How's the overseas market for you?

[golok]

Some knifemakers have customers from the far reaches of the globe? Perhaps on the other side of the globe.

Mainly, I suppose business is generated within one's borders (in the country). But, how about the orders that come from abroad?

Does your business depend significantly on overseas orders?

Anyway, how are the overseas clients? Are they fussy?

 

[flava]

Originally posted by golok


Anyway, how are the overseas clients? Are they fussy?

An "overseas client" speaking here. I like to think I'm not fussy.

 

[Jason Cutter]

The majority of my customers have been from the USA, some Canada, UK and recently Germany. I've found the majority of customers (as in most fields of work) to be genuine, open, warm, interested (if not outright passionate) people. Most have specific requests about what to include in a custom ordered knife etc. but they seem flexible and appear quite interested in "letting the artist do their work." I have had the occasional strange character or someone who is rude or derogatory.

Generating overseas orders has not been particularly hard for me, given that the "places" I frequent are sites such as these, based in the US, I think, and I do put in the time to do my marketting.

Local sales have been to only 3 distinct groups - the military / martial arts group, the small group of hunters originating from within my current place of work, and the folk who have bought my knives at knife shows.

My only gripe about overseas buyers is that I don't get the chance to meet them face to face. The social aspect of knives is as important as anything else and is a major part of why I enjoy making knives as much as I do.

I'm interested to know if there are any big-time knifemakers in Malaysia doing good business - (not referring to village smiths). Cheers. Jason.
Cheers.

 

[golok]

Jason, to my knowledge, there's no big time knifemaker in Malaysia like those in United States. Those who are making money from knives are the factory-produced knives which are channelled into hardware shops and supermakets.

I believe these are the people who are making money. These are mainly parangs or goloks that are meant for hard use, either in the back garden or in the fields.

Money from knives cannot be made like it is done in the States. The reason is simple, there are not many customers who will pay top dollar for high-end knives. Thus, the absence of big time knifemakers.

On the other hand, ordinary sharpened tools have a ready market among people who have use for them. For those who want their own custom knives, they either get them from the village knifemaker or source them from overseas like US, or maybe Europe.

For knife collectors, we get them from all over - overseas, trade, Internet, friends, and every which way we can.