Saturday, November 29, 2008

Copper Prices Tumble, Yippee.


Several times in the past, I have written (see previous posting) about copper prices going up up and away. For a while, it seemed I was getting hit from all sides. Copper way up, Canadian dollar way up (hurts because I sell mainly in US dollars), fees and gas way up. Tough times!

Well, things are changing fast. For example, the market price of copper. From a high of over four dollars a pound just a short time ago to near $1.50? Wow. However, this has not yet translated into any reduction of the copper wire and piping I use. Those prices seem, for now, to be stuck at their all time highest. But there is hope. Perhaps in the not too distant future those prices will start to creep down.

The Canadian dollar is so far the biggest and most direct positive on my front. A couple of months ago no one I heard was talking about a lower Canadian dollar. At that time it was around $1.10 US. Ha! Now, at around $.80, I could not be happier.

These small things make a huge difference in the bottom line when running a (very) small operation like mine. You need to really watch the nickels and dimes, as that is where the profit, if any, can be found. Trading in $100 US dollars and getting $85 vs. trading in the same and getting $117-- that's a really important difference.

Driving down to the post office a bunch of times, filling the tank for $85 a few months ago, or filling it now for $50-- there is another significant positive.

Not all is roses. Obviously many people are worried, or having a really hard time, and this is reflected directly on sales, or rather lack of sales. This means more sale prices, lower prices, (see the great low prices here) and so, in the end, there are only a bunch of positives and minuses, and one struggles on.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Website Coast Chimes Updated

Click on the picture to go to the website
Coast Chimes  website snapshot
A new, cleaner look. Coast Chimes website.

The other day was very cool, and very wet, here. A perfect day to find any excuse to stay inside and feed the fire! Cleaning up and changing the look of my website is always a good way to kill a few hours.

So a new, fresh look. Some lower prices. The high-quality, unique designs, and expert service remain.

I also fixed a bug that interfered with multiple orders. You should now be able to add as many items to the shopping cart as you like. Safe, secure shopping through PayPal. And you do not need to even be a member of PayPal to shop-- just about any credit card will do.

Don't forget, ordering from Canada can take a bit longer. If you are located in the USA, once in a blue moon things get hung up at the border: avoid holiday disappointment, shop soon.

One thing I did not change— every order receives a free gift of my handcrafted cold forged earrings. Also, speaking of gifts, if you are ordering a gift and need it shipped directly, that is no problem. In fact, send along a personal message, and I will be happy to include that on a nice card for you.

Enjoy.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Wind Chimes on Sale, Bargains

Click on the picture to see it larger
wind chime, stained glass, copperBeach Glass Inspired
Kaleidoscope Wind Chime
Five Copper Chimes — Beach Stone Clapper
Visit the 'On Sale' page of my website for more information, or Click Here

The 'On Sale' page of my website is a very popular place these days. I understand. The economy does not encourage people to plop down $180-$400 on a wind chime, no matter how beautiful, how well made. So a sale is nice.

And all my wind chimes and other works are beautiful, and very well made. This includes my sale items, that I pull straight from my stock— these are not seconds, or inferior in anyway.

So, while the last, why not visit my website and grab a fabulous wind chime for a nicely reduced price? Free shipping to the USA and Canada. Free gift cold forged copper earrings. Enjoy. Oh-- if you find the one featured above is marked as 'Sold,' bookmark the page and check back later. I usually put a new one on within a couple of days-- for now. Enjoy.

Saturday, November 08, 2008

Let There be Light (and heat)

Click on the picture to see it larger
The 'new' workshop

As the days here on the Sunshine Coast get shorter, darker, wetter and colder, I can not adequately express how happy I am to have a dry, warm, bright workshop. A couple of weeks ago I finished insulating the ceiling and bought a small heater. Now, with very cool mornings, heaven.

For the past thirteen or so years I did all my work outside, in unheated, unlit spaces. My primary workshop was my old 'greenhouse' as pictured below. It was not bad. Just really cold on cloudy fall and winter days. And usually wet, too, as the condensation would collect on the inside of the roof plastic, and any banging or wind would set it to falling, just like rain even on dry days. Bad enough.

Although I still have to go outside when I use my large saw, or to cut long lengths of copper, much of my work can now be happily done in my new workshop. It may not look like much, but for me it is absolutely fantastic.

Here is the old shop:



Thursday, November 06, 2008

Wind Chime on Sale

Click on the picture
to see it larger
windchime, stained glass, copperBeach glass inspired
Kaleidoscope Art Wind Chime
On sale marked down from $177.50 to $137.50
including postage and insurance (USA and Canada)
Visit the On Sale page of my website


Until we get a little closer to the holiday shopping season, due to the financial turmoil I am continuing to offer certain wind chimes for an exceptional sale price. This is your chance to own a handcrafted, deluxe, beautiful, unique wind chime for a very, very low price.

Once I see an indication that shopping has increased, which I expect soon, prices will go up. So enjoy these deals while they last.