Is there any demand for custom cage building??

[rocketjawa]

Hello,
I was thinking today.. I am a carpenter, and I really enjoy building my own cages / Aquarium stands, etc...

i was wondering if there was a market for high end custom cages.. Like with nicer wood, etc....

they could be ordered in any size or shape i would imagine..

I am just brainstorming.. Thanks!!

[Ptindy]

If they are nice and reasonably affordable then you shouldn't have any problem. And it's custom made and designed so you won't be making any enclosures for nothing, only if requested so you wont lose any money. Offer your services you have nothing to lose.

Mike

[Bartman]

I tired to open up a small business selling custom cages, but I was a carpenter and didnt have the hook ups for wood/glass to make the prices competable.

If you can do it, then go for it!

[Invictus]

Cage building is a tough market. The problem is, there are too few true hobbyists who want really nice display cages - and even fewer who can afford them or are willing to pay for them. Give it a go though, but I don't think you'll make your living from it.

[rocketjawa]

I am not really trying to make a living at it.. just sort of do it as fill in work when things are slow otherwise.. i know it is a selective market.. Im going to build a nice custom cage for my Green tree Python, so i will use that as my sample / prototype

[ydnic]

I`d give it a go - always try right?

You can try to make a couple and even consign them at pet stores -more like mom & pop stores though.

Ken is right - you can`t really rely on selling to hobbiests because they either don`t go for that design a lot of the time or can make them theirselves (not always true I think I have seen a few people, Linds for example, who do buy a lot of nice enclosures)
But a lot of people who are buying there first or only reptile do but their cages from a store or carpenter.

If you can make something relatively affordable (maybe that costs less than a reptarium) I think you could do good at it!

[JonD]

A big set back to building and selling wood enclosures is the shipping. If you find a small market available locally than thats all you need!! Good Luck!

[Lasher]

I have to agree with Invictus. Most of us put our $$$ in the animals and not the cage. Not to mention, building your own cage is half the fun, even if your no good at it. LOL. My wife says that my enclosures "LEAK" as in the snakes get out. Still can figure out why she wouldn't let me build the baby's crib....

[Edwin]

I say it is possible, go for it! Just place an ad or two to test your local market, there is very little to no cost involved.

[Kyle Barker]

shipping is what stopped me. i jsut make them for myself, and try and help out other people.

if you can somehow get a good rate on shipping (perhaps buisnesses get better rates?) then i would think it would probably be a worthwhile venture. the other thing is that they are msot likely going to have to be maile din peices adn re assembled at the persons place. not that big a deal, but its good if you make them so all thats needed is a screw driver. good luck with it