ABS Reno Expo 2008 review

I know of at least one maker would could have sold a couple knives Friday evening to guys who could not be there Saturday. Also heard the crowd was much larger Friday than Saturday. The first day of a show is always my best day, not being able to sell the first day....??? Any thoughts on this?
 
I am glad to see such great discussion about this show. I think there may have been a bit of hesitation on a few makers part about it being a one day show. For this reason I think a few guys thought they had to bring less work. I hope these guys realized that it's not the length of the show but the quality of the knives and collectors attending.

I think we will see more knives on tables in San Antonio and even more "A" game stuff. I understand the term "A" game and what Steven is getting at.

This year proved, even with doubters and bad weather, that this can work. I think the small tweaks to the show that are being kicked around will really refine this show. The auction does and will be a bit shorter.

The show has got to move to San Antonio. I understand the makers point that benefit from SCI but if that was the focus of the show at the beginning it should have been next door to the SCI show.

The weather issues this year just prove that it has to be moved and though it is hot in August planes still fly and cars still drive. There is AC in the building and by night time it will be a great temp. to walk around. The show couldn't be there in January for a few reasons. One is that the River Walk, a big attraction, is drained for cleaning at that time.

Jurying the show would be great however there was some optimism when that was tried. I'd suggest contacting the board and expressing your interest in that as collectors. Maybe this can happen in the future.

In all I think this show was a good "training" session to maker and collectors alike that have not experienced this format. Hancock, Fuegen, Dean, and Fisk among others have been through it but had to show us how it works. Though it's different from AKI is definitely on the right track. I think with time more change and improvement is possible.
 
I think next year there will be a bit less confusion about the first day. Friday was definitely not busier than Saturday. I did see some people coming in, especially SCI people, that were confused Friday. If a maker thought he was going to miss a sale Friday he could have put that knife in the drawing and let that person drop their name. I know this is a bit difficult if the customer is not there the next day to pay. Personally I would work on a trust basis, take the collectors info, and then keep the back up slips that were drawn in case the first collector defaulted. I would have taken that persons cell number if they'd provide it and called them if they were drawn.

I think the preview should be completely eliminated Friday. Make it strictly a seminar day with the day ending with the collectors corner from like 3 or 4 to 6. I'm not sure how much time the collectors want? The collectors corner would then lead right into the banquet. I think the Friday preview jacks the collector up, and then we send him to bed to let his/her excitement wear off and get his better sense about him. It gives the collector too much time to decide, ya know I just don't need that extra Fisk knife or whoever it is.

Instead I think we should start Saturday with an extended preview giving plenty of time to get around the room, building the excitement, and then open the sales.

Just my .02
 
I'm in the mafia now? Cool! Not sure it will go over big at work, but hey...

One thing I am not clear on in the discussion about quantity of knives - was this show very different from any previous years (or different from any other shows) in that some makers sold out fast, some not until later and others not at all?

I mean, if there were knives on tables at the end of the show, there weren't "too few knives" overall, even if some attendees wished some makers brought more knives, right?

Roger
 
Joss said:
Who are the makers who did not sell well at the show? I left early.
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I didnt sell out but brought home more money than I spent so I considered it a good show. I did sell the push dagger to a gun collector whom brought his favorite engraver from downstairs to talk with me about the job. That kind of thing makes me feel special. My Vigilante Bowie went back with me but on a positive note I took an order for one just like it with a sub-hilt and his ivory. That is job security in my mind plus I have a knife for sale.

I liked the short show as it gave me time to take in the seminars and talk to other makers most of the day on Friday. I talked to the maker that lost out on 3 sales from SCI guys that were heading home Saturday morning. It does seem wrong to have the customer there with his wallet out but we cant make a deal at that time. Josh is on the right track with having a preview the morning of the sale instead of the day before IMO.

One thing I noticed over anything else was the fact that a person could see every knife in the room. Previewing is something I have never been part of before. In the past, as a table holder I couldnt possibly get to each table before some of the knives were gone. At this show makers and collectors had equal chances to see and/or purchase knives even from the "Big Hitters" there.

Maybe there are some show kinks to work out but all in all I thought it was a big step up from before.
 
Bruce Bump said:
I didnt sell out but brought home more money than I spent so I considered it a good show. I did sell the push dagger to a gun collector whom brought his favorite engraver from downstairs to talk with me about the job. That kind of thing makes me feel special.
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That's pretty good! I liked the PD a lot but it was way too big for my hand / fingers.

One thing I noticed over anything else was the fact that a person could see every knife in the room. Previewing is something I have never been part of before. In the past, as a table holder I couldnt possibly get to each table before some of the knives were gone. At this show makers and collectors had equal chances to see and/or purchase knives even from the "Big Hitters" there.
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Good point, it becomes a learning opportunity for the makers too...
 
Bailey Bradshaw said:
A juried show could create so much animosity towards the show from makers that the ABS would suffer in the end, so if done it would be a really touchy process. I don't disagree with it raising the quality of the offerings, but since it is committee run, not by a single promoter, you are looking at serious political fallout potential.
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Bailey Bradshaw said:
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Frankly it is easier to bring the A game and pull out all the stops for a show like the AKI or Plaza because of the prestige and level of clients. So to surmise this paragraph, the fewer number of knives is probably an indication of the level of prestige the makers feel for this show while being a little unsure of the attendance.
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Bailey - I appreciate your candid thoughts very much.

Re the committee/jury idea, undoubtedly you are correct. Yet the model is used extensively and successfully throughout the art world. Even within the ABS, the process of awarding JS and MS is done by jury. However, if applied here, it might fracture a relatively small and tight group like the ABS which would not be good.

On the dollars and cents side, your point sounds both candid and accurate. However, if the ABS Expo were to elevate to the AKI level in stature through planning and strategic intent, I could see your prices and those of the other top bladesmiths (and you are definitely one of those, IMO) going up significantly. The way things are now, y'all can't really raise your prices (much) without risking loss of a portion of the now active collector base. (...my opinion and certainly, I might be mistaken about this...)

Whether the ABS could move in this direction with the Expo and still maintain a tax-exempt status, I don't know. That's a question for the lawyers.
 
blakesnowden said:
Hey Steve, first awesome review; well written. And thanks so much for your insight at the collection seminar with Kevin. (and afterward) I was humbled and realized very quickly I was in a Harvey Mackay world in there. sans cage. I did end up coming home with a 4 or 5 nice knives including Tom Ferrys' Ying Yang Koi Tanto and Winkler's mammoth folder among others that I felt would most certainly cause mild hysteria coupled with violent physical withdrawals if I did not go to bed with. I had a fantastic time meeting all of you and was totally impressed with Chuck and Brenda Bybee and everyone's kindness and more importantly willingness to share knowledge and expertise. What a great time.
thanks again.
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Thought I would share this Tom Ferry knife from the show.
 
Very cool idea the video clip. I wonder if it wouldn't be possible to embed it directly in a post. In any case, cool idea.

JD
 
Although I would really be a proponent of the Collector's Corner idea, from an entirely business standpoint, any money traded in this area would be money that might have been spent with a maker. I would prioritize the tableholders first.

That said, an end-of-show timeframe for the Collectors to gather (Which is how the AKI does it) wouldn't affect tableholders whatsoever.

There seems to be valid concern of lost sales on friday. Can a partial sale take place? One knife only, by drawing or high bid?

Just thinking out loud.

Coop
 
No dice on the imbed html (flash)

Here is the photo

IMGP0320.JPG


and the link to the Knife
 
[youtube]bqA-3sU35yU[/youtube]

Really cool knife and display. I'm outa business..... :p :eek: ;)

Coop
 
Don Hanson III said:
I know of at least one maker would could have sold a couple knives Friday evening to guys who could not be there Saturday. Also heard the crowd was much larger Friday than Saturday. The first day of a show is always my best day, not being able to sell the first day....??? Any thoughts on this?
Click to expand...

So I'm not the only one that noticed the traffic was heavier on Friday afternoon when knives could not be purchased than anytime on Saturday when you could.

Can anyone explain this? :confused: I'm sure everyone was aware that Friday was viewing only?
 
RogerP said:
I'm in the mafia now? Cool! Not sure it will go over big at work, but hey...

One thing I am not clear on in the discussion about quantity of knives - was this show very different from any previous years (or different from any other shows) in that some makers sold out fast, some not until later and others not at all?

I mean, if there were knives on tables at the end of the show, there weren't "too few knives" overall, even if some attendees wished some makers brought more knives, right?

Roger
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I think Bailey was right. Perhaps the best way to put it is that makers brought quality knives however played it safe because they didn't know what to expect. If that makes any sense.
 
Les Robertson said:
Hi Kevin,

Something for you to think about. You and the other Blade Forums ABS Mafia (Peter, STeven, Roger, Joss and Stephen) may be directly responsible for the lack of knives at shows.

You and the mafioso heap huge amounts of praise, post photos, slap each other on the back with "You Da Man" when a great knife is scored.

An unintended response to this is the makers you tout receive additional orders.

The "pie" does not get bigger. Consequently, your 'piece" of the "pie" will get smaller as others partake of the "pie".

Example, Bob Neal and I bought 24 of the 30 Knives Ken Onion brought to his first Vegas Show. 7 years later we were relegated to standing with the others with half of a playing card in our hands.

Just "food" for thought (pun inserted to tie up the "pie" reference).

Les Robertson
Custom Knife Entreprenur
www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com
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Very True Les.
When collectors praise or build-up a maker they are many times either making a market for him/her or increasing their market.
Not always unintended as it can be a good thing for the collector.
 
Yes, the work available decreases as the interest and orders increase. But then the laws of supply & demand take forth, and 'Voila'--you have secured an Investment. (The 'I' word which takes all the fun out of it.... ;))

Rare and cunning would be a collector who wouldn't want his favorite maker's work to be sought after. (Lloyd Hale's famed collector commissioned all his work outright for 15 years so he wouldn't expand.)

Coop
 
Hey Buddy,

I know what you are saying. Not sure the ABS show will ever make it to the AKI status, but one way to jury the show may lie with the collectors input. The thought just jumped into my head, but I would be willing to bet a maker's business practices would be as much on the chopping block as his talent....and there is nothing wrong with that. It would also absolve the show committee from any responsibility of eliminating a maker, ensuring the integrity of the organization.

As for pricing....The more prestigious a show, generally speaking, the higher level of clients attending. A makers pricing is a personal thing, so only speaking for myself, I would certainly aim to bring higher end pieces, but that doesn't mean I would be making more profit on them. I do intend to raise my prices, but I lag BEHIND my secondary market, so it would take a few years of watching what goes on in the collectors corner to see when to give myself a raise. The higher profile the show however, the likelihood of my work being held in higher esteem certainly increases.

One thing I hope everyone takes away from this thread is the desire to attend next years EXPO. I know, the location and time of year is not optimal for everyone, but San Antonio is a really cool city, and the evenings are comfortable. The bottom line is the ABS is trying hard to put on as quality a show as possible, but it will only work if forged blade fans attend. If you are a forged blade collector, this should be the ONE show you go to every year.

BTW, Buddy.....how is that hunting sword doing??;)
 
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