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For additional details, please contact Mike Pientka at info@original-approach.com
January 2015
Planing on adding an engraving laser to the Capabilities.
April 2014
Formally moving away from making large-scale furniture pieces to focus on smaller, more detailed work.
January 2013
First commission for highly-crafted display pieces to hold Vendor exhibits at an Outdoor Exhibition.
March 2012
Perfected a method for 2-tone, CNC-routed signs/plaques/nameplates. A base of a darker material like Cherry or Walnut or Mahogany, covered by a veneer of a lighter material like Maple or Oak.
October 2010
A family commissioned me to make a Urn in the shape of a circus tent. Their parents worked in the circus all their lives, then volunteered after they retired.
Feburary 2009
Switched graphics creation software over to CorelDRAW.
January 2009
Added CNC Routing to our range of capabilities with a Next Wave Automation CNC Router. The CNC Router will be initially used to create inlays in contrasting wood, engraved signs/nametags/plaques in wood & plastic, adding decorative details, intarsia, and project personalization. Also this month we participated in the Northern Colorado Woodworking Competition but didn't win any awards this year
December 2008
1st purchase of lumber on Craigs List; this was from a local cabinet shop whose owner was retiring.
November 2008
Examples of our work were on display for 2 months in western Fort Collins CO.
November 2008
Participated in the Loveland Craft Fair, mostly to talk with potentional customers on their likes and dislikes. Sales for everyone was poor; the national economic depression was hitting hard.
October 2008
1st commissioned consumer furniture piece delivered, a child-proof game cabinet to fit a unique space.
September 2008
1st commercial custom order delivered. 13 walnut banks with Brass POB doors for a company's annual Service Awards.
August-September 2008
Examples of our work were on display for 2 months in northern Fort Collins CO.
August 2008
Appeared in the Windsor newspaper with a Business Spotlight article. Also this month we added a Grizzly metal-working lathe to the range of capabilities. The lathe will be initially used to create fixtures.
May 2008
Tornado strikes the owner's house, taking the business offline for months while he coordinates repairs.
January 2008
Participated in the Northern Colorado Woodworking Competition and won an Outstanding Contribution.
November 2007
Participated in the Loveland Craft Fair, mostly to talk with potentional customers on their likes and dislikes.
August 2007
Added a vacuum veneer press to the range of capabilities. The press will initially be used for face work. Also this month we purchased numerous brass box doors from a Post Office being decommissioned. The doors will be used to make novelty banks.
July 2007
Appeared in the Windsor newspaper with an article of playground equipment we made from scratch. Also this month we upgraded our dust collection system to pleated filters method, increasing particle collection by 50%
March 2007
Bandsaw was upgraded to a Rikon with a 13" resaw capability. The tool grinder was upgraded to a Tormek slow-speed water grinder and has made a huge difference with keeping tools sharp. Also this month we added a metal-cutting bandsaw.
January 2007
1st consumer commission, several sets of Domino blanks in exotic hardwoods. Participated in the Northern Colorado Woodworking Competition, received an Honorable Mention.
November 2006
Participated in the Loveland Craft Fair, mostly to talk with potentional customers on their likes and dislikes
October 2006
1st article accepted for dispay on the WoodCraft website. Also this month we added a 20-ton press to our range of capabilities. The press will be initially used to clamp segmented bowl blanks during glue-up.
March 2006
1st business donation of work for a fund-raising event.
Feburary 2006
Added a Grizzly metal-working mill to the range of capabilities. The mill will be initially used to create fixtures.
January 2006
1st commercial store account granted, by a local equipment & lumber supplier. Also participated in the Northern Colorado Woodworking Competition; no awards this year.
November 2005
1st trail of offering products Ebay. It would take much trial & error to learn how to write Listings which get results. Also this month we participated in the Loveland Craft Fair, mostly to talk with potentional customers on their likes and dislikes. 1st dollar earned is mounted in a display frame.
March 2005
The main Computer fried and had to be completely replaced. Thank goodness for data backup on external USB drives which are stored offsite. Also this month were major equipment upgrades: a floor-mounted Jet 14", a 14" variable-speed Jet lathe, a 48" Jet horizontal sander, a 12" Jet disk sander, and a Jet spindle sander. The extra horsepower and cutting capabilities were put to work immediately.
Feburary 2005
1st commercial purchase of lumber, from a regional co-op. Also this month we upgraded the router table to a full-size a Jet Shaper and switched accounting systems over to Quicken Business.
November-December 2004
Numerous training classes and networking opportunties at the local Small Business Development Center.
November 2004
Participated in the Loveland Craft Fair, mostly to talk with potentional customers on their likes and dislikes
October 2004
www.original-approach.com goes live! There is so much more content to add, but you have to start somewhere.
September 2004
Switched website development software over to NetFusion Objects and image editing software over to Ulead Photo Impact.
August 2004
Officially in Business! Today we filed our LLC Articles of Organization with the state of Colorado to become a registered, registered our internet Domains, opened bank accounts, obtained Federal-State-City tax documents, and bought general business administrivia.
2000-2004
market viability research, business basics research, writing a business plan, personal skills assessment
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