Knife Show Question

2knife said:
Question for Don Hanson, if you'll oblige the curiosity: When was the last show you actually took home knives from, and why do you figure?
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The last show I brought knives home from would have been the AG Russell show last year (09). I sold one knife and brought home four :o
Why? It was the slowest show I've ever attended, very low attendance but still fun.
 
Don Hanson III said:
The last show I brought knives home from would have been the AG Russell show last year (09). I sold one knife and brought home four :o
Why? It was the slowest show I've ever attended, but still fun.
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I bet it didn't take forever to sell those four.

Roger
 
Upcoming Plaza Show has a sales restriction for first ten minutes of show I believe. Then any knife that has two or more interested parties, it becomes a drawing for winner/buyer.
 
I know it sounds great to say we should only go to shows to enjoy the experience and present our work...but just like life, shows are not all sunshine and rainbows without rain.

Let's take the San Antonio show for instance-

Costs for me?

Airfare for two - $860 from Portland to San Antonio
Checked baggage fee - $90
Airport Parking fee - $50
Cab-fare from airport (to and from) - $50
Hotel - ~$400
Show table - $400
Food for the week-end - ~$300
Clean and press two suits - $45
Two knives photographed at show - $250

I'll leave off stuff like the carriage ride, trip up to the Tower of the Americas, TIPS, etc..... as that stuff was for fun and not HAVE TO costs.

So that's $2,445.

That doesn't grow on trees, or sprout of of candy canes and Hershey Kisses.

It isn't just that a maker WANTS to sell what he takes... He NEEDS to.

This idea of just adding $100 or $200 to a knife to keep it there longer.... ???

So how does that work? Do you label them "I'm not overpricing these, I'm adding on a ~still available on Sunday~ surcharge" ????? If somebody REALLY wants your knife they'll pay the inflated price, or, most likely, they'll just think you're asking too much money for that piece and move on quietly.




I 100% agree that it's important for a maker to have knives for show attendees to see and handle... that's why I don't sell anything until the bell rings.

But I don't agree with any type of notion that a maker should not need or want to sell what he takes----IF HE CAN!!! :)
 
NickWheeler said:
This idea of just adding $100 or $200 to a knife to keep it there longer.... ???

So how does that work? Do you label them "I'm not overpricing these, I'm adding on a ~still available on Sunday~ surcharge" ????? If somebody REALLY wants your knife they'll pay the inflated price, or, most likely, they'll just think you're asking too much money for that piece and move on quietly.
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I don't see that idea gaining a lot off traction, either. Such a capricious approach to pricing is definitely not something I would advocate.

Roger
 
How about this? Say the maker has 5 knives on his table, lots of supply. Each time he sells a knife he adds $25 or so to the price of the rest of the knives. So by the time he has the last knife left he has added $100 to the price of the knife. The supply has gone down thus raising the prices of the remaining knives.

Just a thought.
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What I feel it all boils down to is that some collectors look at the subject of preserving knife shows from the perspective of let’s do what’s best for the custom knife community, thus best for “all” long term while other collectors look at it from the perspective of what’s best for “me” today. I guess both perspectives have merit.
 
IMO, a maker setting a realistic price for his knives and sticking with it is the best policy.

A sliding price scale can cause conflict, especially when collectors start comparing notes.
 
Kevin Jones said:
What I feel it all boils down to is that some collectors look at the subject of preserving knife shows from the perspective of let’s do what’s best for the custom knife community, thus best for “all” long term while other collectors look at it from the perspective of what’s best for “me” today. I guess both perspectives have merit.
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I'm not buying the "either / or" delineation, but those are certainly two of many views. Among those who consider the "big picture" in terms of the custom knife community you will find very DIFFERENT ideas as to how those global interests are best served.

Kevin Jones said:
IMO, a maker setting a realistic price for his knives and sticking with it is the best policy.

A sliding price scale can cause conflict, especially when collectors start comparing notes.
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Exactly correct on all points.

Roger
 
Danbo said:
Nick's a big boy. You see the size of them guns he's carrying around? :D
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He is now feeding a fairly large belly as well....he turned that sixpack into a pony keg.:D

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Hi Chuck,

How about this? Say the maker has 5 knives on his table, lots of supply. Each time he sells a knife he adds $25 or so to the price of the rest of the knives. So by the time he has the last knife left he has added $100 to the price of the knife. The supply has gone down thus raising the prices of the remaining knives.
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Ah an excellent example of "knife maker economics". :D

So at the next show do you keep the inflated price of the final knife? Or lower the prices back to retail? By doing so pissing off all the customers he paid the inflated price?

There is a business term for that economic strategy....Negative Cash Flow.

Generally this is followed by a financial/economic term....Bankruptcy.

Im sure many of your competitors like your thinking...I keep hearing the knife makers say that they are waiting for the "Herd to thin out".

Chuck I know you are joking, but there will be some who think you are not. :D
 
Hi Chuck,

I knew a Loveless dealer that did exactly the same thing as you described.

His thinking was every time he sold a knife...there were fewer Loveless's available at the show and in general.

So it has been done before.

As well Im sure you are not the first maker to think of this...or actually try it!

BTW, I knew you were kidding. :D
 
Hey Kevin,

IMO, a maker setting a realistic price for his knives and sticking with it is the best policy.
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Hence the quandary of most makers...especially new ones (1-5 year).

What is a "realistic" price?
 
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