Doing My First Knife Show - Have some questions.

Archer Here

Archer Here

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Nov 2, 2008
Messages
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I have a booth next week at our local knife show. It’s my first one, and had a question. I’ll have about 11 or 12 different fixed blade knives on the table, along with a couple portfolios with pictures of my knives & bows, and business cards people can take. I’ve got some enlarged colored pictures of my knives and bows and shop pictures I’ll be placing on the back wall along with banners about what I make. I was wondering if you have any suggestions on displaying the knives. I figured I need to somehow secure them on the table, but wasn’t sure what the best thing to use would be, without effecting the overall presentation of the blades. I’m doing this on a budget, and thought I would send a post out to get suggestions. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
 
The lowest cost way to "secure" items is to place "glow dots" which are bright colored round dots sold for marking or pricing items. You could put the price of the knife on the dot. You then place the dot under the knife so that you can easily see when one is picked up or moved. If you sell the item you remove the dot. So, in a split second glace you know if anything is moved or being handled.
 
chris....one thing i woul ddo is make sure the prices are marked somehere along with the stats on the knife.....many a time i have walked by a table and a maker was busy talking to a customer and i had a question....i passed by without waiting to go to another table...if the stats or price was listed and i was still interested i might have stuck around.....ryan
 
A word of advice.....your knives MUST be in a place where potential customers can easily see and HANDLE them. Shows often require a great deal of concentration on the Maker's part, and don't be surprised if at the end of the day your totally "brain dead". Remember that a show is about presenting yourself, just as much as your knives. Even though you may get the same question 100 times, make every effort to answer those questions as if its the first time they've been asked.

Next, do not overload your booth or table...this is very important. I cannot count the times I have been at a show and seen an individual who's table was completely covered from one end to the other. This causes "sensory overload" to customers, and often times they will simply turn around and walk away. My rule is no more than 7-9 knives on the table at a time, photo albums, and other items are arranged so there is a definite separation between then and the knives. If you make everything orderly and neat, including yourself, customers will notice you above the others...and the more customers spend time at your booth, the more likely you are to sell!
 
good point ed....i won't say who but i have actually passed a makers table at a show because there was too many knives on it.....everyone would recognize the name too.....it really was a case of sensory overload...too much to focus on....ryan
 
I would say take a helper with you, to secure the knives with your eyes only.
Customers want to pick them up and handle them.
So you really can NOT lock them down any way.
The only real way like I said is by watching them.
So if you need a restroom break and you do not have a helper, usually the guy or gal next to you will watch them for you.
But do not be gone long to take up to much of their time watching your knives.

Good luck with the show.... :thumbup:

Todd


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Here's what I did. My wife made a special table cloth with fringe and my logo in the center. I bought small mirrors from a craft store, with the beveled edges to class it up. I put my knives on the little mirrors. I have a plastic stand on one side with an 8.5" x 11" printout of my logo, with my business cards in it. On the other side of the table I have photo portfolio.

The only draw back to the mirrors is when you get a table location with the overhead lights lined up so that they glare in a customers eyes. I'm going to get some little plastic display stands to use in place of the mirrors when I have that situation. Also, the mirrors need to be constantly dusted and cleaned with windex. They get a lot of dust and fingerprints on them. I did find that by handling and cleaning them all the time, I almost always had a knife in my hand and could easily hand it to a customer to hold, feel, and enjoy. Many people are reluctant to pick up a knife without asking and some of them feel awkward or shy in asking. When it is handed to them in the course of normal activities it relaxes the mood and they usually ask a few questions while holding the knife.

When a knife is handed over in this manner, it doesn't look forced and people don't feel pressured, because I was already holding it as I was cleaning the glass. I've even said, "Would you mind holding this while I clean the mirror?" I almost always get an enthusiastic "yes" or "sure", when I do that.

It's all about being friendly, making friends, and enjoying your time at the table. If you look like you're having fun, which I definitely do, you have a good chance at success. If you're making a quality knife at a reasonable price, don't let your attitude get in the way. Have fun.
 

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Thanks a lot guys. Wish me luck.
 
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