Fully loaded, top of the line, custom-built... - Page 3

Gungirl · 12-30-11, 06:54 PM

Haha I have a few of them on hold for when we move into our bigger house and can build for them. If you do something similar to what we did you will have no trouble selling them at that price. I do know that outside of the overall look of them, The people that I know like that we used a Whey based all natural sealer and the epoxy. Those seem to be HUGE selling points. I use the same sealer on my hard wood floors 3 years ago and to this day they have held up GREAT! The cost of the sealer is $70 for a gallon but it doesn't take much at all to seal it well.

Strutter769 · 12-30-11, 06:57 PM

I agree with the whey sealer being a huge bonus! Can I ask the brand name?

Gungirl · 12-30-11, 07:00 PM

I live in Vermont and I found Vermont Natural Coatings ? Professional Wood Finish Made Green I LOVE it!

shaunyboy · 12-30-11, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strutter769

Shaun, thanks for the links! I'm glad you brought up this display - style cage. I'm a believer in giving a ln animal as much space as you can. A "Boaphile" - type cage that is only 24" high, to me seem cruel, too confining. I know that's not a popular opinion.

I am thinking something more along these lines: Reptile Cages : iguana cage, bearded dragon cage, reptile enclosure, custom wood reptile cages, snake cage, lizard cage

Which leads me to another question. How much are people willing to pay for the interior to already be completed? What if you got to design that too, and we added it for you?

Or, do you prefer a "blank slate" for more of a do-it-yourself?

so they're not all identical clones of each other,i think its a good idea to let the customer come up with their own design for the interior

or have a few strategicly placed perch mounts,fake plant mounts,etc.then you could sell the vivariums without the interior at a cheaper price,letting people pick up and fit their own interiors

i've heard that the hard plastic type vivariums are quite expensive material wise

the special type of plastic required to take the heat and humidity is expensive to make

i think the actual moulding of the vivarium,etc isn't too bad price wise

i wish you the best of luck with your ventures

cheers shaun

Quack · 12-30-11, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strutter769

No, I was referring to size. This one hanging on the wall is small. Couldn't get much of wheat variance I'd guess.

The one in the pic is 4 feet long 18 inches deep and 24 inches high, id say the only things you would have to watch with wall mounted ones would be depth and weight, although that one is made of 1/2" oak with 3/4" thick marble for a bottom(my dad is a plumber so he had some extra marble), and the mounting screws we used easily held that and an extra 100 pounds of sand and some rocks when i had a uromastyx in it. So, as long as you mount it right, you would probably be able to go bigger than what I have there.

spots · 12-30-11, 07:36 PM

Strutter we're on the same page, I'm a carpenter and been thinking how I could market something like this. I LOVE building these viv's. I have built a few for my self and some friends.
Here is the one I built for my BP, and the last on is for my friends Bearded Dragon.

Strutter769 · 12-30-11, 10:31 PM

Spots, I love that top one. We wanted our heat/lighting to be tucked away really nicely in the top like that. My carpenters were too lazy and it just never happened.

Strutter769 · 12-30-11, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaunyboy

so they're not all identical clones of each other,i think its a good idea to let the customer come up with their own design for the interior

or have a few strategicly placed perch mounts,fake plant mounts,etc.then you could sell the vivariums without the interior at a cheaper price,letting people pick up and fit their own......

cheers shaun

Great advice Shaun, thanks! So what I think you're saying is to build plant holders into the interior and let the end user choose what to out in them. Nice!

What about live plants? Wouldn't that be good for air quality in some way, creating new oxygen? I've used those "air plants" that live with no soil and only need to soak once a week. Those are cool too.

Strutter769 · 12-30-11, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quack

The one in the pic is 4 feet long 18 inches deep and 24 inches high, id say the only things you would have to watch with wall mounted ones would be depth and weight, although that one is made of 1/2" oak with 3/4" thick marble for a bottom(my dad is a plumber so he had some extra marble), and the mounting screws we used easily held that and an extra 100 pounds of sand and some rocks when i had a uromastyx in it. So, as long as you mount it right, you would probably be able to go bigger than what I have there.

1/2" oak, 3/4" marble, AND 100lbs. of sand AND rocks?? How exactly is it attached to the wall?

presspirate · 12-30-11, 11:33 PM

I am guessing you are an experienced cabinet maker. Maybe you have your own shop. Maybe you have access to discount materials. Maybe you know how to do things well and cheaply. Maybe you know that your intended customer base may not have all of the money in the world to drop on a fancy home for their beloved pets. Maybe you have their best interests at heart. Maybe this is just a side line you are exploring.
There is a need for low cost custom cages for snakes and reptiles. Weather you do it as a full time occupation, or part time using scraps from your primary business. I think if you are knowledgeable and willing to work with your clients to meet their needs. you will find a niche and in my opinion you will thrive.

Quack · 12-30-11, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strutter769

1/2" oak, 3/4" marble, AND 100lbs. of sand AND rocks?? How exactly is it attached to the wall?

my dad mounted it, but it was around 6 or so years ago so i dont remember what all he used but you can see 6 screws that i know screw into the studs in the wall.
theres no way those screws could hold up that much weight, and there has to be more to it than that, so ill ask him when i get a chance.

Strutter769 · 12-31-11, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by presspirate

I am guessing you are an experienced cabinet maker. Maybe you have your own shop. Maybe you have access to discount materials. Maybe you know how to do things well and cheaply. Maybe you know that your intended customer base may not have all of the money in the world to drop on a fancy home for their beloved pets. Maybe you have their best interests at heart. Maybe this is just a side line you are exploring.
There is a need for low cost custom cages for snakes and reptiles. Weather you do it as a full time occupation, or part time using scraps from your primary business. I think if you are knowledgeable and willing to work with your clients to meet their needs. you will find a niche and in my opinion you will thrive.

Thanks Greg! I guess I could explain all those things a bit better, huh?

I am far more creative than constructive! This is an avenue we ate exploring. I have some pretty creative people beside me in this project, and one heck of a builder (with some extra time during winter months) who's really eager to put a really nice product out there. I don't know how (in)expensive it might be, or how far down we'll be able to keep costs/prices. I can definitely promise you I do know my buyers want something really nice and need their cash for the animal(s) they're housing. Yes, we definitely share all those interests at heart. No doubt about it.

I've spent my career facing customers, angry customers, so I feel I really know how to listen, learn what the customer wants, then do what needs to be done to deliver. That's what I really want to do here. Just like so many of these "open-platform" video games, start with a clean canvas, design what you want for your animals, we find a way to make it happen, at a really fair price..... in a perfect world, anyway. (-:

This will also be offered along side our c.b.b. boas. No, not those boas.

presspirate · 12-31-11, 12:14 AM

In my opinion, A good option to offer would be, if you had a "handy" client without a lot of tools. Offer up a "kit". Pre cut, pre drilled, unfinished with all (Assembly) hardware. Most people have drills, but a select few have table saws. Dado blades, bits, routers, etc.

Strutter769 · 12-31-11, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by presspirate

In my opinion, A good option to offer would be, if you had a "handy" client without a lot of tools. Offer up a "kit". Pre cut, pre drilled, unfinished with all (Assembly) hardware. Most people have drills, but a select few have table saws. Dado blades, bits, routers, etc.

That is a *great* idea! Pre-fab cages! I love it! Thank you!

presspirate · 12-31-11, 12:17 AM

No prob. I'll only expect..... 15 percent lol!