------- I'm a handmade wooden toy, carver, and sign maker located down the road from Killington Mountain, a major ski and resort area, also up the road from Okemo an ever growing resort ski area, right smack dab in the middle of downtown Rutland's business district, Vermont's second largest city. Small to most standards and not a typical place for a wooden toy maker, it stands out and that's the purpose and reason I chose an Old World presentation for this area. I strapped rocking horses, trains, dragons, signs and wooden people to the front of the building, assorted animals and signs in the hallway and opened shop on the 2nd floor. The display sticks out like a sore thumb.
------- My business has relied on the tourist economy for the last 20 years. I got to know my customers and have fashioned an attractive display and product that many people enjoy. This commerce keeps the craft alive but just being alive is not reward enough for the survival of the craft. Most of my fellow colleagues set up in craft shows, fairs, galleries, gift shops, consignment shops, flea markets, sidewalks and road sides all over Vermont and the world. I call this performance setting up in the cow field managed by the agents (my light term). Other industries know them too.
------- My great and glorious craft industry, made of hard work, perseverance and dedication with an unrelentless desire to grow and succeed, has been micro managed by agents(my light term) for the last twenty five years, with the result being an industry on the verge of extinction, simply because there's not enough money in it to raise a family. When children are treated with family chores,(craft labor) the first thing they shed is chores. Its next to impossible to pass along a failed heartfelt business to the youth and expect them to go and grow with the craft.
------- Having said all that, I have learned, in doing business with my good Gold card carrying customers, that they appreciate the extra effort that it takes to produce craft products the way they used to be made. When they come to visit Vermont they look for the remnants and products of the old ways: farms, maple sugar, marble, crafts, antiques etc.
------- My feeling is that when my Gold card customers enter this cyber space portal they are not going to be topic driven. They will be geographically driven. Before they go to Disney Land they will visit cyber Disney first to familiarize themselves with the area first. When they come to cyber Vermont they will expect the same welcome, and who knows the show they will be looking for? The Cow Field agents, will they know? Or will a new agent appear on the forefront that will actually represent the craft For the first time the craft will have the opportunity to hold the interest and make a connection with the customer and keep them coming back to a unique and thriving area, not just another mall.
------- If there is no show they will go elsewhere outside the area. The craftspeople who take the extra care, time and skill it takes to recreate the way our grand folks produced the products of the craft, will succeed in the future to help make areas a more welcome and memorable experience. That special process and experience, that was passed along to us, can only be recreated by us and this is what must be passed along to the next generation.
------- We the present proprietors of the craft have been groomed and encouraged to perform in the cow field. I remember an elderly couple sitting under the tent on fair day. She sitting in a rocker knitting angora mittens and scarves in front of her well stocked display and he with his rabbits shearing the hair and twisting it on a wooden wheel that made the yarn. Not a word spoken only the reality of the craft. What a show. The problem I saw was they had to pay to do their performance. This is a hobby.
------- What I'm looking for are companies that would have a vested interest in helping my Gold card customers travel safely and easily through this cyber maze and look at my industry as an attraction or show for them that is real and based in reality. When I hear the term Virtual Reality it means just that to me. Not a fantasy world filled with illusions but a representation and display of real people doing real things that interest others, just what my customers are going to be looking for. I suppose someone could construct a cyber man behind a cyber saw pumping out cyber product that's manufactured by laser C & C equipment but can my customer pay a real visit to that cyber man? Are my customers grounded enough to know the difference? I think so, but I know that will not stop the future cyber man, some will try.
------- When my customers come to visit me they enter and experience the shop where I produce my creations for them. While they're looking they see the logos, products, tools and equipment of major companies all over the world. I sometimes wonder how many of those companies would think that a craftsperson, related to their products, actually using and commenting about them to the millions, twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, would be an advertizing plus for many interesting marketing venues in the future.
------- A friend of mine chain saws beautiful animals from pine logs. I wonder if there's a chain saw, oil, sparkplug or apparels company out there that would think it neat to sponsor and advertize with my friend who is good enough to pick up any saw and make it work because in this business its not the machine that makes the craft.
------- My Gold card customers appreciate that effort and enjoy the show. And what a grand show it is all over the world. Granted there are a lot of people who can imitate the skill of the craft like actors in a play or in the movie industry. They tend to fool the audience and trick them into believing things that are and are not true but I have faith in my customers to recognize the good from the bad. They are wise shoppers and have supported, and will continue to support, my industry.
------- Anyone can pick up a piece of wood, a ball of yarn, a hunk of clay and play. Only a very few can turn these raw materials into beautiful things before your eyes. Heed my words about craft extinction. I really feel its true. I have a feeling that right now the majority of the people engaged in the care taking of this wonderful cyber vehicle are very reluctant to the kind of change my industry represents. Some might resent this kind of exposure in their world and try to slow its growth but this opportunity is on a level playing field and open for all. This kind of attitude is nothing new to the craft or to business.
------- My industry needs your help. Your industry needs our help. Somehow we should get together for the good of the craft all over the world. This could be a great marriage. Sincerely; Michael
