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So - my husband HATES his job! He's been saying for over a year now, "I just want to make boxes". I told him that if we made them the right size, put drawer glides on the boxes and put them inside another box (cabinet) we could probably sell a bunch for all the cardmakers and scrapbookers to put their 12" papers in. There's no true filing cabinet out there that accommodates 12" papers, to my knowledge - at least not that I could find when I went looking (I refuse to count the Jetmax or Recollections cubes - they don't hold up). So the question is: am I right? Do you think there's still a market for them?
Maybe he can build the quantity you need but display (and sell) them at a local craft show. I think the venue would have to be one that attracts crafters because 12x12 is not common outside our world, kwim?
If they don't sell, you get to use them. If they do sell, he can make more and set up a system for taking orders.
While not a filing cabinet, Best Craft Organizer does make inserts for their units that hold 12x12 paper.........their drawers do as well. I do think a filing cabinet type unit would allow you better access though.
If Stamp N Storage or Scrapbox can make a go of making top-quality wood storage items, then I'd say give it a go!
My son has his own business making furniture, cabinets and such. He's really pricy. But if you can make a great quality item that will hold up and can keep labor costs under control, it can work.
If you go for a filing cabinet, can it be something that can be shipped flat for assembly by the owner, like the Scrapbox?
Thanks for the input, everyone! DH is working out of town for a few months (part of the reason he hates his job), but he's coming home tomorrow night for the weekend, so we'll do some brainstorming and confabbing and such while he's here. I'm not sure that anything that could be shipped flat and put together after the fact would be as sturdy as I'd like, but we can include that in the conversation, for sure! If you have any other suggestions to throw into the mix, don't hesitate, and thanks again!
This is a fabulous idea! But you need to make sure 1) somebody hasn't already patented it and 2) if not, then you patent it immediately. It's already been exposed on a public board so hurry. A company may buy your idea to free you from manufacturing this gold mine. Or if your husband wants to be involved in that process, you could include his participation in whatever contracts you sign. Best wishes in this endeavor!
Thanks for the encouragement, Louisa May! I don't think the idea is patent-able, actually - filing drawers/cabinets have been around for a couple of forevers. Size would be the only difference, and I don't believe that makes it "unique" enough to qualify for a patent. As far as someone "stealing" the idea, I'm not all that concerned - I believe that there's enough market space for more than one person/company to make/sell whatever it is... As others have mentioned, shipping will likely be the biggest hurdle...
There's no true filing cabinet out there that accommodates 12" papers, to my knowledge - at least not that I could find when I went looking (I refuse to count the Jetmax or Recollections cubes - they don't hold up). So the question is: am I right? Do you think there's still a market for them?[/QUOTE]
Your idea has more applications than just for 12 x12 papers. See what's out there for legal sized paper filing and filing other large, thin items like blueprints and thin items not made of paper, including flat items larger than 12". How do draftsmen/women store their drawings? From what I've seen they're stored in slots under drawing tables, convenient but not enough storage for large amounts. Or they roll them up and store them standing like in umbrella stands. So much is done online now, people aren't paying much attention to real life storage. All the better for you. If you think there's no STURDY filing storage for 12" papers and larger items, then your idea is unique. There are probably many patents recorded for different file cabinets. Whatever is unique about the sytem can be patented. No one can patent the idea of a filing cabinet; it's the actual presentation, whatever makes it unique mateirally, that is patented.
I don't know if there is one or not, but I store my 12 x 12 paper in a legal rolling cart from The Container Store. I've had the cart since the late 90's and I love it. I love that it rolls. I can put it wherever I need it to be.
The drawers in a 12 x 12 cabinet would have to be really, really strong so they would hold up to opening/closing. I think that would be hard and would increase the cost an awful lot.
Best of luck! I do think it's something that could be needed.
Well, I looked around, and there are filing systems for large flat items out there. They're huge pieces of furniture, not modular. So maybe I spoke too soon. But they're not cost effective or made for individual use. You might have to move out of your house to accommodate them. For the record, I would buy a file cabinet for 12 x 12 papers and use it for much more!
Here's a link to what I have. It's the 2nd and 3rd photo. I don't have the deep drawer beneath it. I have 2 shallow drawers. I'm only sharing this so you can get an idea of what is out there now.
Exciting stuff! Thinking about all of the organizational suggestions in this forum over the years, I wonder if there is a market for personalized items. For example, what if someone wanted this 12x12 paper cabinet on wheels with some sort of craft supply holder on top? Trying local markets and chatting up the crafters there seems to be a great way to see what local peeps want and are willing to pay.
Just asking... 12" paper filing cabinet
