Today is the revamped Tinbasher’s official first birthday.
It’s exactly a year to the day that I responded to the mention that gave to the old, disused Tinbasher by moving to some new premises and seeing what might develop.
If I’d personally been more settled and certain of the exact timing of my move to America then there’s every chance I wouldn’t have bothered. There were no big boardroom discussions – to be honest you can only fit three people in the Butler Sheetmetal electricity cupboard masquerading as office/boardroom anyway. If we’ve all had a big lunch that number goes down to two.
John and Matt were quite happy to let me mess about so long as I answered the phone and I preferred the idea to taking some crappy little temporary job until my visa came through.
I was also taken by the romance of the task. If ever there was a company that didn’t seem to fit into the hi-tech world of the internet and blogging it was a small sheet metal shop in East Lancs.
This all might sound terribly gormless and haphazard, and to a certain extent it was, but don’t be mistaken into thinking that it all came about by accident. The boys were very clear about the market (London/bespoke/architectural) they wanted to tap into – it was only a case of realising it.
It was nothing ventured nothing gained with a bit of no nose skin lost if it didn’t work out.
And how do you work out if it’s worked out?
Well, until the blog was brought in to support the other sites (a bit like a web gusset if you will), not one penny had been earned from our web presence. Since the blog, exactly a year ago, we’re talking between 35-40% of last year’s turnover. It really isn’t that difficult a thing to track.
Now I don’t throw these figures around to show off by banging on about how much we make – that would be desperately ungracious. I mention it only to give the blogging naysayers one in the bread basket.
The moral of the story is that if we can do it then any company can and you don’t need to be some web guru, ’cause I certainly wasn’t. Plus, you don’t need to spend a fortune, ’cause I certainly haven’t been paid one (not that I’m bitter). Yes, there’s the odd caveat or two, but you can ask about them in the comments or email me.
From a personal point of view it’s also been something of a boon. For most of the year I’ve had all types of media sniffing around like dogs round their own vomit. Don’t be too surprised if in 2006 ‘The Tinbasher – When Linishing Belts Attack’ is in a movie theatre near you. Also, don’t be too surprised if it never gets another mention anywhere. I’ve also met some great people along the way.
As for the future?
Well, like most one year olds, you’d be hoping to move onto solids and start walking and talking by the end of next year.
And to everyone who visits or has visited this blog, left a comment, just lurked, hated it, loved it, sent an enquiry, asked us to quote a job or asked us to do one – thanks.
And I’ll just leave you with the following from my blog compadre :
gormless? you brits talk funny
It's the teeth.
I had a brief look at the Flock browser site when I found out they were giving away free invitations to wordpress.com.
Maybe I'll download it when I feel like it, but I don't really use firefox that much anymore. Messing about downloading extensions always annoys me personally.
I use maxthon most of the time. It's not perfect, but show me a browser that is.
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