If you have studied our episode about Ken Done you know that a single fish or flower painted by him twelve months ago could find it's way on to clothing for men, women and children. It could end up on a watch, handbag, tote or cosmetic bag. You might find the same fish or flower on a mouse pad, calendar, or in a poster or a silkscreen. You could see the fish or flower on bath towels, napkins, placemats, dishes or golf balls!

Also here in our library you can learn about how the famous photographer, Ken Duncan, created a growing company by investing in state-of-the-art printing techniques. This investment allows him to duplicate his art faster, cheaper and better. He keeps prices up by producing limited quanities and fully utilizes his equipment by doing printing for other photographers.

You think about it: Why would an artist -- and that includes our custom log home builder -- want employees and expensive equipment?

Answer: It might seem strange to see an artist fooling with employees and expensive processing equipment because we tend to think that artists are moody and private. But, they also can be fascinated with the challenge of getting costs down while keeping quality up.

Topic for discussion: How does a business determine the new product offerings that will appeal to their customer base?

Answer: Unlike a lot of the challenges that face business owners, this is a question that can actually be addressed mathematically! Every time one of Mike's potential customers bought from another builder or gave up on owning a log home, Mike saw cash walk out the door. Now he has log homes most any home buyer can afford.

You think about it: What can you automate? How much will it cost? How long will it take for you to recover your investment in technology and machinery?