Budget Line

JK Knives

JK Knives

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Mar 6, 2001
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I am thinking of offering a "Budget Line" starting in June. This will consist of 3 of my models, the Kephart, New Hiker, and Michigan Trail Knife. These will only be offered in 3 handle materials, green, tan, or black canvas micarta, and will not come with a sheath. Prices are as follows.

Kephart $120.00
New Hiker $120.00
Michigan Trail Knife $110.00

Is this worth me doing or not, be honest.
 
Sounds like a good business move to me. Those seem to be a regular post on here so I would think they might be your more ordered models.
If someone wants more "customization" then they order what else they want and are charged accordingly.
Makes sense to me.

Now.........if you can come up with a way to help me with my decisions that would help too. I'm trying to decide on something for my little guy now. I have enough trouble deciding for myself.
 
I'm just somewhat confused on the pricing. Don't you normally charge 25 bucks for a sheath? I don't really see any savings in the prices that you have listed. Granted I only looked at the numbers on the Kephart.

I would say it's a good idea if there was to be some other upside to it, like faster delivery or something, but otherwise for the small amount of price savings personally I would rather spend the little bit of extra money and be able to have your full range of options.

Now if you guaranteed within 2 weeks or something, then it might be worth it. For those of us who don't make our own sheaths (Like me), there's the additional cost/hassle of having to then ship the blade to someone to make a sheath.

I think this could end up being a good deal for some people, but I don't see myself taking advantage of it. If there was more of a price savings maybe (but I realize your profit margin is already razor thin, so this isn't possible).

Not trying to be harsh or shoot down your idea, just giving you my honest opinion. I don't mean any offense.

CMD
 
I kinda like the idea even though I have those models except for the MTK.
 
I think it's a great idea. Lots of knife people already own interchangable leather and micarta scales make for a good user. That price point will probably push a few off the fence.

Jeff
 
cmdionne said:
I'm just somewhat confused on the pricing. Don't you normally charge 25 bucks for a sheath? I don't really see any savings in the prices that you have listed. Granted I only looked at the numbers on the Kephart.

I would say it's a good idea if there was to be some other upside to it, like faster delivery or something, but otherwise for the small amount of price savings personally I would rather spend the little bit of extra money and be able to have your full range of options.

Now if you guaranteed within 2 weeks or something, then it might be worth it. For those of us who don't make our own sheaths (Like me), there's the additional cost/hassle of having to then ship the blade to someone to make a sheath.

I think this could end up being a good deal for some people, but I don't see myself taking advantage of it. If there was more of a price savings maybe (but I realize your profit margin is already razor thin, so this isn't possible).

Not trying to be harsh or shoot down your idea, just giving you my honest opinion. I don't mean any offense.

CMD
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No offense taken, this is the feedback I`m looking for. I`m just looking for ideas to help sales. Currently I`m booked untill June, then nothing, no orders have come in in weeks, so it`s either sell something, or find some other way to pay the bills.
 
Stomper said:
No offense taken, this is the feedback I`m looking for. I`m just looking for ideas to help sales. Currently I`m booked untill June, then nothing, no orders have come in in weeks, so it`s either sell something, or find some other way to pay the bills.
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Well the good news is I don't think it's possible for this to hurt sales, so why not go for it.

As far as the sheath issue goes, what does everyone think the most common sheath that someone has is? KBar? Buck 119? What if you made a knife with similar enough dimensions that people might be able to use an already existing sheath?

Are you still re-handling knives? I know you've done it for a few guys, could this be profitable enough for you to do more? You could start to promote that as one of your services. Someone had posted on WSS a week or so back with some beautiful examples of "ugly" knives, (BK7 and other knives of the sort) that had been rehandled with nice wood and looked great.

Maybe a cord-wrapped PSK style knife? If the cost on that was low enough it would be hard for me to say no to, but I'm a bit of a whore for those sort of blades.
 
It sounds like a good idea to me, John. I think I'll stick to customizing my stuff (I still daydream about that last design I sent you :P) but I can definitely see these being something that potential new JK owners would pick up on.

~Noah
 
Hi Stomper -

I think you would have done this for anyone if they asked, since you would sell without sheaths before.

I don't think you are over-pricing your goods at all - your stuff is the highest quality and I think I have gotten great value on everything I have bought from you.

Maybe you just need to get out there more - more advertising perhaps.

Don't get discouraged. You make great stuff - I consider it useable art. :thumbup:

I'll do what I can for you - I'll add one of the JK logos to my signature on other forums I visit and a link.

I have a good friend here in town that loves my new survival knife, I think he is getting ready to order a blade from you.

I'll post reviews of my Keppie, the Survival Kit and my Bowie (when I get it) over at the JD site - I promise!

best regards -

mqqn
 
It's good idea, yet I'd recommend at least a kydex sheath. I don't do leather (yet) and find it a pain to get one and send it out too. (Unless it was my plan to do so in the beginning). With kydex at least the new knife owner has something in which to tote their knife...

P.S. I may want the knatchet if you are willing....later this summer...
 
From the attention and comments it received I'd place the Huron EDC in place of one of those knives !
 
John, heres my two cents for what its worth. I think a "budget line" and discounting your current line are really two different things. If you want a buget line, create one so that your selling point is less than a hundred dollars. If you want to generate more sales by discounting your current line, than sell for the prices listed, but continue to include the sheath! That way you are really saving the customer money and indicing them to purchase. I understand you would be biting the bullet by doing so with less profit, but sometimes cash flow is just as important to keep the business alive. These are certainly difficult times for alot of people, and there is a great deal of competition just within these forums, so its as important to be creative with your mind as it is your hands.

We all think highly of you and your talent, so the Proud Supporters of JK Handmade Knives will continue to do all we can to do just that, Support!
 
I think I will just wait untill after our trip to Nashville in April to decide on anything. The trip might put a whole new spin on things.
 
cmdionne said:
Are you still re-handling knives? I know you've done it for a few guys, could this be profitable enough for you to do more? You could start to promote that as one of your services. Someone had posted on WSS a week or so back with some beautiful examples of "ugly" knives, (BK7 and other knives of the sort) that had been rehandled with nice wood and looked great.
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I usually do that as a favor for existing customers, and charge $20. Here are my costs:
handle material - $6 (micarta)
belts - $4
shipping - $7
total - $17

that gives me $3 profit.
 
For what it's worth, I think that your knives are budget priced as-is. The pricing has allowed me to purchase more knives that I would have been able to otherwise, but I think you could make a strong case for charging more - particularly if the current scheme is not resulting in much profit at the end of the day.

That being said, a budget line of ground and heat-treated (but unfinished) blades would be neat for those of us who dabble in our own knifemaking on the side!

All the best,

- Mike
 
Mentor said:
That being said, a budget line of ground and heat-treated (but unfinished) blades would be neat for those of us who dabble in our own knifemaking on the side!
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This could be cool. I might try my hand at making a blade if you offered something like this. You could use a different maker's mark for this line so as to differentiate those that you made fully and the "kit" blades.

Also I agree with mentor, I think you could easily charge a bit more. The difference between having to save up 160 instead of 140 isn't really all that much.

As far as the budget line goes, perhaps since there will be limited models and the dimensions should be more or less the same, perhaps you could partner with one of the kydex benders here on BF, and they could make up a bunch of the sheaths. Should be a bit of a savings with that.
 
Another good thing to try might be some sort of "Kit" knife where the buyer could finish it.
 
Mentor said:
For what it's worth, I think that your knives are budget priced as-is. <snip>

All the best,

- Mike
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Hi Stomper -

I agree with the above - I think you are well below what I see most other makes charging for a complete hand-made custom knife.

I know it sounds counter-intuitive, but perhaps if your knifes were a little higher priced they would be more attractive to some collectors - much in the same way homes are priced - sometimes buyers will not even come to look at a home that is under-valued, thinking there is a problem with them etc.

Do you take knives to shows so that people can see and feel the quality of your knives and sheaths in person? Pictures are one thing, but having one of your customs in-hand would sell a lot of people on your product in my opinion (it has me :D :thumbup: ).

I sure hope business picks up for you!

best regards -

mqqn
 
Why not create a special line called "My First JK" and make it priced for first time JK buyers only?

Use the crack dealer marketing model -- get them hooked on the first taste. :D

-Stan
 
stanley_white said:
Why not create a special line called "My First JK" and make it priced for first time JK buyers only?

Use the crack dealer marketing model -- get them hooked on the first taste. :D

-Stan
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I like it. "first hit free". However this would be abused I fear. If there was some way to do it to avoid abuse it would work. Something to think about.
 
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