Economy, Good for knifemakers?

Don Hanson III said:
I can't make em fast enough!

I know it's bad out there but the media is not helping the economy at all.
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You are so right Don. The news media always seems to take a bad situation and make it appear worst.

A simple example: Being 20 degrees outside is not cold enough, so they have to report the chill factor makes it feel as 14 degrees. Now there's the heat index, so they can report 95 as being 102 degrees with humidity figured in.
 
Misery sells papers and commercial time almost as well as sex.:eek::D Plus, it has to be REALLY bad in order to justify "change";)
 
Kevin Jones said:
You are so right Don. The news media always seems to take a bad situation and make it appear worst.

A simple example: Being 20 degrees outside is not cold enough, so they have to report the chill factor makes it feel as 14 degrees. Now there's the heat index, so they can report 95 as being 102 degrees with humidity figured in.
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IMO, the news media is worthless in every aspect of its existence. They serve no purpose whatsoever.

With that said, whatever the true main causes of this disaster are, whether it be what you believe it to be - typical media hype combined with society's overreaction to a situation they perceive to be much worse than it really is, or what I believe it to be like frightening levels of accepted runaway political and business corruption, the situation we're all in is very catastrophically real and is not some manufactured illusion by the media.

AG's definitely on the right track. He knows it's bad out there, so his perception of reality will help him re-visit and restucture his existing business models to adapt as best he can to the situation we will continue to face for some time.

If you're the type who thinks this is all just some sort of an illusion driven mostly by media hype, then you're in for quite of a ride.
 
The media twist the facts all the time. They tend to bend the news to reflect their own opinions rather than presenting the facts, often supporting the left wing adgenda particularly here in this country. They are increasingly just a bunch of liers.
 
RWS said:
IMO, the news media is worthless in every aspect of its existence. They serve no purpose whatsoever.

With that said, whatever the true main causes of this disaster are, whether it be what you believe it to be - typical media hype combined with society's overreaction to a situation they perceive to be much worse than it really is, or what I believe it to be like frightening levels of accepted runaway political and business corruption, the situation we're all in is very catastrophically real and is not some manufactured illusion by the media.
AG's definitely on the right track. He knows it's bad out there, so his perception of reality will help him re-visit and restucture his existing business models to adapt as best he can to the situation we will continue to face for some time.

If you're the type who thinks this is all just some sort of an illusion driven mostly by media hype, then you're in for quite of a ride.
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Don't think Don, myself or anyone I know for that matter thinks the current poor economy is a manufactured illusion by anyone. However continuous preaching of doom and gloom by the media and individuals is not helping.

Though we are suffering, we can and will overcome this and IMO it won't take a decade as you stated in your previous post. We need to realize the severity, however stay positive and productive and do what we can no matter how small to turn the economy around and help others get by. Helping folks I use to work with find jobs and sharing information with my contractors as to future construction projects around the country is my very small part. We meet every other Friday evening to network, see how one another are doing and share leads. At best some may find jobs, at least we all leave feeling a little better. Wish I could do more.

AG, sorry to take this off track.
 
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when we are losing jobs by the 100s of thousands a month, thats just reality, not media manufacturing. Perhaps you guys dont feel the impact yet, but before this is over everyone will feel it. This is not media hype.
 
Kevin Jones said:
However continuous preaching of doom and gloom by the media and individuals is not helping.
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Preaching doom?

I agree, Kevin......let's do what the media does and put our own little spin on the situation. That'll make things get better. :thumbup:
 
The proper plan for this day and age is to be single with a pile of kids on welfare.

The "O" factor will take care of you.


The rest of us just have to work!!!!!!!:p:o:p
 
A.G.

You might consider putting together a feedback questionnaire that reflects customer purchases of handmade knives at your upcoming show. You could focus on knifemaker opinion, as well as opinions from collectors that attend. If there was a way for the makers to track what sells and what doesn't, that might also help. The results could help you target your sales audience, as well as put together a better show the following year.

I've noticed that fixed blade offerings at shows are at an all time high, but the market seems to be lacking good frame locks in the $200-300 range. Semi-customs (waterjet cut) with good steel, hand finishing, and built tough might something to look at. If there was a way to target both tactical and traditional collectors/users, it would get my attention.

Just another idea...see ya at your show!
 
RWS and Severed, I didn't say the media was manufacturing all this?

I said they weren't helping the situation.

What's the best way to get folks to stop spending money?

The masses watch a lot of TV....

Sorry I brought it up, A.G.
 
Please, this is all to the point. Knifemakers , and their customers need to be able to say wht they really believe. No body is ranting. It is hardly possible to discuss the economy without bringing in the media. Perhaps we need a media thread in whine & cheese

I think it is fair to talk of doom and gloom, but you must either have a plan or at least want to find a way for yourself and the rest of us to stay ahead of what is going on. I guarantee that a negative attitude will NOT help. You do not have a prayer if you cannot come up with some sort of positive thought pattern. I have depressed to the point where every thought was negitive and that way lies madness or death, You find your way out of any kind of depression by moving in positive ways to find answers that will help.
 
A. G. Russell said:
Please, this is all to the point. Knifemakers , and their customers need to be able to say wht they really believe. No body is ranting. It is hardly possible to discuss the economy without bringing in the media. Perhaps we need a media thread in whine & cheese

I think it is fair to talk of doom and gloom, but you must either have a plan or at least want to find a way for yourself and the rest of us to stay ahead of what is going on. I guarantee that a negative attitude will NOT help. You do not have a prayer if you cannot come up with some sort of positive thought pattern. I have depressed to the point where every thought was negitive and that way lies madness or death, You find your way out of any kind of depression by moving in positive ways to find answers that will help.
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Very well put, AG.

Talking about events like this, that are by their very nature doomy and gloomy, doesn't mean we have a negative attitude. Trying to candy coat the description and analysis of the situation that the world is in just complicates matters and makes it even more difficult to make smart decisions on how to fix it, or at least protect ourselves from it.

That doesn't mean we should all sit around thinking negatively that we won't figure out a way to survive it and beat it. A positive attitude is the only way to get through something like this.

We'll survive, but it will be costly.
 
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RWS said:
Very well put, AG.

Talking about events like this that are by their very nature doomy and gloomy doesn't mean we have a negative attitude. Trying to candy coat the description and analysis of the situation the world is in just complicates matters and makes it even more difficult to make smart decisions on how to fix it, or at least protect ourselves from it.

That doesn't mean we should all sit around thinking negatively that we won't figure out a way to survive it and beat it. A positive attitude is the only way to get through something like this.

We'll survive, but it will be costly.
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Quite right, we have heard from several of the top makers and they are doing great! That is to be expected, in every downturn in the last 40 years the best knives sold and sold and sold. What we need to worry about are those of us who are in the middle and lower ranks.

The internet is a tool that has never been used in this kind of economy. I suggest that all of us, makers, collectors and users focus on ways that we can use the internet to promote the makers who are not being flooded with orders. Do not wait to be led! Get'r done.
 
For those of us who make more than a few knives a year, I think that we need to start a knifemakers Co-op to barter for supplies and services. I have some ideas, but need to work them out first.
BB
 
Thank you Bobby, we need those ideas. Please remember that the suppliers are very much a part of our community. When this is over we will need them to be as healthy as we are.
 
A. G. Russell said:
I guarantee that a negative attitude will NOT help. You do not have a prayer if you cannot come up with some sort of positive thought pattern.
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:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::cool:
 
A. G. Russell said:
Thank you Bobby, we need those ideas. Please remember that the suppliers are very much a part of our community. When this is over we will need them to be as healthy as we are.
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WE will always need suppliers, but a lot of us have stuff laying around that we might be able to turn into cash or for services rendered.

One guy may have a CNC mill and no surface grinder one may have a CNC lathe and no heat treat oven etc. Why not barter for services? If we can get a group of makers together who have different types of equipment, maybe we can trade services for services. The potential is there.
BB

P.S. If anyone has a service to offer or needs a service, e mail me at brantonknives@tds.net and I'll try to put put something together.
 
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