>
> What exactly is MOTM 2.0?? Is that the partial kits, the proposed
> digital modules, or something else entirely??
>
It's a term I use to describe what MOTM 'stuff' is available after the kits were
dropped AND in a more general way, to describe (or at this point, envision) how
I am "going to market" later this year.
A quick recap for some newbies:
a) I decided to drop the kits because the sheer logistics were preventing me
from doing any sort of R&D work. When I placed a Digikey order in May of 2006
that put me over the 1.7 ∗million∗ parts mark (from Day One), I literally
stopped dead in my tracks and thought "I am an idiot."
b) The ∗reality∗ of mid-2005 to mid-2006 was kit orders were DOWN over 45%,
because most people were waiting for NEW stuff.
c) Assembled modules, always very slow to ship because I personally hand-solder
every one (and I am a VERY picky solder person but I am NASA certified), were
just not shipping AT ALL. Several people were approaching ∗2 years∗ of waiting.
d) I was getting many requests to supply just pc boards.
e) I was in a pretty sucky "day job" and was getting bored to the point of
pondering some really drastic stuff (move to Vermont, etc). Luckily I found (via
a spam folder in my Yahoo mail, I kid you not) a great new job that allows me to
work out of my house (although I am on "call" 12hrs/day) and allows me to get
more done during the week. The job pays more so that I was 'frantically
dependent' on MOTM income. I did this for 14 months after the .com bust and
although I worked 6 days/week for 12-14hrs a day, after 14 months I was
∗negative∗ $56K. This is why MOTM is ∗just a hobby∗, it's hard to support 4
people on negative $56K :) The profit structure of MOTM 2.0 means an always
positive cash flow, even if sales are 20% of what they used to be, it's still
POSITIVE :)
f) Quite frankly, the success of the Zero Oscillator caught me off-guard. It
proved 2 things: a non-MOTM module ∗assembled∗ could sell into the MOTM customer
base. So, Cynthia is partially to blame :) But the reality is: all the really
cool stuff in my head (and other people's heads) are just not practical as kits.
Newer, ROHS (don't forget, that is still in effect) compliant parts are SMT
only. Also, SMT reels are a LOT easier to store and keep track of, even if the
initial investment is probably 15X over thru-hole (because you have to buy so
many freakin' parts on that reel). The MOTM Frac modules, at their selling price
RETAIL are only possible because of SMT production (I ran 350 boards in about 4
hours).
g) I think it's fair for me to say that the success of MOTM has caused several
manufacturers to "jump into" the MOTM 'marketing space', which has captured a
lot of my assembled module business. Not everyone wants to wait years for
modules (some people don't want to wait 3 weeks). Again, the kitting logistics,
even when Indiana was involved, caused assembled modules to not be shipped. Once
the sale backlog is cleared out (mid-summer) I will be able to clear out the
assembled backlog and actually STOCK ASSEMBLED MODULES which prevents MOTM from
reaching a lot of people (especially in the film & gaming soundtrack genre)
because they are on deadlines and I can't be depended on to meet delivery dates.
The only way to solve this is to simply have them sitting here ready to go.
Granted, I have a large hole to climb out of reputation-wise. Hopefully the
other MOTM qualities will overcome that. This point is still 6 months away, but
it will get there.
OK that's enough rambling. I have to orders to pack up tonight :)
Paul S.