Overview

The Engraver Guild is a cooperative network for engraving businesses, offering Web based workflow management software and a membership model designed to boost efficiency, reduce costs, and foster collaboration among non-competing engravers. It’s headquartered at 28 Reyburn Street, Whangarei, New Zealand, and operates as a nexus for small, local engraving businesses to thrive in a competitive market.

Key Offerings

Workflow Management Software:

  • Purpose: Streamlines operations, minimizes engraving errors, and enhances customer organization.

  • Features:

    • Update Copy and Paste: Customers can digitally update inscriptions, reducing errors and saving time (e.g., no more panicked calls about last-minute changes).

    • Trophy Management Software (TMS): Tracks trophy locations, reducing stress for customers (e.g., schools, clubs) and engravers.

    • Digital Job Records: Stores emails, photos, or handwritten tags, enabling quick error resolution and protecting businesses from unwarranted complaints.

  • Impact: Founding members Wayne and Kate saved 780 labor hours in their first year, cutting their wage bill by ~$21,060 (at $27/hour) and reducing a Business Manager’s hours by 40% without revenue loss.

Membership Benefits:

  • Cost Savings: Lower wage bills.

  • Collaboration: Non-competing members share ideas, best practices, and artisan products.

  • Customer Loyalty: Enhanced service quality and tools like TMS build trust, leading to better reviews and retention.

  • Resilience: Software enabled contactless operations during COVID, and cooperative systems prepare members for future disruptions.

  • Exclusive Products: Members design and sell unique items (e.g., 21st Keys, brass stock) to each other and the market.

Business Efficiency:

  • Lean Principles: Helps eliminate the "7 wastes" to optimize savings.

  • Margins: Advises an 80%+ gross profit to cover costs like wages, taxes, and community engagement, contrasting with big-box stores’ 500% markups.

  • Specialization: Focuses engravers on chargeable work, maximizing revenue.

Membership Structure

  • Eligibility:

    • By invitation only, requiring a sponsor and a stellar reputation.

    • Vetting includes customer references, online reviews, and endorsements.

    • One member per specialty (e.g., laser, sublimation) per geographic territory.

  • Commitment:

    • 12-month minimum term, cancellable with 3 months’ paid notice.

    • Non-compete agreement for 12 months post-membership.

    • Adherence to a Code of Ethics emphasizing trust, honesty, and quality.

Unique Selling Propositions (USPs)

  • Security of Supply: Aim to improve trophy and consumable availability.

  • Competitive Pricing: Group buying reduces costs.

  • Web Cooperation: Unlike competitive model, fosters collaboration.

  • Marketing & Branding: National promotion, local job-sharing, and “safe” branding.

  • Freedom: Supports engravers in achieving time, money, and location independence.

Operational Details

  • Channels: Website

  • Warehousing: Initially at Whangarei, with plans to scale.

  • Privacy: Complies with NZ Privacy Act, with clear policies on data use and member rights.

Philosophy & Vision

  • Core Philosophy: “Better Legends With Engraver Guild” through mutual support—giving business to others yields returns.

  • Community Focus: Encourages local engravers to support clubs and schools, enhancing community ties.

  • Future Plans: Group importing, digital product platforms, and marketing as a larger entity.