The CNC Shop Playbook

Step-by-step guides for wood, laser, 3D print and machine shops: plans, scripts, templates and checklists you can use today.

Pick any guide and start. If something here doesn't make sense, or you'd rather someone did it for you, talk to a human at Annie's. ← Back to marketing for CNC shops

Start here: the free tools

#Item
T1CNC shop business plan
T230-day social media program
T3Where your customers are (by shop type)

Guerrilla marketing

#Idea
G1Be the trophy shop for local club teams (club hockey, youth leagues; sample plaque at the season banquet)
G2Honor the people who serve (police, fire, sheriff, city and county retirement and service awards)
G3Donate to the charity auction (school, church, nonprofit silent auctions; personalize for the winner)

More guerrilla marketing

#Idea
R1Realtor closing gifts: one realtor who likes the work orders one for every house they sell
R2Engrave live at craft fairs and farmers markets: a laser running in public draws a crowd
R3Business cards cut from wood or metal: they go out with every order and get kept and shown around

The 10 things every shop should be doing

#Item
C1Google Business Profile filled in with photos of real jobs
C2Posting finished work every week
C3Short videos of the machine running
C4Selling online (Etsy, Amazon Handmade, own shop, print or parts marketplaces)
C5Website quote form that takes a photo or a file
C6Asking every customer for a review, and answering them
C7Going after repeat buyers
C8Planning for the seasons
C9Showing up where buyers look
C10Keeping a list of past customers and telling them what's new