As we were preparing for our first trip to Canada, one thing became very clear: we weren't just learning how to make circular sock machines. We were building a manufacturing business.
The CSMs were certainly the heart of the opportunity, but from the beginning we knew there would be much more involved. We needed a facility, equipment, suppliers, inventory systems, accounting software, a website, shipping processes, documentation, and eventually employees. While we were learning the technical side of manufacturing from Dave, we were also researching and planning everything that would be needed to support Chambord CSM for the long term.
One of the first major questions was where we would actually operate.
My parents have owned a sign business in town for more than 45 years and operate out of a 3,200-square-foot commercial building. Last July, I prepared a business plan outlining what I believed Chambord CSM could become over the next five years and shared it with my family. It was important to me that everyone understood not only what we were proposing, but also the level of commitment required to succeed.
Dave provided specifications for the major equipment we would need, which allowed us to start evaluating layouts and workflow. My brother, Mike, and I walked through the building discussing possible locations before deciding the front corner of the shop would be the best fit.
One weekend Mike and I came in and used blue tape to mark the footprint of the CNC machines and other equipment. While we were in Canada, the shop employees helped move cabinets and shelving to clear the area.
I can't even explain how exciting those blue tape outlines were.
Up until that point, much of the work had existed in spreadsheets, notebooks, business plans, and conversations. Seeing the physical space mapped out made everything feel real. We could finally visualize where Chambord CSM would operate and how the workflow would come together.
Not long after, the lathe arrived. Mike and I were working when it was delivered, but my brother was able to unload it. Then, we came in on our day off to move it into place.
It was our first major piece of manufacturing equipment and a tangible reminder that all of the planning was beginning to turn into action.
January
In early January, we received a notification that our CNC mills would be delivered the following week. We both took the day off work, arranged to rent an off-road forklift, and arrived at the shop early to make sure everything was prepared.
Several hours later, the semi-truck pulled up.
The driver opened the trailer doors and to our surprise, all we saw was a small pallet with an even smaller box sitting on top.
After weeks of anticipation, it was not exactly what we had expected.
As it turned out, the delivery notification had been sent for the accessories, not the actual CNC mills. It was disappointing at the time, but looking back it has become one of the more humorous memories from the setup process.
While we waited for the mills, there was still plenty of work to do.
We picked up a pallet jack from Craigslist and continued preparing the shop. During the MLK holiday weekend, we focused on the infrastructure required to support the equipment. An electrician installed a new electrical panel and the proper outlets for the larger machines. We also expanded the compressed air system so the CNC equipment would have the connections it needed.
We also started to have our materials delivered!
February
The CNC mills finally arrived!! And yes, this time they were the actual correct items within the truck!
It took several hours to unpack and position everything, but seeing them in place was a major milestone. The production space we had spent months planning now contained the equipment that would ultimately manufacture Chambord CSM machines.
Every new piece of equipment made the project feel a little less theoretical and a little more real.
March
As the shop continued taking shape and Mike was heads down finding suppliers, I focused on another important aspect of the business: supplies and customer experience.
I reached out to a yarn wholesaler that is commonly used by local yarn stores. One of the things that's important to me is making the machine approachable for new users, so I wanted every Chambord CSM bundle to include both coned waste yarn and coned sock yarn. My goal is for customers to be able to begin learning and cranking as soon as they unpack their machine.
As someone who has been a fiber artist for most of my life, opening a wholesale account with a yarn supplier was a milestone I honestly never imagined I would reach. With great power...come's great self-yarn-control....
While Mike made his second trip to Canada, I stayed busy coning yarn and continuing work on the website and updated branding.
We also found a local fabrication company, right here in Prescott, AZ, capable of producing the laser-cut parts we needed. Seeing the first cut components arrive was another exciting moment. Until then, most of our efforts had been planning, research, and setup. For the first time, we were holding actual Chambord CSM parts that we sourced in our hands.
Around the same time, I also started exploring options for Chambord-branded merchandise and ordered several samples.
April
One of my goals from the beginning has been to build a strong educational presence around Chambord CSM, especially through YouTube and online content.
With that in mind, I started working with a sound engineer to create an original Chambord CSM jingle. It was a completely new experience for me and one I enjoyed far more than I expected. I'm excited for everyone to hear the final result.
Back at the shop, Mike had transitioned into working full time on setup and production planning. Since we were sharing space within an active commercial building, we wanted to maximize flexibility wherever possible.
Many of the smaller workstations and pieces of equipment were placed on wheels so the shop could adapt as our needs changed. Mike joked about putting a little shed (my office) on wheels and wheeling me around throughout the day! LOL!
May
May brought one of the milestones I had been eagerly waiting for. Mike started machining cylinders and ribbers.
Every evening he would bring parts home so I could test and inspect them. The first thing that struck me was how familiar they looked. They looked exactly like Dave's. I mean, this shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone but it definitely made me happy.
Throughout this entire transition, one of our highest priorities has been preserving the quality that Chambord CSM owners expect. Seeing those first components successfully come off the machines was an encouraging sign that we were moving in the right direction and could truly make this work.
I also spent some time at the shop working with my brother to set up production for the needle tins on the laser. There are certainly more efficient batch methods, but while simultaneously entering customer waitlist information and handling other business tasks, I found myself hitting "print" throughout the day and steadily working through the stack.
Another exciting development came from Mike. After attending a crank-in with my machine packed in a standard case filled with pluck foam, he decided there had to be a better solution.
He began designing a custom case specifically for the Chambord CSM machine. Not only would it be designed around the machine itself, but it would also include wheels and a telescoping handle for easier travel. Sometimes it's very convenient being married to an engineer!
June
By June, we had received most of the files, programs, and documentation from Dave, along with the majority of the materials needed for production.
Mike has been hard at work building the first five machines that will ultimately be reviewed and tested by Dave.
A critical part of this transition is ensuring that Dave feels confident in what we're producing. Our goal has never been to simply replicate a machine. We want to maintain the standards and reputation that Chambord CSM has built over many years while creating a strong foundation for the future.
At the same time, a significant change happened closer to home. Our original plan was to share the building with my parents' sign business. Instead, my parents decided it was time to retire. As a result, we will eventually be taking over the entire building! The transition will take time, but it creates opportunities for growth that we hadn't anticipated when we first began this process. It also feels fitting that a building which has supported one family-owned business for decades will continue supporting another. I have a few irons in the fire I’m excited to share more about soon!
July
July was filled with both business development and operational planning.
We finalized a supplier for the custom carrying cases and continued refining the design. The sent us the first version, but it was a bit bigger than expected.
To help ensure proper fit and protection, we're sending one of the first machines to the manufacturer so they can work directly with the real components. I’m over the moon about these cases! More to come!
On the business side, I enrolled in an accounting course at the local community college to refresh my knowledge and ensure we're building our systems correctly from the start. I've also been working with an HR & Business consultant whose experience as a business manager has been invaluable. Together we've been establishing accounting procedures, policies, and the many behind-the-scenes processes required to support future growth. Perhaps most exciting, we're beginning preparations to hire our first employee. With my parents retiring, we'll be able to bring one of their longtime employees onto the team.
Another major milestone this month was completing Version 1 of the Chambord CSM manual. It has already earned the nickname "the tome." At over 250 pages, it's currently much more comprehensive than polished. Right now it's mostly text, but once photographs, diagrams, and formatting are added, it should become significantly more palatable. I've sent copies to Dave and Kathy and both Crankers and Non-Crankers for feedback and have already started compiling suggestions for future revisions.
Looking Back
When we talk to people about the Chambord CSMs they often think we making socks and selling those. When in reality, we are making the machines that allow Cranker’s to make the socks. Manufacturing vs hobbyist. Quite the difference!
Over the last year we've spent countless hours researching suppliers, evaluating software, planning business workflows, developing documentation, setting up accounting systems, building a website, learning new processes, preparing for employees, and creating the infrastructure required to support customers long after a CSM leaves our shop.
There have certainly been moments where we've had to learn something new, and there will undoubtedly be more ahead. But very little of this has happened by accident. Every step forward has been supported by planning, research, problem solving, and an incredible amount of work from our new found friends and the people helping us along the way.
A year ago, Chambord CSM was an opportunity we were exploring. Today, we're producing parts, building machines, testing systems, preparing to hire employees, and creating a business that we hope will support the circular sock machine community for many years to come.
And we're just getting started!
