Has anyone heard of the downsizing of the craftsman at the park? I have heard several conversations about this. The craftsman are a big part of why our family goes. The rides are fine and all but isn't it really the home of the American craftsman.... I can spend alot of time watching the blacksmith, glass blowers, woodcarvers, etc.. If they are really planning to downgrade these things don't you think it will take away from the attraction of the park and make it just like every other theme park. Could you imagine going there and for example walking into the carving shop and there would be no carvers to watch or no one blowing glass in the glass shop.
Well, we do know hours are being cut here and there. I'm sure downsizing in this case will mean they won't put on anything that isn't going to be ostensibly noticeable to guests. This might mean we will see a lot less of the steam powered lathe, log cabin building, and lesser known craftsmen such as the guy that cuts designs into glass in the glass shop and the broom maker. We might also see less in general of the craftsmen as they put on less demonstrations.
It's sad because I really think the park earns their ticket price through the craftsmen. The rides are nice but you can get more and cheaper elsewhere, and the food and shopping isn't exactly a selling point anymore since you can do a lot better at the Landing or any mall outside the park. The crafts are the heart of the park, and they would do well to set themselves apart from the competition by putting more emphasis back on them. I don't think people even know about half the craftsmen in the park. I didn't know about the glass cutter until my last trip to the park. Hmmm, maybe I should work on adding more info about them to the site over break so people can be sure to support them next season.
I would be very supportive of getting the word out about bringing the crafts back. It seems that the focus is on import items and not hand made items. I don't want to purchase products made in china when I go to see craftsmen demonstrating their craft or trade. I think they need to take a long hard look at why people actually come to the park, and your right it is because of the craftsmen.
over the years the number of craftsmen have decreased on park...in the mid 80s visitors began to tire of historical attractions. this was about the time the park started moving toward expanding the season with christmas, and shepherd of the hills sold in the mid 80s, then SDC diversified with the showboat, ride the ducks, dixie stampede, and so on...later celebration city. So, the craftsmen have been decreased steadily since the mid to late 80s. People are not buying the arts and crafts as they did in the 1960s-early to mide 80s, and that is why. They can put in shops with import stuff that sells, or keep dozens of craftsmen on park that don't make them as much money as the old days. Support the craftsmen and buy their wares, and you will help contribute to keeping them around.
Quote from: craftsman73 on December 10, 2011, 11:28:55 PM
I don't want to purchase products made in china when I go to see craftsmen demonstrating their craft or trade. I think they need to take a long hard look at why people actually come to the park, and your right it is because of the craftsmen.
My sister's boyfriend's grandma (Becky) was at SDC with us during one weekend of National Harvest. We went to Christmas Hollow cuz Becky wanted to get an ornament for her newest grandbaby. She was looking at all the ornaments and decided not to buy anything. She said she didn't come all the way to SDC to buy something from China.
I love watching the craftsman! The two main things I go for that I can't get anywhere else is the old timey charm of the park and the craftsman. I have so much handmade stuff from SDC, one of my friends asked if I was part Amish. I made a rule that the only stuff I buy in the park has to be handmade. I think the only exception I've made were the 2 garters I bought myself and I bought some trading pins. The rest of the stuff I own from SDC that's not handmade was given to me as gifts.
I do hope they are not going to "cut" back on the craftsman.. IMHO they are already cut way back.!
I was hoping that since they added the log builder this year, maybe they were going to get back to the "roots" of SDC. ;D
I refuse to buy anything there made in china, which makes it real hard sometimes. But I can buy china made products anywhere!
So what can be done to get the word to the people that make decisions. We support the craftsman will all of our purchases. We love the pottery and have more pieces than we can use, we also have several glass items, woodcarvings, etc. I understand the import items make them more money but that's not what the park is about. One memory I have that stands out for me is going down into the carving shop and seeing tons of handmade suveniors and the people carving some of those items. We take our daughter there to get exposure to these individuals that have wonderful talents in all art forms and to show her that it's not just about going to the store and buying something that is made in china. Those craftsmen take the time to produce quality items and that means alot more than a mass produced item. I hope someone higher up at the park is reading things that the guests want and makes changes for the better to show they care.
We bought yet another craftsman made item there jsut last month and have another itme or two on the list for this wekend. Of course, i recognize that I am out of step with modern culture, but SDC is SUPPOSED to be out of step with modern culture. . . . How to maintain that and keep the doors open?
We have always loved the demonstrations of the crafts. But i must confess, other then candy, candles, and other small inexpensive items we haven't sent enough money to support the crafts. I don't know the answer to the made in China problem. My favorite CC coffee mug, made in china! The sheer volume of items stocked at SDC would prevent in house production. US made t-shirts probably don't exist? But anything is possible. I saw a news story of a small company in the US making chop sticks, made to ship overseas. Maybe Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation could open a small operation to produce just one item, (t-shirt) in a nondescript warehouse and supply all their parks with a US made t-shirts. It could provide new jobs in the Branson area or provide off season work for some park employees? Just a thought!
I always stock up on candles because I refuse to buy them anywhere else but SDC. I bought 6 or 7 candles during my last visit for Christmas presents.
"I hope someone higher up at the park is reading things that the guests want and makes changes for the better to show they care."
--I can asure you, they do read these post.
"I always stock up on candles because I refuse to buy them anywhere else but SDC. I bought 6 or 7 candles during my last visit for Christmas presents."
--I have found that SDC Candles have the longest lasting scent. We purchesed one at the Harvest Festival, and put it in our Master Bath, never lit it, but I can smell it every time I walk into that room.
To me, the Craftsmen are the heart & soul of Silver Dollar city, each and every one is as important as the last.
Quote from: craftsman73 on December 10, 2011, 11:28:55 PM
I think they need to take a long hard look at why people actually come to the park, and your right it is because of the craftsmen.
I think the problem is that these days more people
come to the park for rides and general entertainment, not the old timey stuff. It's when they get there that I think people actually begin to appreciate the craftsmen and all the special old timey stuff, even if they don't completely realize it. Consciously or unconsciously, I think it's what makes the park worth a bigger ticket price for most people, but with them begging people to come in at $30 bucks or less a pop, that's going to go away real quick unless people's habits change. I think a lot of the current younger generation is going to snub a lot of the crafts and old stuff because it's what our parents were into. It will definitely be a challenge to overcome this and keep the place special, but I know they can do it if they try.
As for all the made in china comments, I'm not sure what you expect the park to do in a lot of cases. If they didn't stock their stores with merchandise made elsewhere they'd all be pretty much empty. There's only so much that can be made by hand by a handful of people, and a lot of it doesn't even sell. They need these stores to actually sell things if they're going to stay open.
In the days of peak craftsman product demand, the craftsmen had from November through March to produce product and get it ready for the summer season. In the winter time, they set up crafts workshops in the HH, and I remember the basketweavers working in there. Also, some of the hand made items were purchased from potters and other craftsmen who supplied the city, but lived and worked in the Ozarks in Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Don't know if they still do it, but at one time they had the craftsmen train fellow park employees in the winter months how to make things including brooms, baskets, pottery, and so on. It was a way to continue the crafts from one generation to the next, and to make an in-house team of people who could make things that could be sold on park. The time period I'm talking about is the mid 70s through the mid 80s.
Someday I will carry on the legacy, right now I am just honing my skills!
As a former craftsman (oh...do I ever lose my skill?), some of the downsizing talk could be in preparation of the season winding down.
I was lucky to be a part of the City when Craftsman was the height of role appointment within the Citizen groups. I felt honored to be a part of such a wonderful tradition. They even hosted a contest to create a "Made by hand" craftsman stamp/sticker. All of this in the mid-late 90's
On recent trips however, it has been clear that more products are being outsourced in favor of "purchasing" items that fit the theme. A great example is the taffy that we on this board all know and love. It's 80% purchased...and that's being generous, may be a higher percentage! All the jams and jellies are bought outside and just have the label stuck on them. Of course, I don't remember too many canned goods being made there anyway.
Anywho, it is disheartening to have the "heart" ripped out of the City.
I have always loved all the crafts, although some interested me more than others. All the woodworking, including basketweaving, was interesting. Glassblowing was fascinating to watch, but it wasn't anything I ever imagined doing.
My first love since I was 8 or so has always been blacksmithing. Other than my time in Germany after college, I've always had a forge available, even if it sits idle because I don't have time. The smell of coal smoke is one of my favorite memory triggers for SDC.
But... even in the crafts heyday of the mid '70s to mid '80s, even when Shad was still working the forge, the crafts made and produced by the blacksmith shop were inaccurate. They sold cast aluminum trinkets for the most part, and some hoops and guides for rolling.
At some point the crafts being produced throughout the park changed focus from authentic handcrafts, to artisan level. The quality is extremely high, but the prices are high and the volume is low as a result. Mixing in mass produced lookalikes might be more profitable, but it hurts the market in the long run.
Wilson and Wilson decoys was one that's gone and has been for a very long time. They did have a Carver there in the fall of 2010 was part of a festival. Bought a Gadwall decoy from him to give to my brother back in Memphis.
On the subject of craftsmen, is it true that the woodcarvers are being moved/downgraded to the current Christmas Hollow shop, with Christmas Hollow being expanded into the woodcarvers building? Someone on the SDC FB is complaining that the woodcarvers are going to lose a lot of space for their work and guest carvers won't be able to come in as easily.
I don't see why they would do this seeing as Christmas Hollow seems to do just fine as it is during the normal season, and then during Christmas itself they have a whole extra Christmas shop in the barn. Maybe they want to get rid of the seasonal shop and just have one big one all year round... that'd give them the barn back to cram out of theme toys and crap into for holiday shopping ::)
This'd be another stab in the heart of the city for sure if the woodcarvers aren't given enough space. There's hardly enough room in there for a single carving station, let alone enough space to cram their products into for sale.
They'll end up going the way of the basket weavers and the rainman. This shows they will staff the park in the marketing aspect of things. If they are not selling, move them or downsize, we see a park with nosalgia, memories, and experiences, the see loss of revenue, and facility overhead/ costs.
Well that is what I have heard that they are moving to the Christmas Shop. I don't fully understand their reasoning for this move, I assume its probably to move more Christmas product (made in China) to make more $$$$$... So if this is true then it seems that they probably will go the way of the basket makers, etc. My understanding of how the carvers work is they don't sell to SDC, its a consignment thing. I really don't think that the carvers can compete with import items and so that means that they need less space to sell their items? Who ever made that decision to move them must not have been thinking clearly or maybe they just want to delete the carving for good, who knows. All I can say is I hope they don't go away, I really enjoy watching them carve. Just my two cents worth... ;D
I carve, and I love the size of the carvers shop. Think about how cluttered the store is going to look. No more large scale carvings. Where will they make large signs, Cigar Store Indians, Headboards, Mantles...I think Christmas sells, that unfortunately trumps nostalgia, and actual hand made goods.
I don't know if this has been mentioned somewhere here on the site yet, but you might be interested in knowing that the Christmas store (Christmas Hollow?) and the Woodcarver's Shop are switching places in 2012. The reason given is that they are going to expand the inventory of the Christmas store and need more space. Kinda makes sense to me...the woodcarver's shop, although still an interesting place with people wandering in and out, hasn't generated revenue like it used to for some time now, while the Christmas store always does a bustling business. Anyway, just thought you'd want to know.
(admin edit - merged with existing topic - shavethewhales)
So the rumors were indeed true then. It's a pity unless they are going to give the woodcarvers enough space to actually perform like they used to. It sounded like they were pretty pissed about it.
My hubs is a woodcarver, and they have a conversation every time we are there. And, yes, they are pissed (and rightfully so!) SDC is making a mistake.
I guess what it comes down to is people more interested in buying more cheap China made items that are easy to transport and gift than quality hand made heirlooms at a premium. It's a shame but people are more likely to ooh and ahh over the wood carvings than actually buy them. But investing in something that will last and be enjoyed over years is what these items are all about. What is needed is that we all come into a large inheritance, win the lottery, or something of the sort and buy more to decorate our SDC shrines in our homes.
That all being said, I do think it is a mistake to take away this great demonstration shop for the woodcarvers.
I for one, have been in CH maybe once or twice total! i am surprised that it has that kind of a draw, \To justify this move they must sell a lot of merchandise there all year around.. Remember SDC is Mostly about the retail sales.
I do enjoy the Woodcarvers, but have noticed like everyplace else, less made onsite :'(, more made in chine, >:(
I guarantee the 1st place i go in march will be the "new" woodcarvers building to see how they use the space in the building.
The change is a "signs of the times" thing. If more people were buying the woodcarvings, they'd keep things like they were. It will be a strange thing to see the switch...I have enjoyed Mountain Woodcarvers at the old location since my first visit in 1970.
I dont care what the reasoning is behind the big move, but I find it to be outrageous. To take something so strongly tied to the past and now and give it a place that will not show its significance is absurd. I am not saying that Christmas is not important, but it has a fine place where it is now. The woodcarvers and demonstrating craftsmen, to me, outweigh the benefits of moving to a smaller location due to popularity. Would the City have as popular and long lasting without the amzing craftsman? No, not in my opinion. They played an integral role in making the City what it is. They should not downsize the core of what they are for upselling. But, hey, thats me.
I agree. Christmas is important, but CH is the epitome of commercialized Christmas in my opinion.
The candles do last a really long time! I lit one for a few hours, and could still smell it the next day just like it was still lit.
Whew...my opinion here may get me banned for life from SDC fans...but here goes...
I think I like the idea of the wood carver and the christmas store switching places. I totally agree that craftsman selling hand made items are more critical to the aura of SDC than a shop that sells items made in china, but I think the layout of the christmas hollow store (the old toy store) may be better than the layout of the woodworking building. I always thought that the current wood working building was a little odd...upon entry you immediately had to decide to go upstairs or down, upstairs there didn't seem to be much going on except the sale of the finished carvings and downstairs there were craftsman at work, but they seemed to be stuck in an out of the way corner in the basement. As an amateur wood carver myself I enjoyed talking to the craftsman and walking through the store, but it seemed like I had to make a trip there rather than just happening to walk by. If I were one of the SDC craftsman I think I'd be excited about being in a store with an open floor plan and all one level, rather than to be tucked back in the corner of the basement. I also think the location of the christmas store better lends itself to the wood carving...it's on the same "intersection" as the wood turner and furniture store. Both of which have demonstrations of wood working at regular times throughout the day. It's also just a stone's throw away from the leather store and gun/knife store. I know that christmas hollow/the old toy store has less square footage, but I really think it's a better layout than the current wood carving building. Lastly I just love the area of the park where christmas hollow is located...I enjoyed that part of the park as a child and have wonderful memories of going through the tree house and then playing in the toy store (before it was the christmas store). In recent year's I can think of many relaxing fall afternoons in that area where I sat eating a sandwich outside Big Jack's while watching acorns fall and enjoying the people watching. I respect SDC for doing what they need to do. It sounds like christmas hollow is a cash cow and needs more space. I understand that and I hope that it's increased profitability will help to keep SDC open and profitable in these tough economic times. I'm glad we aren't reading news alerts about how SDC is closing the wood carvers in favor of "Christmas Hollow Part 2." I think those of us who value the craftsman at SDC will continue to seek out their wares and talents. If SDC needs to move around a few stores to maximize traffic flow (and income) so that more consumers (suckers) buy souvenirs (made in china junk)...then so be it. I'd like to point out that to walk past E&D's bakery (where "craftsman" bakers are making homemade treats) you have to pass through a lot of items not made in america while walking through the hospitality house and ozark marketplace. It's a bummer I know to have to have changes to our beloved SDC, but as long as the craftsman are still on park (even in a smaller building) I can live with it if the changes help SDC to be more profitable...heck, they've got to pay for this monster 2013 project somehow.
I like the diverse opinions that we have! Thank you for posting your thoughts on the topic. You brought up some valid points. I just am not fond of change. :)
It's definitely good to point out that the floor plan is better in CH, but the fact remains that it will be something like less than half of the space they had before. I don't even know that they'll be able to set up more than a couple tiny demonstrations and still be able to fit any merchandise in. Maybe it's bigger than I think without all the Christmas stuff in there, but I'm sure they'll have to do some heavy downsizing, maybe even laying off one or more of the demonstrators. We'll have to wait until opening day for a final opinion.
You threw me there for a moment, shave...I was thinking I was dreaming about making a post. I wouldn't really call this a "downsizing," though it will be different for them.
I agree with Kentucky Optimist on this one. It's a good move for both. There is plenty of space in the new location for the woodcarvers to display all that they do. Back in the day, when they had two or three carvers working at the same time, they needed a larger area. Used to be that you'd see one carving something smallish like a hillbilly, while another was carving something largish like an Indian holding cigars, while another was doing something else. They don't work on projects like that anymore. Now-a-days, at any given time, you might see one carver, working on one of the mantels and specialty doors that people special order. You can't blame them for pushing the big ticket items, but I do miss watching them carve the hillbillies and then being able to buy it right out of their hand. They'll do fine in their new location once people realize they've moved, and Christmas Hollow will as well.