Well, 2008 was a heck of a year for the woodworking community. We saw an incredible explosion of new blogs and podcasts and Twitter is now a household word for many woodworkers. We witnessed the birth of a new conference (Woodworking in America), the success of which proves that despite all the technology in our lives, most of us have a desire to rely on the simpler tools in our shops. Irony at its best!
It was also interesting to see, in woodworking, a phenomenon that has been occurring in other areas for some time now. Bloggers and podcasters are putting their best stuff out there for free, simply for the love of the craft and the community. This in turn puts pressure on “old media” to come up with ways of doing the same thing, while still making enough money to justify the time and effort. So “old media” dives head first into “new media”, and we all can benefit from the excellent videos, blogs, and community features provided by our favorite magazines.
We witnessed a few new developments in tools, including a new re-designed Unisaw, a handsaw with an identity crisis, and a $1300 miter saw.
And as always this time of year, I like to ponder the stats and see what our site has accomplished. This year we posted over 50 Wood Whisperer episodes and live demos, 50 of your questions, 60 of your projects, and 31 of your shops. And our videos have received over 3 million downloads to date! Our new forum is creeping up on 11,000 posts by 1,100 members. We now have 12 different woodworkers broadcasting live from their shops on the Wood Whisperer Live Page and Wood Talk Online has even moved to a completely LIVE format. We gave away 10 Festool sanders and numerous other goodies from content producers like Charles Neil, Gary Katz, Hendrik Varju, and Chris Schwarz, just to name a few. And who can forget Woodworker’s Safety Week 2008?! And I should also mention that Jan. 1st marks the launch of the new Wood Whisperer Guild where you can get even more Wood Whisperer content and money-saving discounts on your tool and supply purchases.
So Nicole and I thank you all for being part of this incredible community. Whether you are a hardcore dust-jockey, a collector of fine tools, or even an armchair woodworker, you are all welcome here! I would also like to thank our sponsors, Festool and Powermatic, as well as the sites we’ve collaborated with extensively including Matt’s Basement Workshop, Popular Woodworking, Fine Woodworking, and Lumberjocks.
Thanks Matt for everything you have done for woodworking and the generosity of your time. Through your website and the others mentioned has allowed me to become a better woodworker. I have picked up so many tips and techniques that I never would have a resource to glean otherwise. Once again, thank you for everything you have done to bring woodworking to the world!
I also would like to thank You & Nicole and Matt for your talents in Woodworking and the Computer, Without which none of this would be possible. Keep up the great work and for the New Year have many new ideas and prosperity. Thank you,
Lance AKA Charger
Hey Marc,
There were a LOT of things going on at TWW this year and I know you and Nicole were really busy doing the all the creative and mechanical stuff necessary to produce all the videos, etc.
If I ranked the things that came out of the TWW this year, the Safety Month would be at the top of my list. At least for me, it really made me MUCH more safety conscious and therefore careful. There were a lot of great things but this one made a real impact on me.
I plan to sign up for the “Guild” real soon now, as I expect it will be the most notable biggie of the year 2009, and there will be many other really neat things going on.
Happy New Year!!
Jim
Marc & Nicole, Thanks for everything you do. I loved being here with you through 2008 and look foward to an exciting 2009.
Marc and Nicole,
Congratulations on a very busy and productive year! I’ve really been enjoying the experience of The WoodWhisperer.
I can’t wait to see what’s around the corner.
yeah, it’s been a pretty slow year for you guys. Let’s hope you finally get ambitious and do a few things in 2009…
you forgot to mention the first ever wood whisperer live AND mobile Q&A episode – at a truck stop somewhere between Ca and Az.
I know you never expected this to grow so quick, but I hope you see your growth continue to multiply in 2009. You guys are the best!
Mike
lol oh yes, how could I forget that amazing event! Don’t forget we had a real Frenchman with us too, making it all the more awesome! ;)
Marc and Nicole,
Thank-you very much for a great 2008. You have given many woodworkers a great place to hang out and learn. I look forward to the future with great anticipation for the new things that will arrive in 2009 with your site. You and Nicole make us feel like this is our website just as much as it is yours, so thanks!!
Jeff AKA….Jeff
Wow I think I remember back a couple of years and you only had around a 1000 people corresponding to you. And now you 3 million downloads? You must have a lot of people contributing and visiting your site. So keep up the good work. I know I always look forward to seeing up you are up to everyday. I hope your advertisers appreciate the amount of eyes your site brings to their products. Claude
Hey Marc and Nicole.
Congratulations on taking ‘wood’casting to a higher level than ever before. Your efforts have greatly inspired many of us and even though we know you take this business seriously, the humor goes a long way too and is very much appreciated. I wish you both the greatest success in 2009.
John aka Dust4Brains