Levi Mize started doing video in his
spare time but found the skills he
picked up for fun could help in business, too. See the link on this page
to check out his video.
He started to learn video editing
and SFX software to help out in his
church and to set up a non-linear
editing system at home. “After receiv-
ing some promo DVDs in the mail
from vendors, I figured it was time
for me to put something together for
my company.”
He says it’s easy to get professional
results. “There are tons of software
available for editing and adding special
effects to video,” he says. Some software
he uses is Adobe Creative Suite for edit-
ing, special effects, mixing and DVD
authoring, Zaxwerks for 3-D text effects
and 3-D shapes, Sorenson Squeeze to
compress video for the Web. He goes to
a site called Digital Juice to source the
music and background effects.
(For a related story about a new
video contest for the woodworking
industry, see page 52.)
Simple video is powerful tool
Mize has created professional looking
video to help promote his business.
service he provided. One of the other
guys at the table piped up, “Oh, you
mean Levi? We used him, too.” Mize
says it definitely has helped differentiate
him from the competition.
Founded in 1990, Woodcraftsman
Inc. has developed a solid reputation
over the years, and Mize says that has
helped him weather the storm. “I have
three really good contractors who throw
me a job here and there,” he says. But
the economy has dramatically changed
his business. “It’s a whole different ball
game,” he says.
He has downsized the shop from six
to two people. And he has really dived
into marketing efforts. “I hand out business cards like crazy,” he says. “I always
give a stack to clients.” He has developed very professional video presentations complete with titles and animation
as part of his online portfolio to present
to clients and potential customers (see
sidebar).
His efforts help, but competition is
fierce, he says. Customers pit shops
Planit Solutions, Cabinet Vision software www.planitsolution.com/us Citrix, virtual meeting products www.gotomeeting.com Adobe Creative Suite www.adobe.com Zaxwerks, video effects www.zaxwerks.com Sorenson Media, Sorenson Squeeze software www.sorensonmedia.com For more info: Or go to CabinetMakerFDM.com
against each other hoping to prompt
a bidding war, and lowball bidders
are happy to comply. “Sometimes I
get people that show me a stack of
drawings from other shops,” he says.
“I don’t give out plans until I have a 10
percent non-refundable deposit.” He
says that policy helps to qualify serious
customers. He refuses to bid on work
where the customer is just shopping
for price.
Still, Mize is cautiously optimistic.
“Me and my guys were talking about it.
Things are starting to improve,” he says.
“People are just tired of it and want to
get started again. But the economy is so
fragile right now. It wouldn’t take much
to shatter what little bright light there is.”
Mize figures his renewed efforts in
design will give him the edge no matter
what happens. ❮
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