staging, to markets, to social media... so many topics! Let's face it that could be a magazine all by itself! So, whatever marketing topic you have a question on, please send it in. It will help the magazine grow in the direction you really want to see.

You will also receive an email soon that will invite you into a members area for all Laser Focused subscribers. Once in the member area, you will have access to past issues and pieces that didn't quite make it into the magazine! And that's just to start. I will follow Emily's lead and let that grow organically from the feedback and interest.

May you have busy, happy, and prosperous holidays. We will see you in the new year, late January, with our January/February issue of Laser Focused!

Never miss an issue Click Here to Subscribe

Robin

EDITOR'S NOTE

WOW!

Robin Roberts, Editor & Publisher

GUEST CONTRIBUTORS Brian Agan H&H Creations

Victor Havens Excited Atom Designs

Dan Shapiro Glowforge

Will Louie Crazy Laser Dad

Braden Todd GS2 Supplies

Sumita Patel Home Bound Custom Decor

Matt Rise Talk Laser

Summer Shigley, The Spotless Forge Time2Travel

Chelsea Sauder Houston Acrylic

Become a guest contributor and showcase your expertise with the Laser Focused readers.

Contact us HERE

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR A Follow up on MDF MDF also has resin. . . . Based on the resin, a molecular bond strength rating is achieved (resin and glue). MDF varies widely in internal bond ratings as these two elements have different strengths and weaknesses and are often presented as such by the mills. EI. Ranger High vs. Ranger premium vs. Ranger, Trupan Plus vs. Trupan, etc. The internal bond rating is important because it's inaccurate to say that MDF has no 'fibers' or fiber lift. While slightly different from natural wood fiber (traditional sense), MDF will have fiber rise when exposed to moisture, particularly in the air after sanding or with an introduction to paint finishes. This also explains the absorption rate of paint or shellac between MDF lot to lot. Some MDF will need four coats, others less than - based on the ability of the MDF to absorb and have room or moisture inside the paint. For instance, MedEX will not move in dimension with the introduction of moisture, whereas Trupan plus will swell to three times its width and need three times more paint.

Fan Mail From Afar!

I just wanted to reach out and thank you for the fabulous magazine, It is full of great content, I am really enjoying reading it and learning loads.

Thanks for all your hard work on this, I look forward to the next issue.

Kind regards Tara Tara Lane Centrepiece Rosettes Founder Equestrian Business Network Ireland President Network Ireland Kildare Branch 2020 Networker of the Year 2018

Because of the above, MDF can warp due to an imbalance in both itself and the veneer on top and bottom of it. This is particularly true when you have two competing veneer species (like an A4 scenario from the mill.) If a low-grade MDF is used as the core, the MDF will physically split when the material meets high or low moisture levels, because the inter-internal bond rating is not greater than the warp differential of the two species of wood veneers.

Lighter vs Darker MDF can also come as a result of the press (continuous vs press mold) rather than the components of the actual slurry of MDF raw ingredients. This can be true of material with the same MSDS and carrying the same badge, but created at different mills. For instance, the mill in St. Saute Marine is completely different from the mill in Malvern, Arkansas, even though both are producing Trupan Plus badged MDF. It will have almost no effect on the laser's ability to cut through the material. Color can also be a result of (for instance, from Montana) carrying a greater hardwood mix and look visibly different than that of a mill in Canada which carries a softwood mix. This can have some effect on the laser's ability to get through the material, but often it's not noticeable on material less than 1/2 in thickness.

Some MDF carries known red-listed agents, some do not. This is important to understand for the safety of your machine, and possibly as it relates to proper ventilation and exhaust.

Walter Bubzey Operations Manager Ian and Grace Laser Studio Holland, MI Home

TIPS AND TRICKS

Tips from other laser professionals - if you have one, submit it HERE

If you’re thinking of lasering new clothes, especially jeans, always wash them first! Often they are processed with formaldehyde.

Formaldahyde plus lasering equals fire!

LEATHER - is it safe for your laser?

Here's an easy way to determine what type of leather you have, Veg tanned or chrome tanned: Boil water, place piece in, it is safe to use in the tanned. If it simply floats put that in your laser as tanned.

Susan Paul

if it curls up laser - veg then do not it is chrome

When you are working with oily rags - for example after staining or painting - DO NOT wad them up and throw them away!

They can build up heat and break into a fire. Take the rags and lay them out to dry out.

After they are completely dry you can throw them away!

From Missa Braund-Allen’s class at The Next Level Laser Conference

Jonathan Gleich

it m b u S your ite r o v fa !! e r e tip h Ever get flashback on your white acrylic piece and despair of getting it off?

Break out the cleaner Bartender’s Friend - and an old toothbrush! Just cover the damp brush with a small amount of the powder and brush it gently. Voila! The flashback is gone and now both sides are pristine!

Robin Roberts

Heirloom Ornaments Sell Now; Stay Busy in January

We all know that ornaments sell like crazy for the holidays, but how can we use this selling frenzy to build sales and work for the inevitable downtime after the holidays? The answer is with heirloom ornaments! These ornaments aren't the ones you need to scour Esty for files for either; these are simple pieces that barely require purchased materials!

To sell and capture these sales, all that is needed are pre-sales to lock in the orders, and then the needed production occurs in January when everything seems to slow down for about a month. The special part of these ornaments is that they are made from your customer's actual Christmas Tree. So instead of making a "Baby's First Christmas" ornament, you get to make a "First Christmas Tree" ornament! This will help invoke the holiday memories of setting up the tree for the first Christmas, and the customer gets to keep an engraved piece of art from that first memorable tree! If you don't want to limit sales, you can easily edit the phrase to include "Dillon's First Christmas Tree," "Our First Christmas Tree," "Our First Tree in Our New Home," and many more! Year after year, these ornaments will grow in value for your customer and become an heirloom for their families.

Luckily everyone will want their tree for the holidays while you're already swamped, so all that is needed is to take the orders during the holidays, then have the customer bring over a piece of the tree trunk when they take their tree down after the holidays are over. This helps generate more sales that you may not have time to fulfill in November/December, and then start the actual work and fulfillment in January when sales always seem to slump.

As mentioned, you will need a piece of the tree trunk to make the actual ornament. Also

needed will be a handsaw or chop saw, orbital sander or sandpaper, and clear finish (Deft Semigloss from Home Depot works great), and an eye hook for attaching a ribbon.

We produced these ornaments by taking the tree trunk and slicing a semi-thick round from the wood piece. Once you have the round, you will sand it smoothly using an orbital sander or sandpaper. We always like to start with 80 grit and then work up to 220 grit to get a nice smooth surface. Once your surface is smooth and clean from dust, you can spray it with clear sealer. As you spray, you will see the sealer is not even and soaks in differently across your piece. With a few coats, the sealer will fully cover the round. We like to let this last coat fully dry, then sand lightly with 220 grit and spray the sealer one last time to leave a very smooth surface. This will need to be done to the front and backside, and the edges will need sprayed too but not sanded as the edges are meant to look more rustic. To mount the eye hook, we recommend pre-drilling a pilot hole and then attaching the eye hook. By pre-drilling a pilot hole, you will prevent splitting the round when adding the eye hook.

Now that the round is fully prepped, you’re ready to engrave the round. Generally, with pine, the laser engraving process produces a nice contrasting mark, but if desired, you can always add a paint fill to the text too. If paint filling, be sure to mask the round, then engrave, seal the engraving with your clear finish, and then fill with paint. By sealing the engraving, you will prevent the paint from wicking into the unengraved wood and making the engraving appear blurry.

Now that all the work is done, all that is left is to unveil the heirloom ornament to your customer.

I hope this helps to capture more sales this holiday season, good luck everyone!

Braden Todd, GS2 Awards

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Emily the Inspirer

Feature Article 2 of ?

That mom, 3 years ago,

was a mom looking for an answer. Emily Caroline was then a stay-at-home mom, taking time off from her job as a high school history teacher to start her family. It was time to add a second income back into the family budget yet something urged her to seek a different path from teaching.

Continuing to be available to her family was paramount so she prayed for an answer on how to use her talents in a new way to create income. [Video]

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Emily the Inspirer...

Emily had always been creative and a crafter so she thought there must be a way to use her those skills and talents to create income for her family. Enter her good friend, Mindy. One day her friend shared her latest creation on Facebook; it was a sign. But it wasn't like any of the previous signs Emily had seen her make in her decade-long crafting business. It was threedimensional. And it was intriguing. [Video] It turns out Mindy had added a laser cutter to her arsenal of crafting tools. And with great excitement, Emily got her first, life-changing glimpse at what would manifest great success for her in the laser world.

Mindy had a Glowforge, and Emily loved it. It was the jumping-off point to researching lasers. She did her homework and, in the process, found Aeon Laser USA. The company was a short 3 hours from her home.

After visiting their headquarters and getting a feel for the company, its lasers, and its customer service and support, she chose to start her journey with a Mira 7. [Video] As Emily forged ahead with her laser, she created a thriving local base which kept her so busy that first Christmas season that she missed experiencing the holidays with her family! This was a big problem. The whole reason she went into a business of her own was to be available as a mom and wife. Something had to give; changes had to be made.

It's interesting to note that her first solutions were not within the business itself. Her initial steps were to release some of the 'mom jobs' – for example, hiring a housekeeping service and

having food delivered. These were great solutions that met the family's needs and freed up time so she could focus on family relationships, not tasks, and her business.

Emily openly admits that she was terrified of her laser in the beginning. As she says, "High anxiety and low comfort do not make for a great experience." While the intimidation factor of this big laser was real, there was one thing that Emily knew in her bones – no matter what, she would always rise to the challenge and be successful. With that in mind and her dogged determination, she set about figuring it out.

[Video] As she got started she spent time in the Glowforge communities on Facebook. The people, many if not most of them women, kept her inspired and current on trends but what she could not get from these communities was technical help. So she turned to YouTube, only to find no women in the commercial-grade laser space. The truth was that she was one of the only women with a commercial-grade laser. Yes, there were laserrelated videos available, but it was very much a male-dominated landscape. And yes, there was a lot of information out there, but very little that was organized and easy to understand. [Video] It occurred to Emily, "If I am experiencing this, then I bet there are other women out there who are intimidated by a bigger laser." And with that thought in mind, she began to video her

journey, her YouTube adventure growing right alongside her laser adventure.

Three years and many videos later, the "That Mom With A Laser" (aka TMWAL) YouTube channel is over 20,000 subscribers strong and growing. The channel is definitely a stop for anyone researching and learning about all things laser. There are countless 'how-to' videos on techniques and products, others on maintaining your laser, and still, others featuring tools. In fact, TMWAL has three formal business partnerships; Aeon Laser USA, PiBurn (LensDigital), and Bear Woods Supply Company; all resulting from her YouTube success.

In 2021 she expanded by offering more digital files than finished products and created a merch line. And while it had been a glimmer from pretty early on, creating a more structured educational offering was coming into focus.

Starting in April 2021, Emily began the process of creating her online course.

There was lots of behind-thescenes work going on; researching, planning, writing, filming, and more; as she developed her educational vision.

One year later, Emily proudly introduced Laser Launch Academy (see insert.) She had nurtured the idea and here it was, now come to fruition.

Also in 2021 Emily posted a video of her visit to the Aeon warehouse. It went viral, and as a result, Emily began receiving hundreds of questions, and her relationship with Aeon grew even stronger. She would spend time working with their team, helping them understand their customers' mindsets and needs. Effectively Emily was an important set of eyes and ears out in the field, bringing back much-appreciated data. This assisted Aeon in refining how they worked with their customers, something, for which, they are very well known. Her support and presence within the Aeon community resulted in Emily becoming the official Brand Ambassador for Aeon in February 2022.

But with growth comes the need to release both control of specific tasks and even pieces of the business. In January of 2022, with the course heavily in development and the relationship with Aeon becoming official, it became time for Emily to stop making products - at least temporarily.

As much as she loved that part of the business, there needed to be more attention on these other areas. [Video]

Objective: shorten your laser learning curve with the most comprehensive guide on how to successfully operate your CO2 laser.

Who: It is open to anyone with a commercialgrade laser (not just Aeon models.)

The ideal student is focused and ready to get down to business, learning to capitalize on their machine's capabilities.

The course has enrollment periods and is currently offering a waitlist.

More details can be found HERE.

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How to Paint Engraved Acrylic

Which Laser Should I Buy?

What's Next For TMWAL?

Two of Emily's most watched videos and What's Next...

After 8 months of focus on launching the course, being Aeon's Brand Ambassador and even a public speaking engagement at Flourish Fusion, Emily's attention is returning once again to the product business. "Now that I have a handle on this thing that morphed, I want to get back to making physical products," she said. And three years to the day she started her laser adventure, Emily moved into a warehouse space to start this new phase of TMWL. She has also added two new lasers (a Nova 14 and the Mira 5), and will soon have a whole new product line launched.

To prepare for this new product line, Emily has added a team of designers to her growing business. While she can create designs, part of growth was to stay in her zone of genius and bring others in. They could take her vision and, with collaboration, make it happen much faster then she could alone.

Finding and onboarding employees is the next step in Emily's adventure. With the warehouse ready and 2 lasers waiting for work, this is the logical progression.

So why is Emily growing her business in this way? Witnessing many of her followers taking what they had learned and creating 6 and 7figure laser businesses has inspired her, and she is now ready to do the same. And the great news for us is that she is prepared to take us along on her journey! [Video]

Emily speaking in New Orleans at the Flourish Fusion Conference

Emily on Laser Everything in September

I asked Emily what the best advice she had ever received was. She responded that some of the best advice has come from the books she has read. "The game here is the mindset. You can have the best laser on the planet. You can have the best product and the best business plan, but if you don't have the right mindset, I guarantee you will fail.

You have to be intentional in what you allow into your mind... feed your mind the right fuel. Start reading and listening to businessrelated books and podcasts." [Video] Her top three book recommendations are:

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson, Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki The one that changed her mind back in her college days, at 19 years old, was Rich Dad, Poor Dad [Video]. After reading that book, Emily says she knew she would be a millionaire one day – and now she is on her way!

I don't know about you, Reader, but I take great comfort from this photo!

EMILY'S SOCIAL MEDIA STATS Facebook Community - 34k YouTube - 20.8k Instagram - 11.5k TikTok - 15.7k Etsy Sales - 5235, 5 Star Rating

Finally, I asked Emily what advice she had for our readers. [Video]

"Have faith in yourself. You have to move beyond the fear because great things lie on the other side for you.

Believe in yourself, and don't let analysis paralysis stop you.

Don't overthink it, just do it.

Get it done.

Go for it!"

To View All Emily Caroline Laser Focused Videos

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Tricks

By Dan Shapiro

When I was a kid in the 80s, there was this kooky pitchman on late-night TV: Sy Sperling. He’d be on television at all hours trying to get men to buy wigs. At the end of his pitch, he’d always say: “I'm not only the Hair Club president, but I'm also a client.”

Well, I’m the Sy Sperling of lasers. I’m the founder and CEO of Glowforge, but I love lasers. I use my Glowforge to make stuff all the time.

Today I want to share my three favorite ideas for what you can do with your laser.

And it doesn’t need to be one of ours - these ideas can work with just about any laser out there!

Let's jump right in!

Print Money 12345Most people think of their laser cutters as onand-off, but one of the niftiest tricks you can do is use your laser like a carving machine and perform a 3d engraving.

12345They’re truly amazing: by continuously varying the power of the laser as it engraves back and forth, it can carve deep into the material, or use a gentler touch to create texture.

12345At instagram.com/thefairydoor, they use their Glowforge to 3D engrave their original works of art.

to Teach Your Laser Designing a 3d engraving is a little counterintuitive. You use a bitmap, like a PNG file (preferred) or JPG file. Then, the color of each pixel represents depth. Black isn’t black: instead, each black area represents the deepest part of the engraving, where the laser is at maximum power. White is the opposite: white areas turn the laser off. Grey is in the middle; the darker the grey, the deeper the engraving there.

You can design your creation from scratch in software like Illustrator or Photoshop, using darker colors to carve deeper. Alternatively, you can take a 3d model, and convert it to a grayscale depth map, as shown HERE. Once you do, you’ll need to find the right settings to 3D engrave. You’ll want to go slow, at medium power, and take full advantage of the maximum resolution. If you’re using a Glowforge, you can use the “3D engrave” preset. Otherwise, take your time and test something small until you dial in the settings just how you want them.

Personally, I was fascinated by the US Penny. I designed this from scratch in Adobe Illustrator, and engraved it in walnut.

You can see the results below.

Warning: this is not tender for any debts, public or private!

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Furnish Your House

CAD software can be intimidating, but the payoff is fantastic - you can create truly 3D objects that can transform your home.

Many laser creators get stuck in 2D, and there’s all sorts of things you can create. But once you start modeling with software like Fusion 360, you’ll find laser projects in every corner of your home.

If you like videos, a member of the Autodesk Fusion 360 team created this video series.

If you prefer illustrated step-by-step, the “create a simple box” series here can’t be beat.

For example, this kind of lamp would be nearly impossible to design in Adobe Illustrator - but was easy to sketch up in Fusion 360. As a bonus, I could angle the louvers so that they lit up my side of the bed, without shining on my wife!

Something You’ll Use Forever

This messenger bag started out as a challenge: could I make something that would truly be used every day?

I had no idea what I was doing, so I looked around online for patterns. I didn’t use any of them, but I got ideas from all of them.

The secret was that I designed the entire bag in paper. First, I cut sheets of paper and taped them together to get the shape. Then, I created the design in illustrator - but laser cut it out of big sheets of paper and used tape instead of thread.

Finally, I lasered it out of leather, and got the shoulder bag you see here.

That was seven years ago - it’s still hanging in my closet!

Getting a laser is like Peter Parker getting his spider-superpowers. Suddenly

you can do things you’ve never done before. And seven years later, I’m still learning new tricks!

I hope some of these inspire you to try something new. Please tag me if you do so I can see - I’m @danshapiro on twitter, and I’d love to see what you create!

Dan Shapiro is the founder and CEO of Glowforge. Prior to starting Glowforge, Dan launched a variety of companies, including the best-selling board game, Robot Turtles, where he learned the joys and challenges of using complicated laser technology to create unique prototypes. Dan saw the major potential of bringing a beautiful, user-friendly laser to the market, and the idea for Glowforge was born. Dan on Twitter

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Busine

CONTRIBUTORS: Sumita & Anuj P

Grow Your Laser Business Imagine being able to focus on one large order vs. multiple small orders – this means less design time, easier processing, and higher efficiency. Doesn’t that sound ideal? That’s why we decided to shift our focus to securing wholesaling about a year into owning our laser machine.

When you think of wholesale, you may initially think of large retail stores.

However, there has been a huge demand from smaller brick and mortar stores and online retailers who are looking for unique items to offer their customers.

Here are a few strategies we used to scale growth and increase revenue stream without having to change or modify our existing product line.

1. Start Local. Our first few wholesale orders came from boutiques that were in our hometown. We would spend Saturday afternoons window shopping storefronts in our area. If we thought our products would be a good fit, we would ask for the manager and request a meeting to discuss the products that we offer. Being able to chat with them in person helped build that initial relationship and they loved the idea of supporting a local business. Don’t be afraid! Alternatively, we also sent emails or direct messages on social media to a lot of local stores letting them know that we offer wholesale pricing on many of our products.

Create a Catalog. Initially, we kept pictures of our products on our phone for easy showing during a meeting and brought in samples of the items.

However, we found that most retailers preferred if we also provided them with a price sheet that included pictures of the item, a short description, and the minimum quantities they had to order for wholesale pricing. This way, they were able to reference something after our meeting and didn’t have to rely on their own notes. They could also keep it on hand for future ordering cycles.

Keep It Simple. Items that we have had the most success with are often the simplest. We generally wholesale items like cutting boards, coasters, ornaments, bottle openers, hats, and tumblers.

Popular quotes, local city/state names, zip codes, and sayings associated with major life occasions like weddings, birthdays, and anniversaries have often performed the best. The retailer is usually looking for items that their customers will buy as a need for an upcoming gifting opportunity. We also focus on items that do not require a lot of assembly or painting on our end – because these items are already being offered at a wholesale discount to the retailer, we want to be able to produce them quickly and efficiently, thereby maximizing our profit margins.

ss 101

atel, Home Bound Custom Decor

With Wholesale Orders Set Pricing. The general rule of thumb is that your wholesale pricing should be about 50% of your retail price, which usually ensures that you can still make an ROI. However, this doesn’t always apply evenly to all items. For example, if you are offering ornaments: one sheet of wood typically costs around $5. We can make about 15 ornaments from one sheet. We would typically retail each non-personalized ornament for $14 on our website, thus producing $210 in revenue from our $5 sheet of wood. If we offer these same ornaments in wholesale, the general rule of thumb would tell us to offer them for $7 per ornament, but sometimes we may offer it for more or less than that price depending on the market and type of store we are selling to. If we know that the store generally is successful in putting their own markup of 50% or more on the item, we may charge a higher wholesale price per unit.

It is also a good idea to provide the retailer with suggested retail pricing for your item – this usually helps encourage the retailer to invest in the wholesale order because they can visualize their potential profit and it helps prevent retailers from undercutting each other if multiple retailers are carrying your items.

Be sure to also set minimum order quantities for the retailer to receive wholesale pricing. One great strategy is to provide a discount based on larger orders. This will encourage retailers to order more so that they will have a better margin when they resale your product.

Think Outside the Box. Brick and Mortar stores aren’t the only option for wholesale orders. With eCommerce growing every day, Faire.com has become a great place to obtain wholesale orders. Faire is an online marketplace where retailers can go shopping other small businesses and see what they have to offer. This way, you aren’t limited to your local marketplace and now have access to boutiques across the nation. Faire is free to join, and you only pay a commission if Faire connects you with a new retailer through their marketplace.

Start thinking of other businesses that may compliment your offerings – for example, we recently secured a wholesale order of charcuterie boards from a charcuterie company – that wanted to purchase our boards to build their cheese platters on with their logo engraved. This wasn’t a typical wholesale retailer, but it was a great opportunity and our boards were seen by so many new customers!

Wholesale is a great way to scale your laser business and get your product into the doors of retailers that don’t have the ability to produce items you may be offering on their own. With the right pricing strategy and a handful of products that are easy to produce in large quantities, you can be on your way to establishing wholesale relationships time and time again.

Sumita & Anuj Patel are the owners of Home Bound Custom Decor. Join their Laser Learning Group on Facebook – Home Bound Laser Learners. Follow on Instagram, and register for their class sharing tips and tricks on growing your laser business, available on their website.

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m o r f s e r u t c i P The Next Level Laser Conference

Sacramento, CA August 12-14, 2022

TN LLC ce fer en n o C E FU TU R g 20 23 n i r p S : TB D Pla c e en y es o p e r u o K eep y n fo r a t! c em en n u o ann Home

MATERIALS

GUEST CONTRIBUTOR: Chelse

Your Top 10 Acryl In the world of plastics, acrylic is popular for its versatility, durability, and variety of styles. In the laser community, you either love it, hate it, or have no idea how to begin using it. When starting with acrylic it can be difficult to understand the differences in styles and best use cases.

In general, standard acrylic sheets refer to any solid, tinted, or clear acrylic sheet.

Standard acrylic can be offered in a variety of opacities, finishes, and thicknesses.

Below breaks down everything you need to know about the top 10 acrylic styles, including standard and specialty acrylic. #1 Clear Acrylic Clear acrylic is a transparent acrylic that is a popular glass alternative due to its clarity and UV-resistant properties. Unlike resin or other plastics, clear acrylic is not prone to yellowing even when left exposed to the elements. Engraved cast acrylic results in a crisp high contrasting effect which can replace the need for printing or paint fill.

Pros: Widely available, consistent clarity, cost-effective, easily buffed, and polished to remove damages Cons: Susceptible to flashback, general scratches appear more visible than on other styles Great for: Invitations, fish tanks, framing, awards, signage #2 Frosted Acrylic Frosted acrylic is a color-tinted translucent acrylic with a matte finish. Depending on the level of translucency it can have great lightdiffusing properties. Frosted acrylic may

have a matte finish on one or both sides.

Pros: Potential light diffusing properties and the appearance of surface imperfections is less noticeable 123Cons: It can be harder to polish/buff without disrupting the original matte finish Great For: Signage, ornaments, décor #3 Fluorescent Acrylic Fluorescent acrylic is a translucent acrylic that appears with a lit edge when exposed to light. This effect can appear on the edges of your cut as well as any engraving. It also has a neon glow when held under a black light.

12345Pros: Widely available with very crisp engraves and popular with consumers 12345Cons: Limited color selection 12345Great For: LED Signs or accessories, engraved pieces, gaming accessories #4 Mirror Acrylic 12345Mirror acrylic is a glass mirror alternative and comes in a variety of colors.

Unlike other styles of acrylic, mirror acrylic can only be manufactured via the extrusion method. This means mirror acrylic is more delicate than cast acrylic and can crack more easily. Mirror acrylic is also more susceptible to heat and can experience flashback if proper settings and masking are not used.

12345Pros: Laser-friendly mirror alternative and highly popular 12345Cons: Less durable than cast acrylic and more susceptible to flashback and crazing 12345Great for: High-contrast engravings, wedding décor, and signage

: ACRYLIC

ea Sauder, Houston Acrylic

lic Style Guide #5 Metallic Acrylic 12345Metallic acrylic is a fully-cast doublesided mirror acrylic alternative. While not as reflective as mirror acrylic, it has a similar sheen and aesthetic to mirror versus other glossy acrylic styles.

12345Pros: Double-sided and more durable than mirror acrylic 12345Cons: More susceptible to flashback and crazing than other cast acrylic 12345Great for: 360˚ pieces such as cake toppers and earrings #6 Iridescent Acrylic 12345Iridescent acrylic has color-shifting properties and produces an iridescent effect either through an iridescent acrylic paste or a specially adhered film. Opaque iridescent colors are commonly fully cast and created with a paste. Highly reflective or translucent iridescent styles are extruded acrylic sheets treated with a specialty film. When sourcing, purchase from reputable suppliers. Film iridescent sheets can vary widely in quality due to the type of film and adhesive used during manufacturing.

12345Cast Iridescent Pros: Extremely eyecatching and popular with consumers 12345Cast Iridescent Cons: Cast iridescent is more susceptible to flashback and charring along edges 12345Film Iridescent Pros: Extremely eyecatching, creates a unique engraving effect 12345Film Iridescent Cons: More susceptible to scratching, cannot be buffed or polished to restore like other acrylic styles 12345Great for: Jewelry, Décor, engraved pieces

#7 Glitter Acrylic 12345Glitter acrylic is produced by casting an acrylic paste with various glitter particles or sequins. Glitter acrylic styles are offered in a variety of colors and styles.

12345Pros: Eye-catching and durable acrylic with a shine 12345Cons: Can warp more easily depending on the density of the confetti and vary in thickness creating cutting difficulties 12345Great for: Ornaments, earrings, and keychains #8 UV-Printed 12345UV-printed acrylic is a printed acrylic sheet to create a unique pattern or design. UV-printed acrylic may feature a single-sided or double-sided pattern and is a cost-effective option when looking for a custom style of acrylic.

12345Pros: Low-cost option for custom and fad/seasonal trends 12345Cons: Quality issues in printing can result in excessive peeling or scratching of the ink when exposed to heat from laser 12345Great for: Due to scratching, UVprinted acrylic is great for static pieces like signs with limited wear and tear #9 Two-Tone Acrylic 12345Two-tone acrylic, such as the Houston Acrylic Two-Tone and ColorCarve line, is double-layered acrylic made especially for laser-engraving. When engraved, the top layer is removed to reveal the contrasting color of the core layer. This acrylic lets you avoid the hassle and mess of paint-filling your engravings.

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Acrylic continued here......

True two-tone acrylic features a very thin cast acrylic or acrylic composite top layer instead of an ink or alternative material.

12345Pros: Durable two-tone engravings without a paint-fill 12345Cons: Proper settings for a crisp engrave can extend engraving time and result in residue that requires additional cleaning 12345Great For: Nameplates, name tags, industrial signage #10 Patterned/Specialty Acrylic 12345In addition to the styles mentioned above, acrylic can come in a wide variety of other patterns and options. This acrylic is typically referred to as patterned or specialty acrylic. It can vary in terms of availability, finish, and ply. Most specialty acrylics will only be offered in the standard 1/8” thickness due to quality concerns regarding the pattern.

12345Pros: Variety of options and patterns 12345Cons: Limited reliability and access, increased troubleshooting due to certain styles and variances in manufacturing 12345Great for: Cake toppers, jewelry, and fashion pieces Starting your acrylic journey and picking the right style for your needs can seem overwhelming. Understanding the unique properties of these various styles can help navigate this process more effectively. With the information above you can start to source the right acrylic for your projects and determine what styles you can leverage more easily across multiple projects.

Remember, the right material can make or break your project, your budget and your laser!

Be careful to only source materials from reputable CO2 laser material suppliers.

Chelsea Sauder is a partner at Houston Acrylic along with Courtney and Patrick Boren. Through Houston Acrylic, Chelsea has combined her background in entrepreneurship with her passion for the maker community. HoustonAcrylic.com

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DESIGN: You’re a Maker/

GUEST CONTRIBUTOR: Victor Have

Many of us spend an inordinate amount of time trying to come up with the ‘next best thing’ or chasing sales. What if I told you that you don’t have to do that? What if I told you that to make (or design) truly amazing pieces starts with not asking someone else “what’s your best seller?” — it starts with making something you love.

We are inundated daily with media in the many groups we follow. We see others making amazing things and want to be that person. Shocker…you already are! Stop comparing your apples to someone else’s apples.

As a designer and maker, early on, I spent a ton of time designing files that I hated because I thought everyone would love them and they would sell. Truth is, the reason I spent a ton of time on them was that I didn’t like what I was doing so it took longer for me to do it. I also found that they didn’t get the response I expected. There’s a good reason for that, I didn’t put effort into making them special. I just finished them to get them done. Never do a design you can’t feel passionate about.

The moment you let go and create something you love, you will see a difference in how you treat the process. I am also betting, you will see a difference in what others say about your pieces. The worst thing you can do is make a piece that you don’t like, then have to make 200 of them. This will sap every ounce of energy and inspiration you have. Will you make money? Absolutely. But at what cost to you?

Where do you start?

Each of us has something we love, and chances are, others love it too. Instead of trying to fit into a market, create one of your own. Someone once told me, if you do one thing well, you don’t have to do everything. Truth is, I still try to do everything, but I found the one thing I LOVE and I try my best to do it well.

You can have a lot of variation in something you design. A lot of things I design are just boxes and then I add embellishments to those boxes to make them something else.

They are still just boxes, but each one is different and speaks to different people. I also believe that if you go beyond pure aesthetics and give your design a purpose, the market for your piece just opened up to a wider audience.

Here are some tips for creating the things you love and building your own market.

Make a list of all the things you love.

They don’t have to be physical things. Don’t limit yourself, you can associate things with feelings. Start with the feeling if you can’t come up with an actual object. Then just start listing all the things that make you feel that. There are no wrong answers when you do this. Just write everything you can think of.

What would you buy?

When you buy something for yourself or someone else, take note of what it is. You can get an idea of how/what to make. Let’s

Designer…So Now What?

ns - Excited Atom Design

be real, there is nothing new under the sun.

We just find new ways to present it. Find your way.

Put your ideas somewhere.

Get a notepad, or even use your notes on your phone. When you have an idea, Put it down. Then you can start to think of how you are going to make it.

I spend a lot of time staring off into nothingness when I am trying to create a new piece. I have a strange ability to put it together in my head and see it then take it apart piece by piece. I fix what is wrong, then I just draw the pieces. If you can do that, then do it, if you can’t, get out a piece of paper and a pencil and draw it. It doesn’t have to be a DaVinci. Just get it so you don’t forget it.

Make something that solves a problem for you.

We all have thought about creating something that will solve a problem. I don’t know how many times during the day I say, “I should make such-and-such so I don’t have to do this anymore.” There are tons of files for sale that hold things, dispense things, or even do a task that fills a need.

Chances are if you are having that problem, someone else is too!

Market to people you know.

Everyone talks about getting out there and having an online presence, DEFINITELY do that. But remember, AVON became a multinational corporation by having people sell stuff to their friends. The best part is, that they will [should] feel comfortable enough to tell you if they like the pieces you

are making. Does this work in every case?

No. But it is definitely a great place to start.

Don’t be afraid to go minimal or overboard.

You should never limit yourself to how much material, or time, something takes.

Let’s face it, I am the king of “If one board is good, twenty is better!” The piece you create takes exactly how much material it takes until you say ‘I’m done!’

Learn the tools you use.

Let’s face it, there are many different design applications for you to use. I use Illustrator because when I started designing in the dark ages of computers, it was the only one. Now you have choices!

I always tell people that they should download the trial for the program they want to use and make something. Then download another trial for another program and make that same thing. This will help you see which one fits your design style and processes. Once you decide, learn everything you can about that program.

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.

The time you think you waste trying to figure out how to do something is actually quite valuable. You now know how not to do it. And in the process probably found about three ways to do something else.

Remember, you are not going to break the program. If you screw something up on your design ‘Undo’ is your best friend!

If you have questions, ask someone that uses that program. People have a fierce loyalty to their design programs and are more than happy to help.

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Design continued here......

Never delete a file or design you don’t like.

Save those files and later go back to them. You may find that there is something in the design that you can use for something else. I have a folder on my hard drive called ‘MEH’. These are completed files that I finished but didn’t really like. I have gone back to that folder repeatedly when I am working on something and remembered I have something in there that would help with what I am working on now.

And finally…Know when you are finished.

No one can tell you when your piece is finished.

I sometimes “finish” a piece, then leave it alone for a couple of days. When I come back to it, I can then decide if it needs something else, or if it’s finished. Most times I make minor (sometimes major) tweaks and then I repeat the process…leave it alone and come back to it. I never feel rushed to get it done. I always have two or three projects going at once so I have something else to work on.

As makers and designers, we have a unique ability to take what we see in our minds and make actual objects. Do not ever take that lightly. Not everyone can do that. Revel in it and continue to push yourself to learn new things, try new techniques, and most importantly never doubt yourself.

Make. Every. Day.

by Victor Havens of Excited Atom Design Find Victor on Facebook, Etsy, and YouTube.

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MAINTENANCE: Things You

GUEST CONTRIBUTOR: Summe

I’ll Sulk if I’m U This column is designed to reach all laser owners which, given the drastic differences between laser models, can sometimes be hard to do. The one thing that is absolutely universal to all laser owners is that, if the environment your laser is in doesn’t work, your laser doesn’t work. So let's talk about what the best environment for your laser looks like.

In the last issue we talked about things that you can do to keep the working temperature of your laser ideal with air flow, but what can we do about the ambient temperature and humidity for your laser? For some, that means the garage, for others it may be a shop, and for others, myself included, it may look like your laser has its own bedroom with air conditioning and humidity moderation. The long term housing of your laser is something that you will need to consider when thinking about projects you take on, maintenance needs in the future, and expansion plans in the long run.

Let’s start with the temperature. All major manufacturers of lasers recommend that you keep your laser in a well ventilated, temperature controlled area. This means that unless your garage or shop has an air conditioner for the summer and a heater for the winter, or you live in an area where walking into it does not feel like walking onto the surface of the sun, your garage or shop may not be the best option for your laser.

What does it mean to be well ventilated?

Well, I am so glad you asked!

Vocabulary.com gives the definition of ventilated to mean exposed to air or a room that is aired, airy, and open to or abounding in, fresh air. This can mean opening the windows in cooler temperatures or using an air filter and fans to keep the air moving in the warmer months.

Now to address what it means to be temperature controlled. Temperature, or climate-controlled means that you have a space that has or provides artificial control of air temperature, humidity, and movement. Humidity can be a big one here.

Most of us have the temperature (recommended between 59-77º F) well under control but humidity can absolutely ravage your laser. Having too much or too little humidity can severely damage or even kill your laser.

So how can we, as the caretakers of these beautiful machines, make sure that they are in the ideal environment? Well, I’ll tell you!

The ideal room will have indirect sunlight, air conditioning, heating, ventilation (whether that be through filtration or venting to the outside), and enough space to allow for easy cleaning and maintenance of your laser.

If you do not have the space available in your home and you must place your machine in a garage or shop, a portable

r Laser Wishes You Knew

er Shigley, The Spotless Forge

ncomfortable heating and air conditioning unit is a must.

Your laser will not work to the best of its ability if it’s overheating or too cold.

Maintaining the temperature between 59º F and 77º F is vital.

Next, let’s talk about humidity. I have seen so many lasers with humidity damage. They are left exposed to the natural humidity of the air overnight or during a storm and the machine can end up a beautiful brick. Let’s avoid that.

If you are venting to an air filter, this may not be an issue for you. If you are, however, venting to the outdoors, ending your workday by pulling your ventilation hose from your window (picture below) can

save you thousands in repairs. Even those vents that lay flat and offer “one way” venting can let humidity into your machine.

For those of you who cannot remove the vent hose nightly, leaving your laser lid open enough to balance the interior and exterior air can save your bacon. As pictured below, I’m not recommending leaving your lid completely open. This is

simply a way to vent your machine to allow for air to move and therefore not allow the moisture of the humidity to settle in your laser. I have pictured the Glowforge because that is the laser I own. For lasers, such as the Thunder or OmTech, I recommend opening your maintenance panel on the rear or side of your machine as applicable.

Now, what can you do if you forgot to pull the vent or the ambient moisture has those little beads of water in your laser? First, DO NOT turn on your laser. Unplug your machine, open your lid and all panels that you can, and place a fan pointing at your laser to allow it to air dry. You can take a dry microfiber cloth and wipe up any moisture on solid surfaces such as your glass or laser tube. After you can not see any moisture, use isopropyl alcohol on your fans and Zeiss wipes on your lenses to make sure there is no residual moisture remaining. For those in especially humid climates, this can be a daily ordeal.

With these simple steps, your laser should be a mainstay of your business for years to come. As always, I am always happy to answer specific maintenance questions you may have. I promise you that if I don’t have the answer, I’ll connect you with someone who does.

Summer Shigley is the co-owner of Your Content Creations LLC with her husband Les. Your Content Creations LLC is the parent company of The Spotless Forge and Time2Travel Vacations. Find out more about her by going to her Linktree site.

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SELLING YOUR DESIGNS: RE

By Matt Rise,

Your selling designs is a great way to bring in additional revenue for your takes a few easy steps to start selling your designs online. In this article y

One STEP 1: PACKAGE YOUR PRODUCT You already have a killer design, but you need to “package” it to sell online. The expectation from both customers and marketplaces is that your designs must be contained in a zip file. Here is what to include in the file and how to zip it.

First, create a folder and name it how you want your customer to see it. Add your design files to the folder; at least an SVG but also DXF, PDF, EPS, or AI. Include product photos, promotions, and instructions (optional.) Include a License Agreement (optional but encouraged.)

Create the zip file with all your design files and additional items.

If you are using windows, follow this guide.

Right click the folder, select “Compress to ZIP file”.

If you are using a Mac, follow this guide.

Right click the folder Select “Compress”.

STEP 2: PICK A PLATFORM Now that you have your files zipped, you need a place to sell your files. You can make your own website or sell them on a marketplace. It is highly recommended you start selling on a marketplace. Marketplaces require no technical skills, no website maintenance, and provide free traffic.

While there are many marketplaces to pick from, here are four platforms to consider and some pros/cons. It is up to you to pick the best marketplace for your designs. You typically can post on multiple marketplaces but make sure to check each website's terms & conditions. Posting on multiple marketplaces is a great way to reach more customers and is highly recommended.

CURRING PROFITS AWAIT Talk Laser

business. If you sell physical products and make your own designs, it only ou will learn how to create and post your designs to a digital marketplace.

Two Platform

ETSY

PROs

-Most popular and accepted platform for laser designs -Potential for high traffic

CONs - Listing/Marketing fees - Shop closures and no support - Highly competitive

Design Bundles

- Large audience - Marketing and bundle opportunities

- Main audience is Cricut and vinyl machines - Low cost provider & difficult to get a premium for your designs

Glowforge Catalog

- Integrated directly into Glowforge customer base - Large audience of Glowforge customers

- Only for select designers - Glowforge sets prices and commissions - Must use Glowforge proof grade materials

Talk Laser Designs

- Dedicated marketplace for just laser designs - Highly supportive of designers - No listing fees

- Small startup - Cares too much ;)

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SELLING YOUR DESIGNS: RECURRING PROFITS AWAIT cont'd...

STEP 3: “CREATE AN ACCOUNT, SET UP YOUR SHOP”

Three

Most marketplaces will walk you through how to set up a shop.

You typically have to: name your store, upload a logo or photo, and write a description.

STEP 4 cont'd...

Create your product title. Be clear and concise and make sure to add “Digital Download” somewhere in the title. You do not want customers buying digital files thinking they are getting physical products.

Set your price. If you don’t know how to price your designs, check out similar products to get an idea of what price targets you should be around.

Requirements vary on different marketplaces but take very little time.

STEP 4: CREATE A NEW PRODUCT LISTING All marketplaces work basically the same way.

You need photos, a price, a title, a product description, product tags, and product categories. Here is what you need to do.

Add your product photos. High-quality photos are critical. Use your best photo as the main image and add supporting photos to show multiple angles. *PRO TIP* Use real photos! Customers greatly prefer this to digital mock-ups.

Four - Title & Price

Write a product description. Your product description is all about the details. Feel free to add your product pitch, social media info, and any other important information you want to share with your customer. Here is a brief outline on how to structure your description:

Four - Description

Four - Pictures

Click here to access a larger copy of the description

STEP 4 cont'd...

Set your categories. Make sure to set proper categories. Categories help automatically filter products in menus and pages. If you do not select a category or set the wrong category, customers will not find your product or find the wrong product.

STEP 5: UPLOAD YOUR DESIGNS The end is in sight. All you have to do now is upload your zip file.

Five

Four - Categories STEP 6: POST YOUR PRODUCT! Now take the leap of faith and hit submit. Make sure to check your listing for any spelling errors.

You can always go back and edit your listing if you find a mistake.

Six

Add product tags. Product tags are another tool that help customers find your products. Unlike categories, product tags are primarily used in search results. *PRO TIP* Search similar designs for popular keyword ideas to include in your product tags.

Four - Tags

Congrats on your first listing! Your designs are now available for sale. You can sit back, relax, and wait for all that extra dough to roll in…well not always, but that is for the next issue of Laser Focused, where you will learn about: Marketing! If you have any questions about how to start selling your designs online, you can send me an email at matt@talklaser.com.

Matt Rise is the owner of Talklaser.com. Talk Laser is the only open marketplace just for laser designs. Please visit and open your FREE shop! We promise to love and respect your designs like no other marketplace.

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MATERIAL

GUEST CONTRIBUTOR: Bri

PLYWOOD: Understandi Have you ever found that perfect piece of plywood at a big box retailer, just to be disappointed when you start your project and it doesn’t cut? That is due to how the plywood is made.

Exterior vs. Interior Glue All plywood is composed of layers of wood veneer that are glued together. The key is what type of glue is used to attach the layers. Domestic/Import plywood, with a wood core that you get from a big box retailer, is manufactured using an exterior glue. Imported plywood, for example, Baltic Birch, is manufactured using interior glue. It is easy to identify when you know what you are looking for.

When you look at the edge of the plywood, does it have a dark line between the layers, or is it a light line? If it is a dark line, that is interior glue which does not cut well in laser machines. When it comes to purchasing Baltic Birch, another indicator is the size of the plywood sheet. If the Baltic Birch you are looking at is a 4’x8’ sheet, it is made with exterior glue. Baltic Birch with interior glue only comes in 5’x5’ sheets.

Take our advice; when you are looking at material, look at the edge, it will save you a lot of time and frustration.

Baltic Birch Grading Did you know there are differences in the grades of Baltic Birch that are offered? Baltic Birch's grading differs from domestic plywood, so be knowledgeable about what you get when purchasing Baltic Birch.

Understanding the meaning of the grading letters: "B" – Solid one-piece sanded front with even color. There will be no patches, voids, and a minimal amount of mineral streaks.

"BB" – One-piece sanded face with generally even color. There will be slight pin knots and mineral streaks. Open knots and defects are cut out and replaced with oval patches, commonly known as footballs.

"CP" – There is a distinctive difference between CP and BB gradings. CP will have patches on the front or back, the color will not be matched, and splits less than 0.5mm are allowed.

"C" – Has an un-sanded face that allows patches. There will be open knots and splits in the veneer.

Understanding how to read Baltic Birch Grading Baltic Birch is graded on the front of the sheet as well as the back of the sheet. When you are researching Baltic Birch and see a grading of B/BB, the "B" refers to the grading on the front of the sheet of plywood, and the "BB" refers to the grading on the back side of the sheet of plywood. If the grading is BB/BB, then you are getting the

S: WOOD

ian Agan, H & H Creations

ng What You're Buying same grade on both sides of the sheet. Most Baltic Birch available has the grade of B/BB or BB/BB. One letter doesn’t seem like it should make a big difference, but it does! As Baltic Birch becomes harder to find, ensure you get the quality you are looking for.

B/BB Grade Example

B/BB Grade Example

Patch with Mineral Streak

Cost vs. Quality 12345Costs are a big factor in determining what type of wood you are going to use for a project. Will the client pay a little more for a nicer piece of material and appreciate the quality, or do they want it fast and cheap?

These are the struggles we all deal with daily. “Can I get “$XX” for this project by using a nicer piece of material, or should I use a less expensive material and keep the price point lower?” B/BB Baltic Birch is about 20% more than BB/BB Baltic Birch When looking at the differences between B/BB Grade Baltic vs. BB/BB Grade Baltic, there are a few things to determine.

If I use BB/BB, can I cut around the patches and still have a nice-looking project? Or is it going to take me longer because of the planning to cut around the patches?

Time: How much is your time worth by saving 20% on the BB/BB material vs

buying B/BB. If you are in a production setting, time is money and the time spent cutting around patches usually costs more than spending the extra 20%. However, in other settings, such as a part-time crafter or hobbyist, saving 20% and taking a few extra minutes to cut around the defects is not much of an issue.

Selling price: Will you be able to get the profit you want out of a project by using B/BB over BB/BB? Just because “ABC company” is doing it cheaper doesn’t mean you have to match their prices.

Being unique, along with using quality materials, will help you create your own niche.

Is Baltic still available 12345Baltic Birch is still available, but it is getting harder to find across the country. The majority of the Baltic Birch comes from Russia, but it is also manufactured in Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia. With everything going on overseas, many large suppliers are steering away from importing it. The import taxes are extremely high right now due to the sanctions. A few suppliers are still bringing it into the country, but it is taking much longer to get here. Previously Baltic was coming in by the container loads to several ports across the country and distributed throughout the USA. Now there are only a few ports that will accept anything from Russia.

Even though it’s getting harder to find, Baltic Birch is still one of the most preferred wood species in the laser community.

Brian and Kristina Agan are the owners of H & H Creations Tampa located in sunny Tampa, FL. Their family-owned business name is inspired by their 2 daughters, Heather and Haley. Find them at www.hhcreationstampa.com Home

THE SUPPL

GUEST CONTRIBUTOR: Wi

10 Things to Look for When Dec What a glorious day, you finally got your laser, and you have begun your journey of creating all the wonderful items that you’ve had swirling in your head. But boy can it become overwhelming when trying to decide what materials you need, which are laser safe, and even more confusing on where to buy them. Today I’m going to help you find those perfect material vendors to get you on your way to no longer thinking about, but actually creating projects. I will talk about 10 things you should look at and evaluate on selecting which vendors to use.

These are in no particular order but what I feel are some of the most critical things to look at when deciding whom to give your hard-earned money to.

1. Reliability This one is a no-brainer but finding a reliable supplier is vital. You as a business owner need to have confidence that the companies you order from will do as promised. If they do what they say and you do not have to worry about it, your business will be so much easier. Look for suppliers that have a proven track record of delivering what they promise. Do the shipping times match what they say? Are the products the same quality as you expected? Is their customer service where it needs to be? These are all factors in determining if a supplier is reliable enough to warrant your business.

2. Speed We as small business owners very often get last-minute orders. We always try to be prepared but that is often not the reality.

Knowing that we can get our supplies quickly gives us peace of mind, knowing our customers will be taken care of. Also, as small business owners, the lifeline of our business is cash flow. If money is tied up in inventory we can not sell, it hampers growth.

3. Price At the end of the day, our business is here to make a profit, and one way we can maximize our profit is by bringing down the cost of goods sold. Now I'm not saying that cheapest is best, as you often get what you pay for. But if you take the time to find reliable suppliers that also have great prices, that is a huge advantage to you.

Also, look for suppliers that offer free shipping after you hit a certain threshold, shipping costs can add up quickly, and if you plan ahead and order in bulk, that money saved goes directly into your bottom line.

4. Availability/ Inventory Levels You buy an item not knowing if it will sell or not, and, low and behold, it becomes a huge hit for you. Congratulations, but the problem is you can not get the same product again, and now you lose all those potential sales. So finding suppliers that can supply you with the items you need is critical. Find suppliers that have enough inventory that you can, in confidence, offer them to your customers without fear of not being able to fulfill orders. When building our businesses, consistency is vital, and part of that consistency is proving the same product time and time again. Often times the suppliers with large inventory are also

IER SCOOP

ill Louie, Crazy Laser Dad

iding on a Laser Supply Vendor the ones with the most competitive prices as they buy in bulk which keeps prices down for the consumer. Always keep open communication with your suppliers, and if it's items you know you will need a constant supply of, make sure to communicate it to them and see if they can provide those items consistently.

5. Support You are inevitably going to encounter problems with any items you buy, but what will make the difference is how the company supports you when it does happen. You want a company that stands behind its product and service. Also, support is not just when something goes wrong but being available to answer questions when needed, troubleshoot, and do any of the 1000 other things that come up every day. Find suppliers who take a general interest in seeing you succeed and are willing to help you achieve that.

6. Education What is that old saying? Give a man a fish, and he is not hungry today, but teach a man to fish, and he will never go hungry. Same when looking at suppliers, anyone can give settings on their product, but the ones who separate themselves are the ones who really teach you. We are all learning, and if we cannot only get a good product but learn as well, that will only benefit us more.

Knowing that a supplier is giving us the materials and the knowledge to maximize their product separates good from great.

7. Quality Great service, fast shipping, and amazing price mean nothing if the product is trash.

Look for quality items, and don’t be afraid to pay a little more to get the level of product you want. At the end of the day, the product you send to your customers is a reflection of you so make sure you are represented by the best product available.

8. Compatibility When I talk about compatibility I am speaking to whether the products you carry match what the supplier sells. You want to find a supplier who carries the most items that you need. With so many suppliers out there you might end up ordering from multiple places but if you can find the ones who carry the most items you need to try and use them the most frequently. Some of the advantages are grouping multiple items will probably save you a lot on shipping and will save you time from having to go to multiple places.

9. Support the ones who Support others Look for those companies that are active in helping in the laser community. Anyone can sell but which ones take the time not to just sell but actually be supporters in the community? Who seems to actually care that others succeed vs. just looking for the next sale? Which companies are giving back and trying to build a community - not just a business. By supporting them we are supporting the community as it comes full circle. So look for those suppliers who stand out as companies that give as much as they take.

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The Supplier Scoop Continued Here...

10. Referrals and Reviews Look into the suppliers and see what other small businesses are saying about them. Now I understand that most of the time the loudest voices are the ones with complaints but that will also give you the ability to see how they handle those complaints. Nothing will give you a better indication of the quality of the company before you use them than hearing what others say about them. Who do you see others referring to? Which companies get constant praise? Which suppliers are doing such an amazing job that random people are willing to take time out of their day to tell others about it? So pay attention to those things and look to support those companies as you are more than likely not going to be disappointed.

With so many choices out there for suppliers, these are a few things we I think we should be looking for when selecting to whom we send our hard-earned money. Use these and I’m sure you will find the right suppliers for you and your business to thrive. I hope this helps and wish you continued success in your business.

Will Louie is the Owner and Crazy Dad behind CrazyLaserDad.com and the Facebook groups, Will's Laser Supply Sales Group- Supplies, Blanks, And Hardware and Forge World Plus. He is also co-founder of The Next Level Laser Conference.

UPCOMING CONFERENCES & WORKSHOPS The Next Level Laser Conference Spring 2023 exact details tbd Laser Maker Conference The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ Dates: April 2023 Please submit any you know of here.

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