Hello from Lincolnshire - advice please!

[The Firewood Guys]

Morning all!

 

We (My partner David and I) have a log business, ran from home for 20 or so years, (smallscale to start with of course, but progressing nicely due to flippin hard work!) We have recently discovered this site, and chuffed to bits as its always good to talk to people in the know for feedback and new ideas!

 

We have just started doing Kindling too, started after our log customers became interested. Bought softwood and hired a Kindlett, all bagged and seasoning as we speak but wondering if anyone had any tips on pricing?

 

Our log customers pay £3 a bag (40x 50cm mf net) and we sell to a couple of shops at £2 a net ( they only take 10/20 at a time but regular) My research indicates bulk prices of around the £1.40 net wholesale (50 plus orders) am i about right??

 

We are looking at wrapping pallets for larger orders but obviously more expense eats into profits so weighing up all options at the moment!

 

We supply seasoned, barn stored hardwood logs, and so always on the lookout for any Hardwood timber delivered to NG33 for the future

 

Keeping up with demand and not upsetting customers with the price increases is an ongoing battle but we love it!

 

Prices for logs seem to vary a lot, would be great to see what everyone else is charging for a 1m3 load, 2m3 load and bulk bag collected.

 

Would be great to hear from anyone regarding advice, price advice, cordwood for sale!

 

Many thanks in advance, Lisa ( & David!)

[Joy Yeomans]

Morning all!

 

We (My partner David and I) have a log business, ran from home for 20 or so years, (smallscale to start with of course, but progressing nicely due to flippin hard work!) We have recently discovered this site, and chuffed to bits as its always good to talk to people in the know for feedback and new ideas!

 

We have just started doing Kindling too, started after our log customers became interested. Bought softwood and hired a Kindlett, all bagged and seasoning as we speak but wondering if anyone had any tips on pricing?

 

Our log customers pay £3 a bag (40x 50cm mf net) and we sell to a couple of shops at £2 a net ( they only take 10/20 at a time but regular) My research indicates bulk prices of around the £1.40 net wholesale (50 plus orders) am i about right??

 

We are looking at wrapping pallets for larger orders but obviously more expense eats into profits so weighing up all options at the moment!

 

We supply seasoned, barn stored hardwood logs, and so always on the lookout for any Hardwood timber delivered to NG33 for the future

 

Keeping up with demand and not upsetting customers with the price increases is an ongoing battle but we love it!

 

Prices for logs seem to vary a lot, would be great to see what everyone else is charging for a 1m3 load, 2m3 load and bulk bag collected.

 

Would be great to hear from anyone regarding advice, price advice, cordwood for sale!

 

Many thanks in advance, Lisa ( & David!)

 

all sounds very good, i would say lisa you have to charge what you can to cover your individual costs, work out what will cover your costs and make you a decent profit back , remembering to work in a bit for machine repairs/fuel costs rising and always remember to add in your own labour even if sometimes you dont take the wage.

 

we never look at what our competitors charge as what you need is what will give you a good return to make your business profitable, each company may have different overheads to take into consideration

 

all the best

joy

[The Firewood Guys]

Thanks Joy, some great advice there, and your right, we do need to follow our needs rather than that of others..our problem really is that as operations grew, and demand increased we realised last year that our prices were way under as we had not increased prices in accordance with inflation for fear of upsetting the grumbly customers! We had only increased say £5 a year for a few yrs on some and now paying the price! So we re-jigged our prices in September for 'new customers' and trying desperately to get the 'old ones' in line by gradually bringing their prices up too..Seems like we are always playing catch up as we can't keep up with the rising prices of timber!

 

I think we need to be a little tougher! Being a small(ish) operation compared to some we are still learning constantly, which is why this site is such a great find for us!

 

We know our product is worth it (seasoned, barn stored for a year etc.. ) but boy do they moan!!! Thinking of getting a recording..and just press play when we arrive.. You know the score " Rising price of timber for us to buy in, wood is a fuel remember... etc........" sometimes we feel like shouting "We are a business not a charity!!"

 

And why is it, its the huge houses with Rangerovers that moan the most! The guy down the road in the 2 up, 2 down never moans and understands like everyone we have to make money! (No offence intended to those with Rangerovers!!!!!!!!)

 

Sorry rant over...!

[sandbach-sticks]

I average about £1.50 a net taking into account small shops, private sales and garages etc. that is for Kindling (hardwood sticks). If you can get £1.4 then I would suggest you are about right with your pricing. Good luck with Kindling I started in September

[likeitorlumpit]

if i drive my rangerover round will you fill it up

For a discounted price obviously:thumbup:

[The Firewood Guys]

pmsl think i dug myself a hole! lol!

[The Firewood Guys]

I average about £1.50 a net taking into account small shops, private sales and garages etc. that is for Kindling (hardwood sticks). If you can get £1.4 then I would suggest you are about right with your pricing. Good luck with Kindling I started in September

Thanks for that! Nice to meet you! Assume your nets are the same size? Do u stack or chuck em in?!

 

How are you finding the kindling job?!

[Joy Yeomans]

lisa, you sound just like us about a few years ago - frightened to loose customers if we put our prices up to a realistic price - we kept the same price for too long and only covered costs and not made profit to replace/repair kit etc, be tough, put your prices up, youwill loose a few im not going to say you wont but they are the ones you probably want to get rid of anyway! - but on the whole your customers will understand and you should start to pick up new ones

all the best - it is tough out there at the moment - and we are finding it hard - all the best

joy

[The Firewood Guys]

lisa, you sound just like us about a few years ago - frightened to loose customers if we put our prices up to a realistic price - we kept the same price for too long and only covered costs and not made profit to replace/repair kit etc, be tough, put your prices up, youwill loose a few im not going to say you wont but they are the ones you probably want to get rid of anyway! - but on the whole your customers will understand and you should start to pick up new ones

all the best - it is tough out there at the moment - and we are finding it hard - all the best

joy

Thanks Joy, just looked at your website! Flippin heck! Thought we had a lot on! You must be extremely busy!

 

We do need to bite the bullet and to be fair, most of our customers are great, and the ones that aren't won't be a great loss!

[Joy Yeomans]

Thanks Joy, just looked at your website! Flippin heck! Thought we had a lot on! You must be extremely busy!

 

We do need to bite the bullet and to be fair, most of our customers are great, and the ones that aren't won't be a great loss!

 

i wont say its not a juggling act - cause it is! - but in these times you have to be flexible and take what comes along, we employ a few lads and i always try and find enough work for them as there not just employees their friends and almost family i feel - so its hard work to find enough to keep us all going but we still enjoy it so - soldier one:thumbup:

 

all the best , if ever passing our way , pop in for a cuppa

joy