How Many are too many?

[Keith Montgomery]

I like to see between 6-10 knives on the table whenever possible. If I have interest I AUTOMATICALLY(and encourage everyone to get in this habit) ask if there is anything else behind the table.

That is excellent advice.

My advice would still be to take as many knives with you as you can. Especially to Blade. In fact, I wish makers would take enough knives to still have some left on Sunday. That way they would more inclined to stay until the show ended, instead of packing up and leaving early.

 

[the possum]

If I started a show with 20 folders and on Friday sold 10, I would still have 10 for Sat. To a collector just getting there on sat this might look like I haven't sold anything at all. Then the collector might wonder why I have so many knives left?

Here's a thought if this is your concern-

What if you arranged all 20 knives in neat rows; say 5 rows of 4 knives each. As you sell knives, don't rearrange the rows. Leave the obvious "gaps" in the rows to indicate that knives have indeed been sold. You might come up with some display idea to emphasize the missing knives even more. Like, when a knife leaves the table, replace it with a photo of that knife, or leave any empty display stand (if you're using them to prop the knives up) or something. Just thinkin' aloud here.

 

[Murray White]

I agree with Joss. Nothing would irk me more than to purchase a knife and then return to a makers table -- heck I may just want to chat with the maker or learn something more about the knife or simply praise the maker --only to see a knife I'd have preferred now available. Oh, yes there is something that would irk me more -- to talk with someone and see a knife placed on the makers table and purchased after I had bought the knife I had bought and desire the other knife more. It would be the last purchase I'd make at that makers table.

At the Wolverine show, I spent a lot of time with Karl Anderson after I had bought his knife on both days of the show. I also spent more time with the Tomahawk maker after making a purchase.

The table I did not spend more time at except to take a couple photos was one where there were no prices and the knife I liked was still there at the end of the show. Since then I have spent many times as much as I learned that knife to cost but not visible at all times.

Marketing is based on the 4 P's. Product, Promotion, Place and Price. One of the nicest ways to display a price is to create business card sized cards with all the info about the knife and the price clearly stated. When the sale is consumated, pass the card to the purchaser so he has all the info needed for record keeping. This same card could then be passed on to another collector if the knife is resold.

 

[Keith Montgomery]

One of the nicest ways to display a price is to create business card sized cards with all the info about the knife and the price clearly stated. When the sale is consumated, pass the card to the purchaser so he has all the info needed for record keeping. This same card could then be passed on to another collector if the knife is resold.

I agree, that would be an excellent way for makers to show the price of their knives.

 

[rbmcmjr]

One of the nicest ways to display a price is to create business card sized cards with all the info about the knife and the price clearly stated. When the sale is consumated, pass the card to the purchaser so he has all the info needed for record keeping. This same card could then be passed on to another collector if the knife is resold.

J. Neilson does this (or at least he used to). I have a nifty little laminated card with the specifics of each knife I have from him. I think it is a nice touch.

Rick