knife purveying?

C

ccdanielwm

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Sep 9, 2010
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I have a question about knife purveying. I understand to some degree what a knife purveyor does. In the case of dealers who sell manufactured knives they have to be approved by the company. I think that is simple enough.
For a person who wants to sell custom knives (made by others) does that person need permission from the maker? I ask this in the professional sense, not selling a knife to your buddy. I also realize being friends with a maker a selling the makers knife would be a bonus. I guess I am trying to find out if there are rules to being a knife purveyor. I mean to the right way not in any way dishonest.

Any answers would be appreciated.
 
ccdanielwm said:
For a person who wants to sell custom knives (made by others) does that person need permission from the maker?
Click to expand...

he would have a very hard time getting inventory otherwise....

the purveyors I work with purchase knives directly from me at a discount and sell them through their network
 
Knives are property. Whoever buys a knife has property rights to it and can sell it to anyone else. Knife purveyors get knives from everywhere. They buy them, take them in on consignment, have relationships with dealers, etc.

If they buy a knife, they can sell it just like any other form of property without permission from anyone, unless laws exist that govern such sale. No purveyor who actually buys a knife would go back to the maker and ask permission to sell it. It's property.

If a purveyor takes a knife on consignment from the owner of the knife, he only follows the instructions of the owner - he doesn't contact the maker for permission - again, it's property.

That's pretty much the bottom line.

Bob
 
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Hi CC,

First a couple of distinctions.

There are knife dealers (sell any kind of knife).

There are Custom Knife Dealers (who sell only custom knives).

Then there are Purveyors. A true purveyor is someone who gets (purveys) a particular knife someone requests. This could be Antique, factory or custom knife.

Purveying is confused with being a dealer (even though a dealer will purvey knives for their clients).

Ok, now that you are confused.

Most dealers become dealers because the worst "addicts" become dealers.

Usually a dealer will start out with their collection as their inventory.

You do not have to ask the makers permission to sell one of your knives (as Bob pointed out it is your property).

Generally the two most difficult parts to becoming a dealer are:

1) Having the money to buy inventory.

2) The ability to be able to buy knives that you can (and here is the key) Re-Sell at a profit. Print this out and underline the word "profit".

Your inability or perceived inability to do either or both of the above will make it difficult to become a dealer.

Understand that there are a large percentage of makers out there who say that they will not work with dealers. Also understand that a large percentage of those makers a dealer wouldn't want to work with. Why? Because you can't re-sell their knives for a "profit" (There is that word again).

Next up...getting knives!

1) The makers whose knives you want....won't want to sell to you. Why, they already have established dealers they are working with.

2) The makers who will work with you....will want you to buy multiple knives. This is why you have to have money.

3) You can buy them on forums, Ebay, at shows....again you will need both money and a knowledge level that will let you know that you can re-sell these knives at a profit.

Ok, so you know have 50 knives in inventory.

1) How are you going to sell them?

2) Where are you going to sell them?

3) Who are going to sell them too?

4) How do you find these buyers?

Just so you know as of next Friday I will have been a Full Time Custom Knife Dealer for 16 years. I have been a custom knife dealer for 25 years.

Im looking forward to your answers.

Oh being a dealer is easy...just ask any knife maker! :D
 
Thanks for the answers. I think Les, you, clarified what a purveyor is. I think that is why I was confused. I guess in most cases ( not all) that purveyors are just dealers.
 
So your saying a "purveyor" takes your requests and finds you the knife you are looking for as apposed to just letting you select what he/she has in stock?

Good thread. Sometimes I wonder the same things as I have a bit of in interest in making this a hobby one day in the future. The most important thing I am lacking is the capitol to start investing in product.

Les, you asked "where do you find these buyers?"

I would imagine if you build a good website that is search engine friendly and put a few ads in blade magazine, it might not take THAT long to start finding customers, assuming you have saleable merchandise. When I started out I just searched "custom knives" in google and that led me to many dealers' sites.
 
Not a dealer/purveyor but sell a few custom knives.
Have found the better ones sell themselves.

A wise business mentor of mine use to say "bought right; 1/2 sold". In other words, a little effort at purchase greatly reduces effort at sale. ;)
 
There are probably less than a dozen people that sell knives for a living and can support a family. There are many that sell part time or as a hobby. Les mentioned you would need a lot of money to get these knives. What about insurance, taxes, health benifits, etc.,
Les, you asked "where do you find these buyers?"
Click to expand...
I imagine that takes a lot of yrs. You probably start at knife shows,(which you have to pay money for travel, table, hotel. The internet plays a big role (Les,TNK, AZTC,etc.).
 
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