Page 19 - HIWT Fall 2011 World of Welding

hiwt@welding.org HOBART INSTITUTE OF WELDING TECHNOLOGY

doWn BY tHe Garden Gate

By Marty Baker, Editor Before you know
it, you will have
people asking
As the heat wave swelled across America this summer, Neil for your artwork
Mansfield, a welding and metal fabrication teacher from to display in
Assabet Valley Vocational High School, seemed to be heating their home or
things up even more in his own welding shop by forging and business. Keep
welding a garden gate for a customer. Mr. Mansfield enjoys in mind that
the art of welding, forging, and bending metal together during they are the ones
his summer vacation. When not racing his titanium bicycle opening up their
that he built and welded, he is creating cool stuff in his shop. check book to

Ever since he was a vocational student learning how to weld, pay you.
Neil has always had a passion for creating artwork by welding
things together using a torch. The garden gate
began with a
What is the theory behind the business? How does it all start? simple question

According to Neil, it’s an approach to self-marketing and from a customer
promoting his work. He suggests developing a professional asking Neil to make one for him. Neil sat down with the
portfolio, creating a website, attending craft and garden shows customer and created a hand sketch. This was followed by
to sell your ironwork, and making sure you have plenty of several conversations of cost, then an approval from the
over-sized business cards containing a photo of your work to customer to proceed with the commissioned gate. He suggests
provide to interested folks. Also consider your appearance -- obtaining 1/3 of the price as down payment to cover materials
how you dress and talk when you visit with a customer. Look and the beginning of labor.
and talk kindly, be polite and showcase yourself professionally.
(Continued on page 23)

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