Recommendation? Looking to get some advice from the knife community

Stang Bladeworks

Stang Bladeworks

Feedback: +10 / =0 / -0
Joined
Feb 19, 2018
Messages
660
Hi everyone,

I am looking to get some advice on fundraising for charities. I have recently learned that most forums will not allow auctions. I was drawn to this format because i feel it has the most potential to raise the most money.

I am currently running a charity auction on instagram. I have reached out to some fairly well known people for support in promoting my auction. I am truly suprised how many people have agreed to help me.

I am however somewhat disappointed with my results so far. I dont have alot of followers and to be honest i was planning to rely mostly on the forums for support. I have done a charity sale here in the past and a few people expressed interest so i thought this was the best way to go.

I am wondering if anyone can provide some advice on things i can do to help maximize my efforts. I am hoping to get opinions from knifemakers and knife enthusiasts. The auction is up on my instagram (stang_bladeworks) if anyone wants to check it out and provide feedback. I wont post it here because i dont want to violate any more rules here.

I do realize that i am no expert knifemaker and that the price its at now is already more than i would sell it for if the funds were going in my pocket.

Any input would be greatly appreciated. I want to make it clear that no bidding can take place here. I am looking for feedback only. If you want to place a bid please do so on instagram.

I hope this post is in compliance with the rules here. If anything is in violation let me know and i will remove it.

Thanks for your help
20190106_140613.jpg
 
Stang Bladeworks said:
I do realize that i am no expert knifemaker and that the price its at now is already more than i would sell it for if the funds were going in my pocket.


View attachment 1051339
Click to expand...

There ya go. I'm sorry to say, but that might be all you'll get - about what it's worth. Auctions for charity sometimes go for crazy high amounts, but there are a lot of factors on that outcome.
 
AntDog said:
There ya go. I'm sorry to say, but that might be all you'll get - about what it's worth. Auctions for charity sometimes go for crazy high amounts, but there are a lot of factors on that outcome.
Click to expand...
Fair enough. Ill just have to keep working towards making better knives so they are more desirable.
 
Yo Mama said:
Donation may be a better route?
Click to expand...
Yeah maybe. This is the first time I have tried the auction route. I would never try this format if i were just selling a knife but i thought that in a fundraiser it could help get a few more dollars. Thanks for your feedback.
 
Many times the cause is far more important than the item to drive an auction. The setting also makes a huge difference.

For example - I bet you could auction a $10 junk knife marked with a firefighter emblem for big money at a benefit for fallen firefighters.

Like I said, lots of factors. Don't doubt your work. That's a nice knife. Best of luck.
 
Ask one of the larger Youtubers to auction is for you. Let them do a quick review of the knife and then have them auction it off for charity, they have more exposure and fans already, you get a shout-out by them which gets you followers/traffic and you should get more bites for your auction simply because potential buyers are supporting "their youtuber" so to speak by bidding on an auction hosted by them specifically. I am not sure how much interest they have in fixed blades, but it seems like it might be worth a shot.
 
AntDog said:
Many times the cause is far more important than the item to drive an auction. The setting also makes a huge difference.

For example - I bet you could auction a $10 junk knife marked with a firefighter emblem for big money at a benefit for fallen firefighters.

Like I said, lots of factors. Don't doubt your work. That's a nice knife. Best of luck.
Click to expand...
Thanks
 
b00n said:
Ask one of the larger Youtubers to auction is for you. Let them do a quick review of the knife and then have them auction it off for charity, they have more exposure and fans already, you get a shout-out by them which gets you followers/traffic and you should get more bites for your auction simply because potential buyers are supporting "their youtuber" so to speak by bidding on an auction hosted by them specifically. I am not sure how much interest they have in fixed blades, but it seems like it might be worth a shot.
Click to expand...
Thats a good idea. To be honest i have already harassed alot of people to repost it. I dont know if i would feel comfortable asking for such a big time commitment from them. Maybe in the future ill ask in advance to get something lined up.
 
TRfromMT said:
Sometimes raffles generate more. Sell slots at say $10 a pop. Then everyone that wants to can contribute a small amount (not everyone has a few hundred to spend, even for a good cause)
Click to expand...
I have never tried that. If you have ever participated in one what format was used to collect payment. I dont want paypal to end up the beneficiary of my efforts.
 
Stang Bladeworks said:
I have never tried that. If you have ever participated in one what format was used to collect payment. I dont want paypal to end up the beneficiary of my efforts.
Click to expand...
The ones I have participated in have been PayPal, F&F. Group DM emphasized no mention of "knife" or "raffle" on PayPal comments, simply comment with IG handle.

FWIW, I'm not about to top the high bid in your auction, but would have been all over a $20 raffle spot.

Either way, I commend your generosity.
 
BigKurtHaze said:
The ones I have participated in have been PayPal, F&F. Group DM emphasized no mention of "knife" or "raffle" on PayPal comments, simply comment with IG handle.

FWIW, I'm not about to top the high bid in your auction, but would have been all over a $20 raffle spot.

Either way, I commend your generosity.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the tips. I will look into this in the future.
 
I second that, lottery/raffle can be problematic with IG and Paypal. You might want to ask some people who have done it.
As for folder versus fixed, to my perception folders are far more popular on IG and get more exposure than fixed blades (of course there are a couple exceptions like CAS Knives for example).
I feel like a Slippy with a decent size and either a fancy CF or Micarta with modern blade steel would do quite well.
 
b00n said:
I second that, lottery/raffle can be problematic with IG and Paypal. You might want to ask some people who have done it.
As for folder versus fixed, to my perception folders are far more popular on IG and get more exposure than fixed blades (of course there are a couple exceptions like CAS Knives for example).
I feel like a Slippy with a decent size and either a fancy CF or Micarta with modern blade steel would do quite well.
Click to expand...
Thanks. I agree that the raffle sounds like a pain. I dont like the idea that instagram or paypal can ruin it. Ill look into it. Maybe there is a better way to do it. I used copper shred cf once before and i really liked it. I might try a slipjoint in that with cpm154. I dont have any on hand at the moment though.
 
I have seen them via PayPal friends and family. As a raffle, there is no expectation to receive any product (beyond your odds of winning) and if you don't win you don't get your money back. As such, guys are always happy to pay F&F, and therefore no fee.

Edit to add: You can run a raffle as long as needed (until a set number of slots are sold). On the one hand, you may limit the overall proceeds if you stop at a fixed number of slots. On the other hand, guys don't seem to mind if the raffle takes a few days.

Anyway, just an idea.
 
Stang Bladeworks said:
I have never tried that. If you have ever participated in one what format was used to collect payment. I dont want paypal to end up the beneficiary of my efforts.
Click to expand...
Lots of knifemakers on Facebook use F&F, not saying that it is right, just stating a fact. Gives protection from someone buying in, not winning, and pulling their funds. They often sell well north of 100 spots at $20 a piece.
 
H0kieengineer said:
Lots of knifemakers on Facebook use F&F, not saying that it is right, just stating a fact. Gives protection from someone buying in, not winning, and pulling their funds. They often sell well north of 100 spots at $20 a piece.
Click to expand...
I might have to make a facebook. It sounds like a raffle might generate the most donations. Thanks. For now i only have instagram.
 
Make a Facebook but keep the Instagram and announce the raffle on both pages, run it through one or the other.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top