Hi folks,

As you'd expect, we get a few enquiries from potential customers who are looking to have one-off or small run items made for them. As a company (either Carbon Mods or Easy Composites) we don't offer a one-off service and so we turn this work down, even when customers have a realistic budget available for this kind of work. Given the talent and skill that is now on this forum, do people think it would be worthwhile having a 'skills marketplace' where potential customers (around the world) could post their project requests and then if anyone is interested in the work you could just PM eachother to discuss?

It's just an idea but I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.

All the best, Matt

Matt Statham
Easy Composites / Carbon Mods - Technical Sales

Good idea i think.

This forum has a good spread of knowledge and experience despite the fact it is relatively new and still has low numbers of members (but it is growing obviously just takes time).

Also it has a spread of people around europe, the uk and a few US members too.

Also with a larger company like EC/CM i imagine economy of scale makes some smaller one off projects unviable financially or likely to incur large costs. Whereas a smaller garage business or small business may be able to take it on better.

Obviously as a "marketplace" it needs to be well managed in the sense of liability terms. Ie it needs to be absolutely clear that all that is going on is that different businesses are providing "contacts" of people who may be able to do the work for them.  It needs to be such that no potential customer could be confused that there is any contract, implied or otherwise, between the "introducer" (be it EC or others) and the person who takes on the job.

But as long as its clearly explained then there should be no problems in that sense.

Perhaps within a "marketplace" section of the forum, there could be a "portfolio" area so that those who want to be considered openly for such jobs can have a thread showing their work off and what they do/offer.  A bit like the project showroom, but a thread per person/business so its easier for prospective customers to choose who they contact based on the information given. 

So maybe split a marketplace into a portfolio section, Help needed and a Services offered section (or some better catchier titles).

Maybe also consider a "For sale" and "wanted" section for forum members to sell things they make, supplies, equipment etc.