Got my business cards

a pot smoking, conspiracy theorist, wiccan, edge weapon maker...I think there's a niche that hasn't been fully explored.

Good luck to you Charlie Mike- fly your freak flag high! Your cards look pretty good as far as business cards go.
 
Charlie Mike-

These guys are ripping into you a bit too hard I think. Our country is about accepting people even when that means we have to put aside animosity. It doesn't mean we have to agree with you, just that we should accept that 100% of the population will never agree on everything. Democracy is a great thing even if it seems broken at times.

If you want to run your business the way your business card portrays, then I say more power to you. Let the grumpy old guys bicker and argue and be cynical.

Your business is about you. There's nothing wrong with the way your going about it as long as you realize that you may be alienating a good portion of people looking at your product. If you are ok with that, then go for it!


-----rant done ; o )
 
Charlie Mike said:
I'm looking at it from a Rob Dalton perspective. If people don't like it they don't have to buy my knives.
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Charlie,
You know I have always been supportive of you, but Dalton? Seriously, you need to start thinking more clearly. You love blades and considering the tools you have on hand you've made some nice little pieces. You could be good at this if you want to give it a go, but you've got to take it seriously. Modeling yourself after Dalton is not the best idea you've ever had.
 
Lorien said:
a pot smoking, conspiracy theorist, wiccan, edge weapon maker...
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Charlie,

Now this ^^^ is a much better slogan, then the 420 or the ftw could even touch..

It has a nice ring to it, seriously.. I mean if you don't care what people think or whom you sell to, roll with it brother.. !!:thumbup:
 
syvmn said:
Charlie Mike-

These guys are ripping into you a bit too hard I think. Our country is about accepting people even when that means we have to put aside animosity. It doesn't mean we have to agree with you, just that we should accept that 100% of the population will never agree on everything. Democracy is a great thing even if it seems broken at times.

If you want to run your business the way your business card portrays, then I say more power to you. Let the grumpy old guys bicker and argue and be cynical.

Your business is about you. There's nothing wrong with the way your going about it as long as you realize that you may be alienating a good portion of people looking at your product. If you are ok with that, then go for it!


-----rant done ; o )
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Just who are the "grumpy old guys" you're referring to?? CM puts his business out there for all of us to see and he's pretty damn cool about taking criticism. Some of these guys are hard on Charlie, but he knows they're going to be tough on him because of what we've all been through with him and what he's been through himself. Nobody here is bickering, arguing, or being cynical. They're being honest with CM about the business of knife making and they're calling it like it is. Charlie can take it, that's why he still comes to this group for feedback whether it's good, bad, or ugly. I could be wrong, but I don't think our good 'ol Charlie Mike needs you to come in here name calling and stirring the pot in his defense. He's a big boy.
 
jonnymac44 said:
Just who are the "grumpy old guys" you're referring to?? CM puts his business out there for all of us to see and he's pretty damn cool about taking criticism. Some of these guys are hard on Charlie, but he knows they're going to be tough on him because of what we've all been through with him and what he's been through himself. Nobody here is bickering, arguing, or being cynical. They're being honest with CM about the business of knife making and they're calling it like it is. Charlie can take it, that's why he still comes to this group for feedback whether it's good, bad, or ugly. I could be wrong, but I don't think our good 'ol Charlie Mike needs you to come in here name calling and stirring the pot in his defense. He's a big boy.
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Thanks bro. If you can take direct fire, criticism is just a stone in your boot.

BTW... I stopped all the Satanic/wiccan shit 2 years ago. I'm a Lutheran now. ;)
 
Although I do agree with most all of the Negative comments here, I would recommend putting a phone number on the card, it would sem more legitimate if there was an office or a real person someone could speak to.
 
Slider817 said:
Although I do agree with most all of the Negative comments here, I would recommend putting a phone number on the card, it would sem more legitimate if there was an office or a real person someone could speak to.
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That's a good point, lot's of the old guys with the $'s have never touched a computer.
 
Lorien said:
a pot smoking, conspiracy theorist, wiccan, edge weapon maker...I think there's a niche that hasn't been fully explored.

Good luck to you Charlie Mike- fly your freak flag high! Your cards look pretty good as far as business cards go.
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Yup :thumbup:
 
There are some very gifted makers on this site. Some not so gifted. There are some who can sell knives acting like pimps, some who act like highly trained military, some country boys and some born 2000 years too late. If any of us take ourselves too seriously then the game is over. We make knives. We decide what it's worth. If this guy doesn't buy it, another one will. I'm a little sick of all the negativity. CM has found a new passion for knifemaking. We should all ask ourselves if we still have that excitement.
 
Negativity?

I think I would be an even bigger a-hole if I just said "nice card" and didn't tell him what I saw.
Knowing that, he can make his own choice to make changes or not.


My point is, If you want to sell to people, you have to make it easy for them to find you and to like you.


The more you sell, the more $ you have for tools and materials.
 
I manage to sell just fine... in fact, one (if not both) of the dashies I'm working on is currently spoken for at $70 with sheath.
 
My knives sell for more than ten times that amount, and I'm still looking for ways to cultivate customers.
If your satisfied with $70 sales, do what you're doing. If not, listen to what everyone is telling you.
 
Bill DeShivs said:
My knives sell for more than ten times that amount, and I'm still looking for ways to cultivate customers.
If your satisfied with $70 sales, do what you're doing. If not, listen to what everyone is telling you.
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Lemme get this straight... you could sell a kiridashie similar to this (WIP pic) for $700?

photobucket-5646-1315969725884.jpg
 
Dont matter what he sells his knvies for. Real money is made with repeat customers, not a one time buyer.

- K
 
ken harbor said:
Dont matter what he sells his knvies for. Real money is made with repeat customers, not a one time buyer.

- K
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That's the truth! I have those. I've been at this for 3-4 months.
 
I find this thread interesting and amusing. CM put the card out there for input (I assume), I see both sides. If you are happy selling to the demographic you seem to be targeting good for you, you are right on track. If you are serious making this a Business you need to expand your target audience and turn down the volume. Put your knives up front not you!

I am curious who is buying your Dashi posted above for $70?
 
Hi CM, a couple of things you might consider for the next batch of cards -

1) get a dedicated e-mail address for your knifemaking, as others have said, it looks more professional, but more importantly it makes it a lot easier for you to keep your business correspondence organised

2) pick a name. just one, and put it on the card. I don't need a life history, or list of titles, just want to know who to address any inquiries to.

3) lose the 3%, it only means something to those already involved, it's completely out of place on a business card. Honestly, before reading through this thread, my first thought was that the card was good for a 3% discount

Otherwise it's a very nice card!
 
CM's gonna do what he darn well feels like and I'm OK with that. As a friend, I'm gonna continue to advise him not to limit himself, and to widen his horizons.

(signed)

A grumpy old guy :D
 
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