It’s important to think hard about your bottom line when you’re in business. You won’t be profitable or stay in business very long without keeping track of your expenses and revenues. It’s also true that fixating on your costs and cutting too many corners can create expensive mistakes. 

This issue is about ensuring your shop’s success by achieving quality results using quality materials. It’s also about finding ways to strategically save on outlays and expenses when and where it makes sense.

“A clear view on windows” discusses how to choose materials that achieve client goals while also supporting the design intention of the fabricator. Estimating job costs and establishing accurate pricing are the foundational skills of running a successful marine fabrication business. “Getting a grip” explores the financial strategies of three fabricators and how they adapted over time as their skills improved, their businesses grew and outside factors affected their bottom lines.

The “2023 Premier Product Showcase” includes 56 high-quality marine products that will help you fabricate excellent projects that create a buzz at the marina and attract additional high-quality business. Mike Charlton, Charlton’s Marine Canvas, discusses the challenges and strategies of fabricating center console enclosures, and Russ Griffin, Northcoast Marine Specialties LLC, drills down into how to choose the right fabric for a particular project to ensure stellar results.

The wise fabricators in this issue point out that there is no single strategy that guarantees profits. According to one fabricator, “If you ask 100 canvas makers how they estimate jobs, you’ll likely get 90 different answers.” While there is no one strategy that ensures success, focusing on quality standards and products rather than on cutting corners is likely to serve you better over time. As Italian designer Aldo Gucci once said, “Quality is remembered long after price is forgotten.”