Marketing strategies etc…

Tai Goo

Tai Goo

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Besides denigrating the competition and posting free “inside the box” knifemaking advice on the forums,… what are some good custom knife marketing strategies? How do you do it and what do you recommend for others?

Also, what do you look for in a knife collector and why?

Who are some of your favorite knife collectors and why?
 
Tai Goo said:
Besides denigrating the competition and posting free “inside the box” knifemaking advice on the forums,… what are some good custom knife marketing strategies? How do you do it and what do you recommend for others?

Also, what do you look for in a knife collector and why?

Who are some of your favorite knife collectors and why?
Click to expand...

I like the possibilities of this thread, Tai.
My favorite marketing "strategies" are the shotgun effect! I just continue to put my name and my knives in front of as many people as I can.

I look for a noticeable "knowledge" of knives and knife making in my customer. When answering email, phone calls, or talking to someone at a show, I look for questions from them that demonstrate genuine interest on their part of HOW and WHY I did what I did when I made a certain knife.

One of my favorite "collectors", even though he is not a customer of mine, is Roger Pinnock. I may not always agree with his opinions, but I know for a fact that he makes knives, and USES knives.
When he speaks from a COLLECTOR's viewpoint, I listen.

Ultimately, my favorite collectors are my customers. No kidding, about 50%, or possibly more, of my business is REPEAT business. I have a looooooooooooong list of customers who have more than a 1/2 dozen knives, and many with more than 10.

I listen to them, and I listen CLOSELY!
 
Good points Karl, but since Roger has never bought one of my knives from me,... he's not on my list. :D
 
Tai Goo said:
Besides denigrating the competition and posting free “inside the box” knifemaking advice on the forums,… what are some good custom knife marketing strategies? How do you do it and what do you recommend for others?

Also, what do you look for in a knife collector and why?

Who are some of your favorite knife collectors and why?
Click to expand...

Tai,

Don't forget. You need 3-5 friends to organize a "pass around" among themselves of your latest knife design, and then have them post on all the knife forums about how great it is.

It's also good to have several ambivalent catch phrases that you can apply to your knives. Like "penetrator tip," or "tactical grip," or "bushcraft."

Finally, let's not neglect the video marketplace--Youtube. If you're a maker and you're not producing videos about testing your knife in obscure conditions and then resharpening them on the home belt sander, then let's face it, you're a nobody.
 
I really like selling knives to my fellow knifemakers, and kindred of the anvil. Over the past 15 years or so, knifemakers make up about 35% of my overall sales! :)

(“shameless self promotion!”)
 
Wow! I've shifted my paradigm again!... I'm spiraling again! LOL :D

Hey!...Knifemakers! Let's just sell knives to each other!

There's enough of us now! :)
 
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Tai, good thread topic! This is serious, right? :)

Marketing, I run 5 or 6 ads a year in Blade mag, spend time on these forums, go to shows, keep web site updated, promptly answer any and all inquiries, listen to my customers. And the biggie, I have many of my knives professionally photographed.

What do I look for in a knife collector and why? I look for a person who will buy knives with the Sunfish stamped on the blade and are not a pain in the ass. Because those are my kind of collectors :D

Who are some of my favorite knife collectors and why? Would have to be the collectors I have become friends with. No names, cause someone might feel left out and we wouldn't want that.
 
Personally, I think it's a good practice to keep a safe distance from your business customers, and never mix business with pleasure... That’s where all the trouble starts!.. NOT!

You must have a long list Don. Me too, I don't want to try to name them because I might leave someone out.
 
Tai Goo said:
Besides denigrating the competition and posting free “inside the box” knifemaking advice on the forums,…
Click to expand...


Nice :rolleyes:

I find that jumping into threads and rambling on and on about nonsense works well... And saying that if I want to believe something is a certain way, then that's how it is just because I said so. Then I like to sing and howl at the moon. :)

Wait, we're talking about marketing... I thought this thread was about entertaining ourselves.

My bad. :)
 
NickWheeler said:
Nice :rolleyes:

I find that jumping into threads and rambling on and on about nonsense works well... And saying that if I want to believe something is a certain way, then that's how it is just because I said so. Then I like to sing and howl at the moon. :)

Wait, we're talking about marketing... I thought this thread was about entertaining ourselves.

My bad. :)
Click to expand...

Nick, I'm sure you know all about entertaining yourself. LOL

... but do the rest of us want to hear about it?
 
I was lucky enough to get one of my knives in Down East Magazine. That involved putting my knives in a store that catered to a high end, tourist maket. The mention was proably the biggest break for me.

Also, I have found selling fewer knives at more locations builds up a demand. People percieve a knife as more special if it appears there are fewer on the market.

Most of my sales now are repeats. It brings a sense of pride that people want more than just one Rossi Knife.
 
What IF, when you think you're breathing in.... you're REALLY breathing OUT?!?!?!?! :eek:

Think of the possibilities man!!!! :cool:

Can you dig it?!?!?! :confused:
 
The Best Is Yet To Come lyrics.... Michael Buble

Out of the tree of life, I just picked me a plum
You came along and everything started to hum
Still its a real good bet, the best is yet to come

The best is yet to come, and baby wont it be fine
You think you've seen the sun, but you aint seen it shine

Wait till the warm-up's underway
Wait till our lips have met
Wait till you see that sunshine day
You aint seen nothin yet

The best is yet to come, and baby wont it be fine
The best is yet to come, come the day your mine

The best is yet to come
Come the day your mine
Oh come the day your mine
I'm gonna teach you to fly
We've only tasted the wine
We're gonna drain that cup dry

Wait till your charms are right, for the arms to surround
You think you've flown before, but you aint left the ground

Wait till you're locked in my embrace
Wait till I hold you near
Wait till you see that sunshine place
There ain't nothin like it here

The best is yet to come, and baby wont it be fine
The best is yet to come, come the day your mine
Come the day your mine
I've got plans for you baby
And baby you're gonna fly
 
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