How to get younger tradespeople to buy Festool or other high quality tools...

[Stone Message]

Peter what is your interest in getting young people to buy Festool are you doing market research for Festool?

Peter

No I am not doing this for anyone other than to support the way that my New Brit Workshop project is going.

I want to encourage everyone to buy the best kit or aspire to buy the best when they can afford it. This is not really confined to Festool but here on the FOG it is good to focus on one manufacturer. I am really delighted with my Jet planer (as you know), I think that 3M are a superb company and my Veritas planes are to die for.

I also would like to encourage ordinary people to have a go at something practical, to use their hands and be more self reliant as far as it is possible for them to be.

I have been lucky enough to have been employed throughout my working life and now it is time to give something back.

I feel that Festool tools have transformed my approach to woodworking and the quality of my output is higher than it has ever been. I sometimes employ trades people at the house and have had some very mixed experiences. In London it is a total lottery trying to find someone to do a decent job. In the country you may be lucky to have a choice of one and he might be a glorified handyman and not a specialist in any particular trade.

I spend a lot of time in Germany and The Netherlands and their trades people appear so much more professional than ours. Their kit is well looked after, they present themselves well and tools do not fall out of the back of the van when they open the door in your driveway.

I realise than I may be p-ing in the wind on this but I would like things to improve in the UK.

On this thread I am looking at young trades people and our attitudes towards them.

Peter

 

[Stone Message]

  All good points. For me the larger topic may be, "How do young people learn best the value of personal safety, job-site etiquette, caring of tools, mindfulness, patience, precision, quality, artistic process, time management, respect for self and others, and respect for tradition and craftsmanship." It's not my job to sell Festool products, but if a Festool product is the best one for a certain job, in my case, then I would show a younger person why, if they were interested.
  I think that Festool has been doing a pretty good job, so far, with their marketing campaign, to get their message across.  I would like to see more instructional videos on tool usage be made available to high school wood shop programs (what few exist), trade schools, big box store seminars, the internet, etc. It appears that Festool has already been doing this to some extent.  At least at a level far beyond the competition.

Hi Jim,

I agree with you and following my recent post, this is part of what I am trying to do through my own amateur video efforts.

Peter

 

[NYC Tiny Shop]

  All good points. For me the larger topic may be, "How do young people learn best the value of personal safety, job-site etiquette, caring of tools, mindfulness, patience, precision, quality, artistic process, time management, respect for self and others, and respect for tradition and craftsmanship." It's not my job to sell Festool products, but if a Festool product is the best one for a certain job, in my case, then I would show a younger person why, if they were interested.
  I think that Festool has been doing a pretty good job, so far, with their marketing campaign, to get their message across.  I would like to see more instructional videos on tool usage be made available to high school wood shop programs (what few exist), trade schools, big box store seminars, the internet, etc. It appears that Festool has already been doing this to some extent.  At least at a level far beyond the competition.

Hi Jim,

I agree with you and following my recent post, this is part of what I am trying to do through my own amateur video efforts.

Peter

Hi Peter,
Yes, I'm aware of that. Please consider me one of your best fans. I think that your videos are only amatuer in the sense that you are not on a payroll. I would like to see Festool add you, Paul, and a few others to their staff and take expand on this media concept.

 

[Stone Message]

Hi Peter,
Yes, I'm aware of that. Please consider me one of your best fans. I think that your videos are only amatuer in the sense that you are not on a payroll. I would like to see Festool add you, Paul, and a few others to their staff and take expand on this media concept.
[/quote]

Hi Jim,

Paul and I are going to try and get together here in the UK in October next year (I think I have told him about this...) and I would love the two of us to make a short video together just for the FOG. We shall see.

Many thanks.

Peter

 

[wrightwoodwork]

At of the time the tools that an apprentice buys is dictated by the work they are doing also the tools that his tradesman is using I think they should build up there hand tools first. I always tell them don't waste money on cheap tools. A little bit last year when doing lots of drywall my apprentice was I'm going to get a makita screw gun  I told him not to bother and explained why not to. Not there is anything wrong with them but they not as good as hilti or festool as the magazine does not pop on off like that I told him things hand planes are what to get save your money for better power tools. If he went and got an electric planer before block plane and smoothing plane be would get slapped. He has one of the cheap diamond stones. I have Japanese water stones. I gave him a shot and now when he wants to sharpen be comes to ask for it. It let's him see the difference

 

[Paul G]

Besides the obvious issues of cost, in the US Festool is limiting its reach with a serious lack of brand awareness and by being metric only. Folks won't buy what they don't know exists, and of those who do many don't want to deal with a scale they are unfamiliar with. Exposure could be gained by sponsoring major home improvement shows like This Old House, but people need to see the brand elsewhere as well. Maybe a few products in the big box stores like Lowes would help. Woodcraft locations don't pull in much of the construction crowd. I recall someone talking about Festool sales by truck in the manner of SnapOn, I have no idea if that would pencil out as a viable business for the retailer/truck owner, but a Festool truck on the road and pulling up to job sites would grow awareness as a high end product. Also get into as many commercial type tool stores as possible, for example around these parts is a place called Whitecap, no Festool presence there. Fastenal would be another place to consider as well at least for selling drills. Another option might be sponsoring schools teaching construction trades.

 

[Timtool]

Im 28 and started when i was 25 without any woodworking background or professional experience, my first contact with Festool was in evening school. That is enough to sell you on the brand.
But when i started i thought a €120 router was expensive and it would make me feel bad to my stomach leaving the store with it.

I had enough reserve to buy all Festool, but could not get over it. I am the kind of person that can only buy a new woodworking tool once i have earned the money with woodworking. I like to play it safe and don't gamble on future success. So i bought festools gradually on the go as my woodworkings earnings allowed it.
looking back it certainly would have been cheaper to go directly for festool, but those few years of working with inferior or cheap tools have been a good lesson, and teach you to appreciate good tools.
i guess everybody has to learn walking by falling a few times, even if you have only known festools, you would still be tempted by the lower price of another brand and make that mistake sooner or later. This is not only for festool, but quality brands in general. My last mistake was e year ago, going for that €70 bench grinder instead of a tormek. Well i lost €70 and would not want to resell that Chinese piece of ... to my worst enemy.

 

[tiralie]

This is not only for festool, but quality brands in general. My last mistake was e year ago, going for that €70 bench grinder instead of a tormek. Well i lost €70 and would not want to resell that Chinese piece of ... to my worst enemy.

Good one! Couldn't agree more!
Tim

 

[windmill man]

Interesting topic, but what is the definition of " younger trades people"  Apprentices' , Newly Qualified Tradespeople (journeymen), Craftsmen going into employment or Craftsmen going self employed?

 

[Jalvis]

Buying good tools in the USA is not related to Cost.  Its more about being patient and knowing what to identify as quality.  There is very few tools in my shop I paid full price and most are a 50% of retail or better.  

The only thing that will get young apprentice types to buy quality will be struggling with poor quality first.  Its that struggle that will drive them.  What you're asking is how do steer that "drive" to Festool.  My opinion is don't.  Thats the job of each tool company.  

 

[Stone Message]

Interesting topic, but what is the definition of " younger trades people"  Apprentices' , Newly Qualified Tradespeople (journeymen), Craftsmen going into employment or Craftsmen going self employed?

I would say under 30 years and that then will include all of the ones you describe above.

Nobody has mentioned the second hand market yet - ebay and so on. That might give the cash strapped a way into quality.

Peter

 

[wrightwoodwork]

The topic would be better been called how to get young people to buy quality tools.    A good point Peter made about second hand tools. Obviously you have to know what you are looking at and if the tool has been abused. Personally I wouldn't buy second hand power tools unless I knew the person who was selling. When it comes to thinks like that I tend to think why you selling. Things like buying  quality hand tools I would consider in fact sometimes second hand tools can be of higher grade raw materials. I was at a tool show last year and bought a Clifton hand plane I was talking to an old boy about modern stanley planed didn't seem as good he told me that when he was out of his time he got a Stanley and it cost a weeks wage to buy. Yet today was still selling at the same price. We all know that the price of raw materials has gone up and so have wages. So in real terms the price of the tool had dropped and so will have the quality. Tools are an investment to make you money and not there to sit on a shelf. So only buy that tool if you are needing at the time, but by once so hopefully you don't need to buy next time or the next time you need

 

[woodguy7]

Well I am & always have been a tool snob.  Not just tools but most things i buy where i can afford it anyway.  When i was serving my time the emphasis was very much on hand tools & the craft in using them.  Eventually when the time came to buy power tools I certainly could not afford Festool's & nobody i new could either.

Peter, When you were starting out what power tools did you buy ?  Were you a Festool user out of school ?

 

[Davej]

When I started learning the trade,  just over 30 years ago,  I wasn't allowed near any power tools until I had learnt how to do it with hand tools first,  that included mortise and tenon , rebating , jointing etc. I still prefer to use hand tools when possible, for me it's far more satisfying . Just my 2p worth
Dave

 

[Stone Message]

Well I am & always have been a tool snob.  Not just tools but most things i buy where i can afford it anyway.  When i was serving my time the emphasis was very much on hand tools & the craft in using them.  Eventually when the time came to buy power tools I certainly could not afford Festool's & nobody i new could either.

Peter, When you were starting out what power tools did you buy ?  Were you a Festool user out of school ?

I am just coming up to my third year with Festool and that is the point - I just wished I had started the green stuff sooner.

I had Stanley power tools and hand tools, Black and Decker, Dewalt and Bosch as well as bigger specialist stuff. I still use Hitachi drills and drill drivers, I have a brilliant Bosch SDS hammer drill.

I used to rely on my Dewalt radial arm saw and quite a lot of Elektra Beckum gear.

I agree with several of the posts above in that one really does have to learn the basics with hand tools before going for any of the sophisticated stuff - and tool maintenance is key. I see so many young people unable to repair the simplest fault on site because they are too used to throwing kit away and replacing. If the shops are shut they get stuck.

Peter

 

[Deansocial]

I bought the of1400 the elh65 and ts75 when I was 21. Didn't know anyone else with festool

 

[Stone Message]

I bought the of1400 the elh65 and ts75 when I was 21. Didn't know anyone else with festool

Yes, I think I must have been 21 when I bought my first Festool... oops I mean 61 !

Peter

 

[wrightwoodwork]

I mind a few years back working with a boy and telling me he had a set of cheap chisels and when they got blunt he went and bought another set. I couldn't believe it. Maybe if he had bought an expensive set he might of thought bigger this I'm going to learn

 

[Paul G]

The only thing that will get young apprentice types to buy quality will be struggling with poor quality first.  

That's an excellent point, though I wouldn't say it's the only thing.

 

[Scott B.]

I don't think "getting young people to buy" is the way to look at it. More important is showing young people a better way so they demand it of their employers. When kids believe in something, they are relentless in their conviction.