new racks half the price of these big name dealers

I am interested in starting a small business building custom snake racks from hatchlings to full size ball pythons. I am looking to be cheaper then the rest of these big name stores since i have virtually no overhead. Would you all be interested and be willing to buy them. I am just getting started so I am trying to get some built to put pics up so everyone can take a look. Also I know melamine is a heavy board so does anyone have any considerations for a lighter but still durable piece of wood? Thank You

Of course there will be interest but I believe you are oversimplifying the process.

You want to know who will buy it yet you don't even know what you want to build it out of? It sounds like you have some foundation to think through before you can ask for interest in a particular product.

Are racks expensive from the major distirbutors? Yep. Is there a reason for that? Yeah. Quality craftsmanship, quality product, and quality guarantees behind their work don't come cheap. If you truly do produce an equal quality product at half the price, your demand will skyrocket. As a result you'll have trouble filling orders promptly (even the big boys have issues with this). As you increase your production capacity you'll create more overhead, as you create more overhead your prices will gradually no longer be half the price. I am betting that even from square one producing an equal quality (or even close) product at half the price would be simply impossible. Snake keepers often have a lot of money invested in their collection, and cutting corners to save a buck or two is not usually an option.

If you think these guys who are already doing it haven't their business models countless times to see where they can save money for both themselves and their customers I'd have to disagree. Do they make money? Of course they do.

This is not to discourage you from doing your thing, if you have a plan and you want to pursue, more power to you. But going at it from square one squaring off against the "big name dealers" is asking for an awful lot of scrutiny on any product you bring to market. Do you own thing, and let your product speak for itself. Best of luck to you!

I just started my own cage building business. You definatly need to have a game plan before jumping in feet first. I know what materials im going to use and thats how I know I will be cheaper. With out even knowing what materials are going to be used its hard to know you will be 1/2 price.

I owned my own cabinet shop business for over 10 years, its not as easy as you think to start up and maintain a business.

If you're looking at building them out of melamine you'll only be selling them locally, shipping would cost an arm and a leg. If you build them out of any other kind of wood, chances are you'll be spending even more of your time painting and sealing the wood. The best option is expanded pvc like all the other rack companies use, but then you definitely won't be able to sell your racks for half of their price unless you don't plan to make any money off it.

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Originally Posted by m00kfu

If you're looking at building them out of melamine you'll only be selling them locally, shipping would cost an arm and a leg. If you build them out of any other kind of wood, chances are you'll be spending even more of your time painting and sealing the wood. The best option is expanded pvc like all the other rack companies use, but then you definitely won't be able to sell your racks for half of their price unless you don't plan to make any money off it.

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oh contraire, I use a cabinet grade prefinished plywood. It comes in 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 finished on one side or two. The finish is a 2 part epoxy that is baked on. I buy so much for the shop, my price is only 35 bucks a sheet for the 3/4". With one sheet I can build a stack of 4 cages 16 x 64 x 32

Heres the inside of the cages i build.
http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...3/dsc06048.jpg

Those are some very nice cages

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Originally Posted by kylesreptiles

Those are some very nice cages

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That wood is stronger and just as durrable as any of the plastic ones out there

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Originally Posted by grits

That wood is stronger and just as durrable as any of the plastic ones out there

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What is it, birch, oak, luan?

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Originally Posted by LizardPants

What is it, birch, oak, luan?

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Asian Birch

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Originally Posted by grits

I buy so much for the shop, my price is only 35 bucks a sheet for the 3/4". With one sheet I can build a stack of 4 cages 16 x 64 x 32

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How big is that sheet?

4' x 8' a normal sheet of plywood

Ok hang on I gotta know how your getting four cages out of a sheet at 16high x 64long you can't even get the backs for all four cages out of a 4x8 sheet? I'm confused

Well techniclly its 2 sheets with the back. I use 1/4 for the back

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Originally Posted by ScottNBecky

Ok hang on I gotta know how your getting four cages out of a sheet at 16high x 64long you can't even get the backs for all four cages out of a 4x8 sheet? I'm confused

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And a sheet is 48 x 96. Dont know about you but i can get 32 x 64 out of that all day long :D

Yea but one piece - not enough to make a stack of four

I meant one piece of 3/4"

Oh gotcha lol I thought maybe you were getting some crazy big sheets of ply!

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Originally Posted by ScottNBecky

Oh gotcha lol I thought maybe you were getting some crazy big sheets of ply!

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No but if your supplier is big enough they might have 5' x 5' pieces. I havent found any practical use for those yet.

Grits is it safe to assume that most of your sales are local? I would hate to think what shipping on a 64" cage made out of 3/4 plywood would cost. One might be able to compete with the big cage companies on a local level but like everyone has said they are the big guys for a reason.

As of now its local, and by local I will deliver up to 4 hours away. If someone is willing to do some driving too that opens my market up to 8 hours away. I am checking on shipping on some of my smaller stacked cages and single cages. The rack system wont be bad on shipping either i belive.