Turning over a new leaf: Tasmanian Turning Supplies business for sale

Above: Ian and Kym Headley of Tasmanian Timber Turning Supplies – "it's time to turn over a new leaf".

Words: Ian Headley

After 12 years owning and operating the business, ‘Tasmanian Turning Supplies’, my wife and I have decided it’s now our turn to ‘turn over a new leaf!’

I’ve been a builder for over 45 years and have just hung up the nail-bag.  Now we are aiming to complete the picture by transferring Tasmanian Turning Supplies to new owners, enabling us to pursue some other creative and travel adventures before we get too creaky.

Tasmanian Turning Supplies was established in Tasmania some 25 years ago by a local woodturner Peter Vince. With a background in stock and sales management at Stanley Tools in Hobart, Peter saw the need for a consistent supply of all those mostly metal and mechanical components required for the woodturning industry.

Local woodturners and throughout Australia, generally focus on supplying arts and crafts shops and finished products for the tourist markets. Sadly, after 13 years of operation, Peter became very ill and had to let the business pass to new hands. Peter was keen to give us helpful advice and we became good friends during that transition period.

The view from the busy home office at Tasmanian Turning Supplies

Typical of the range of components we continue to supply are; cheese planer blades and knives, pate and butter knives, ice-cream scoops, bottle stoppers, cork-screws, walking stick heads, clocks, weather instruments, salt and pepper grinding mechanisms, key holders, decorative pewter lids and pen-kits, to name but a few! 

While continuing to supply the productive local woodturners in Tasmania, most of our sales are now generated through our Tasmanian Turning Supplies website which was professionally designed to provide easy access features and facilities to make online purchases.  We consistently send items mostly throughout Australia, but also send items quite regularly to New Zealand, USA, Canada, the U.K and other international destinations. 

Samples of finished Christmas decorations using parts supplied by Tasmanian Turning Supplies.

We have established a large customer base, reliable suppliers and quality manufacturers from mostly international destinations including Denmark, China, Norway, USA, Taiwan and the UK. Obtaining and maintaining a quality reliable constant supply of items has been one of our main aims enabling us to provide a valuable service to the wood turning industry. Finding and keeping good suppliers and agents overseas has been critical to maintaining our stock on a timely basis and of good consistent quality. It’s not easy to establish and we value these relationships. Communication about time frames and quality standards is easily ‘lost in translation’!

A wide range of supplied utensil components such as the cheese knives shown above are perfect for adding turned handles and embellishments to.

Tasmanian Turning Supplies has been a great little home-based business. It has essentially been run by my wife on a day-to-day basis while I was out on job sites.  She has enjoyed getting to know many of our customers as friends over the years. A few locals occasionally pick up items from our packing room and usually stop for a chat. You certainly hear some interesting stories! One of our local customers is an 87-year-old woodturner who still prolifically makes items and goes to Salamanca Market each week to sell his wares.

We have made a policy of keeping working hours from 9 to 5, five days a week. This policy has worked well for us in maintaining what could otherwise become a 24/7 business.  Although the business could easily expand to become a bigger operation, this lower key approach has been our specific choice. While it’s always tempting to develop and expand, in the interests of keeping the business as a home-based operation we have settled on the niche product range that we stock, occasionally adding the new or deleting items as we go.

Well organised stock and storage is the key to managed and efficient order delivery.

This business size limitation has allowed us to pursue a lifestyle that enables us to keep the business with the relatively low overheads and convenience of a home base. The benefit of this style of business was particularly evident during the Covid restrictions when business activity was not diminished and any need for travel to work or isolate was not an issue. It also allows us to have weekends to ourselves, spend time with family and friends and pursue other interests. 

My wife has made a real effort to get orders out to the post office on the day that they are received, and although Australia Post does their best, sometimes there can be various degrees of speed in making it to the customer! (I’m sure a few frustrated people out there will know what I mean!)  Nonetheless, we are often encouraged by receiving an email acknowledgement of goods thankfully received a day or two after the order was placed.

We are now hopeful to find some new owners who will enjoy taking on the business and putting their energy and creativity into continuing to add to the 25 years that Tasmanian Turning Supplies has been supplying all those creative woodturners in Australia and beyond! Until then we remain open for business as usual and invite you to check out our website at www.tasturningsupplies.com.au Feel free to contact us via the website.

Images supplied by Tasmanian Turning Supplies