Brown Bagging (or rules against), How do you feel about it?

[Kevin Jones]

Really good responces here, thanks.

I feel it's wrong for knifemakers, dealers, handle material vendors etc who have not purchased a table to
offer their merchandise for sale at shows. These people should not get a "free ride" at the expense of paid
tableholders.

The only example I can think of where it may be acceptable is where a non-tableholding knifemaker is delivering
a special order to a collector at a show as a matter of convenience for both.

On the other hand, I see nothing wrong with knife collectors bringing/sharing/trading/buying/selling their knives
among themselves as that's part of the enjoyable knife show experence for many collectors. That why I'm a big fan
of knife shows having "collector's corners" where collectors meet/visit and share, trade, buy, sell one another's knives.
I would love to see Blade Show have such an area, but don't think it will ever happen.

Some collectors bring dozens of knives with them to Blade Show for the above reasons. Very often they sell knives to
buy new knives from tableholders by which everyone wins.
Knife shows and knifemakers will be most successful when there's the most favorable knife collector enviroment and experence.

As I understand their policy, non-tableholders (brown baggers) at Blade Show are not only not allowed to sell
on the show floor but anywhere on the complex, including the "Pit".

I'm curious as to your opinions on collectors trading/selling their knives to other collectors at shows.

 

[peterinct]

I agree with the opinions that a "collector" that brings a few knives to show other collectors, makers, etc., should be allowed to do so. It seems absurd that a show would prohibit back packs, especially a large show, where many attendees have traveled to attend. There are various items that are nice to have, and the most convenient way to carry them is a pack.

I also agree that it is INAPPROPRIATE for someone that makes knives, or is a purveyor, to bring a significant number of items such as a roll containing many knives for sale, with the purpose of conducting business without renting a table.

Discretion and common knife sense should be observed.

Peter

 

[sheathmaker]

I would be very interested and appreciative of comments and opinions regarding where I come down in this discussion.

I regularly attend Blade Show as well as other major shows and I never have a table, although I am "attached " to one table or another by invitation of the table holder. I regularly carry with me several to many sheaths intended for delivery to either makers or collectors, and this was/is by mutual agreement for the convenience of both parties. In addition I always have a few odd lot goodies in my brief case which I do not open nor solicit from, however I am asked at each and every show to expose the contents for the purpose of selling, should the person find something that "fits" or they like. I try always to move away from an active table to a more remote area when this happens

Since about 99% of what I do is custom it makes little sense to me to anchor myself to a table, but serve both my interests and those I serve by being able to float around. I frequently anchor briefly in the CKCA Booth where I am a paying member and also work very hard promoting the organization, so I don't feel I'm stealing anything there. I would defer to Kevin's opinion on that.

Any way, if by comments and opinions it is felt I am "brown bagging" then it will stop so quickly as to leave skid marks. This, I guess also means I would not carry home large numbers of knives for custom sheaths which could also be considered be a form of selling.

Please let me hear from you and I will act accordingly. Thanks

Paul

 

[Kevin Jones]

I would be very interested and appreciative of comments and opinions regarding where I come down in this discussion.

I regularly attend Blade Show as well as other major shows and I never have a table, although I am "attached " to one table or another by invitation of the table holder. I regularly carry with me several to many sheaths intended for delivery to either makers or collectors, and this was/is by mutual agreement for the convenience of both parties. In addition I always have a few odd lot goodies in my brief case which I do not open nor solicit from, however I am asked at each and every show to expose the contents for the purpose of selling, should the person find something that "fits" or they like. I try always to move away from an active table to a more remote area when this happens

Since about 99% of what I do is custom it makes little sense to me to anchor myself to a table, but serve both my interests and those I serve by being able to float around. I frequently anchor briefly in the CKCA Booth where I am a paying member and also work very hard promoting the organization, so I don't feel I'm stealing anything there. I would defer to Kevin's opinion on that.

Any way, if by comments and opinions it is felt I am "brown bagging" then it will stop so quickly as to leave skid marks. This, I guess also means I would not carry home large numbers of knives for custom sheaths which could also be considered be a form of selling.

Please let me hear from you and I will act accordingly. Thanks

Paul

Paul, you have both carved a niche for yourself and filled a void in providing a very needed service to custom knife collectors and are not
really competing with anyone else for sales.

Let's go back to Blade Show 2007 where I was taking delivery of the Jerry Fisk "Gambler Set" which you have always proudly displayed as
your forum avatar.
Both Jerry and I had put a lot of time and effort into this bowie/boot knife set (which paid off as it won both "Blade Show Best Bowie" and
Blade Magazine "Best Bowie of 2007"), yet I had no idea as to what type/style sheath to have created or who was to create them.

I had seen a few sheaths you made for Harvey Dean (one for my first Dean EL Diablo Fighter) and was impressed. So we met at Blade Show
and in minutes you knew exacily what you wanted to create for the knives and made a tracing so I would not have to part with what are still the
Jewels of my collection. In less than a week I had the beautiful Sheaths in my hand.

So my question to you Paul is how many times over the last 5 years have you attended shows and provide this "custom service" in addition to
creating your beautiful "custom sheaths" for collectors?

No my freind, you are not a "Brown Bagger" IMHO, but in a league by yourself where this subject does not even apply.

 

[JParanee]

Paul, you have both carved a niche for yourself and filled a void in providing a very needed service to custom knife collectors and are not
really competing with anyone else for sales.

Let's go back to Blade Show 2007 where I was taking delivery of the Jerry Fisk "Gambler Set" which you have always proudly displayed as
your forum avatar.
Both Jerry and I has put a lot of time and effort into this bowie/boot knife set (which paid off as it won both "Blade Show Best Bowie" and
Blade Magazine "Best Bowie of 2007"), yet I had no idea as to what type/style sheath to have created or who was to create them.

I had seen a few sheaths you made for Harvey Dean (one for my first Dean EL Diablo Fighter) and was impressed. So we met at Blade Show
and in minutes you knew exacily what you wanted to create for the knives and made a tracing so I would not have to part with what are still the
Jewels of my collection. In less than a week I had the beautiful Sheaths in my hand.

So my question to you Paul is how many times over the last 5 years have you attended shows and provide this "custom service" in addition to
creating your beautiful "custom sheaths" for collectors?

No my freind, you are not a "Brown Bagger" IMHO, but in a league by yourself where this subject does not even apply.

I agree with all your points in both your last posts Kevin

 

[2knife]

I am in favor of a less-restrictive atmosphere. Meaning the show is not policing those who walk in the door, after the ticket prices are paid. Those who have tables have a wide exposure. If anyone is flagrant in attempts to undermine the process, selling a large inventory i would see the right to enforce a rule. However, a knife or two, or three, as a trade or sell by those who are collectors and avid in this hobby is in no way unreasonable, nor is it robbing those who pay the table fees. - we might instead look at the fees and discuss what amount is a "reasonable" and what is fleecing those honest knifemakers who are trying to eek out a living at it.

As well, what kind of venue atmosphere is appreciated by those who attend? Knife shows originated as small swap meets, at civic clubs and county courthouses- Now we are trying to reinvent it as an exclusionary club, in some circles - microshows and the like.. Does anyone restrict gun owners from taking guns to the local gun show? - yet, we are discussing a rule against bags!
Do we really want North Korea, and the suspicion and paranoia... Or can we relax?
" what's in that bag?" - "whats in that bag, under your baby's stroller??! "

A good knife show should have enough flexibility and diversity for all who attend. There are tables that have used knives also. What do we decide on these?

 

[Bruce Bump]

I,ve never thought of Paul as a brown bagger, It doesn't fit him in any way shape or form. He is a service to us more than anything else. No worries Paul.

 

[SteveA220]

I've always come to Blade with a pack of some kind. It's my shopping bag, mostly for materials and such. The plastic bags don't carry well if they have more than a couple magazines. Most years the pack also has a knife or two that I've made, hoping to get some criticism from people who really know what they're looking at. It's one of only twice a year (Batson Blade Symposium is the other) where I have such access to ABS MS and JS.