If a knife company knocked on your door...

[james terrio]

The knife industry just like other industries has it's fare share of sharks...

I have no experience in the matter, but I'm sure that's true. Just because a salesman, dealer or attorney claims to be a "knife guy", doesn't mean he's your friend. If he's knocking on your door, it's because he figures he can make money at it; that's his job. He may or may not give a hoot in hell if you make any money or not.

I think there's great potential in licensing, (look what it's done for Harley/Davidson, and Von Dutch's heirs for instance) but obviously a maker would need good legal advice on his side.

The idea that all knife-oriented businessmen are saints who only want to help makers succeed is naive at best. By the same token, the claim that anyone seeking to make a profit is a total scumbag who doesn't care about quality, is just plain paranoid. The truth is probably somewhere in between.

 

[Lorien]

the best thing any knife maker can do who is in a position that this thread was created to discuss, is to read and re read that Onion guy's posts over and over.
I've sensed some naivete in this thread, and this business stuff is not all unicorns and rainbows. Business is business, no matter how or where you do it, and to succeed you gotta be able to stomach way more than you'd know until you have to do it, and- learn learn learn. When you decide you can stop learning, your ass is grass.

 

[jonnymac44]

WOW!! Dan, I wish they came by my place. I would have signed the contract on the spot!!

I think Benchmade was at my house the other day, a couple of young guys in dress shirts and ties... before they could corrupt me with their corporate ways I kindly told them I wasn't interested in the millions of dollars, hot babes and other things that would come with a big knife contract. They must have not known what to say because they just left.

I knew it was them because all they could do was stare at the big knife I was holding when I opened the door. I hope they didn't swipe the design.