Future of Knife Shows

J

JEPHCO

Joined
Jun 26, 2013
Messages
15
Got my notice that the Lonestar Knife Expo 2014 will be in the same place as last year. Any thoughts? As a supplier last year it was a new venue and the gun show guys killed us. People had a hard time figuring out where we were and costs for most were not covered.There were a lot of empty tables that had been paid for. The table prices are really reasonable $75 but hotel prices in the area are costly even with a "special knife show price". Mixing with a gun show, is it a good idea? Shows that do well never have enough tables for all that want to attend and often have the tables sold out for the next year before the show is over which leaves those that couldn't get a table still wanting. I have been on a waiting list for the Arkansas show for 2 years and finally have secured a table for 2015. The AG Russell show is no more and more and more are calling it quits. We have to support the organizers but they too must support the makers and suppliers by put the shows in venues that are reasonable priced and in good locations. Where is the middle of the road? You can't have a show just because its close to the organizers home but you can't have it to far from the population that wants to see a knife show and purchase knives and supplies that it costs to much to attend either. What is the answer?
 
Trade shows are a type of advertising and the cost has to be balanced against business that is generated. The poor economy has put a squeeze on lots of busines operations and now if you don't profit from the show you stay home !
Atlanta is a continuous trade show .New York City screwed itself because the costs are a few times more than Atlanta.Nobody thinks of entering into a NYC show - costs too high.
 
The only two shows I've ever been to are the Mason Dixon club show in Hagerstown and the Chesapeake show in Timonium. I did not see any makers at Hagerstown, and the Chesapeake show, while having some top name people, has lost a few too. What I've seen are the junk dealers, the production dealers and the high high end makers. The middle of the road guys are gone. There is a gun show in VA the same weekend and the dealers and makers know the will turn more dollars there. The Chesapeake show is only on Sunday which probably limits some from attending. I go to trade and possibly pick up a folder or fixed blade. I know a few local makers that visit but dont do a table anymore. Just my thoughts as a collector.
 
mete said:
New York City screwed itself because the costs are a few times more than Atlanta.Nobody thinks of entering into a NYC show - costs too high.
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That's why the New York Custom Knife Show coming up at the end of this month is being held in Jersey City, New Jersey. :)
 
mete said:
New York City screwed itself because the costs are a few times more than Atlanta.Nobody thinks of entering into a NYC show - costs too high.
Click to expand...

That's why the New York Custom Knife Show coming up at the end of this month is being held in Jersey City, New Jersey. :)
 
Speaking as a buyer, not a maker, I didn't care for the co-locating of the Lone Star show with the Market Hall gun show. Part of the enjoyment of a knife show is the slower pace, smaller crowd and the feeling that you share a common interest with the other attendees.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
That's why the New York Custom Knife Show coming up at the end of this month is being held in Jersey City, New Jersey. :)
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I thought also a big part of that is the knife laws in NY which from my understanding are horrendous. I could be mistaken but thought it was a deciding factor.
 
Might have been, yes, but if you've ever been to a show in NYC, you can see why the logistics and costs were way out of line with what's available much more cheaply and easily in NJ.
 
This year at the Lonestar Knife expo they said they were not going to stick us in the back this year still on that side but up front I think that's what I was told and its a shame it could be such a nice Knife show.
Anthony
 
At my local "gun and knife" shows, you might find a knifemaker stuck next to a beef jerky guy and a guy selling AR parts, then a few rows over, another knifemaker.

This is NOT the case with the Lone Star show. Granted, we're in a huge venue full of beef jerky and AR parts, but there is a specific section for the knifemakers. We can expect 100+ tables of custom knife makers, all in the same part of the show. Wherever we are, front or back of the venue, etc, we are there together, not mixed in with the gun show. There will be Guild members, ABS members (I met 4 mastersmiths last year), and alot of other makers as well. It's a high quality group.

I've seen the ads in Blade magazine, and in several Facebook groups. It's too early to be "negative" on this show, folks. Each year is different, and hopefully each year will improve.
 
I'm looking forward to attending this show. I've been to my share of gun shows but never a custom knife show(even if it is co-located with a gun show). Of course I'll just be walking around, admiring knives I can't buy and talking to people but it should be fun. Hopefully I'll see some of you guys there.
 
silenthunterstudios said:
The only two shows I've ever been to are the Mason Dixon club show in Hagerstown and the Chesapeake show in Timonium. I did not see any makers at Hagerstown, and the Chesapeake show, while having some top name people, has lost a few too. What I've seen are the junk dealers, the production dealers and the high high end makers. The middle of the road guys are gone. There is a gun show in VA the same weekend and the dealers and makers know the will turn more dollars there. The Chesapeake show is only on Sunday which probably limits some from attending. I go to trade and possibly pick up a folder or fixed blade. I know a few local makers that visit but dont do a table anymore. Just my thoughts as a collector.
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"middle of the road guys"

what do you mean by this?

I live in timonium and I might want to start making knives to sell.

Is there a niche i can fill that is lacking?
 
Anyone attend or vend at Knife Expo in Pasadena last month? Show only had about 60 tables according to vendor list...down from about 140 a few years ago. Show manager has run it into the ground with stupid rules and disrespect for both vendors and patrons. This was a fun and profitable show for me for 14 years, but stopped it last year. K & G supplies did not take tables this year. Sad.
 
JZknives said:
"middle of the road guys"

what do you mean by this?

I live in timonium and I might want to start making knives to sell.

Is there a niche i can fill that is lacking?
Click to expand...

Before you think I'm disrespecting anyone, let me say that I'm not. I also wasn't able to attend last year due to the weather. If you want to get out there and sell knives that you've made in your home or garage, then more power to you. I don't see as many of the core makers that are making user knives at the show anymore. I still see the 40K Loveless knives and other customs. I still see Spartan, still see Bob Dozier and Dan Crotts, still see the Strider customs that Matt D has, still see Tim Britton, still see Bud Nealy. I don't see as many of the bushcrafter crowd except for J Neilson if you could call him a bushcrafter knife maker, not as many of the other tactical crowd even. Many more dealers. It is tough out there for everyone, and I've heard from some exhibitors that they have nothing to bring home, while others have sold nothing. My idea of middle of the road is not in regards to skill, but in price. Approx 150-350 cost for a custom knife. This is my limit. I'd love to buy a Dozier folder, or a Strider SNG CC with plain blade and green G10, or a custom slipjoint. Unfortunately, the show appears to be losing that middle ground that I'm looking for. I still go to support the makers, Ted Merchant the promoter and the knife community.

I just don't go home with as much anymore.
 
Southeastern Custom Knife show was a great show 12 or so years ago, but the 2013 show was a disappointment to me. I had a table($225/table) and sold 6 knives. They only had about 600 people attend the show. I more than likely did not break even since my knives are in the $100 range. The guy beside me sold 2 knives and came all the way from Texas.
I can go to the gun shows and sell 20-30 knives in a weekend. All be it you have to explain why you cannot beat the "WALMART" price or whats your best number on that handmade item.
Drives me crazy but... I think the economy is still too weak for people to really part with their money right now. My 2 cents....


Gregg
JAG Knives
 
The pka show in Denver was awesome last year and looking forward to this years show!
 
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