Marketing to knife makers, what do you look for?

Greenberg Woods

Greenberg Woods

Joined
Dec 27, 2013
Messages
2,696
Hey guys, as you probably know my name is Ben Greenberg and I run Greenberg Woods which sells wood almost exclusively for custom knives. And I need some advice.

There's always talk on here about how to find customers, but for me, you guys are my customers. So what is it you guys are after. I built my website and stocked it with wood, but I still average only about 30 site visits a day and a frankly pathetic percentage of those who purchase woods from the site.

So please, help me improve my buisness and let me know what you are after. As far as I know my prices are roughly in line wit the market and I belieIe I have a decent reputation.

So please, what are your thoughts? What could I do to win your buisness or at least an opportunity at your buisness next time you are in the market for some new woods.

How could I reach more knife makers? What are your thoughts? Any advice is helpful.

Thanks a ton,
Ben Greenberg
Greenberg Woods
Www.greenbergwoods.com
 
at least for me i try to shop for as many parts as i can to save on shipping. Buying wood from one site, hardware from another, and sheath materials just really isn't worth it when i can grab it all in one order from AKS.
 
I like how clean the site is. Not a lot of information that doesn't need to be there.

I would suggest setting up a designated photo "booth" so you have the same back drop and lighting for each sample you sell.

Another idea which would probably generate more hits would be some basic guidelines on how to work with the wood. Most of the folks from this site who will buy from you will already know what to do with it but the hobby guys might need some guidance. If they are searching google for information regarding woodworking as it pertains to knives, I would think you could generate some traffic that way.
 
Sir, Try facebook. Also, I went to your site and the woods you have shown would work great for 1911 grips. I would try signing up as a sponsor on 1911addicts.com. there are several gunsmiths on there that may contact you for grips. I'm a member on there and it is a great group of guys.
 
Never really considered other markets like that. It's certainly a possibility. Thanks buck, i'll check them out.
 
Ben, we may have talked about this a little bit

1) I think the block sizes are generally too big and wasteful of that wood resource, and also the larger size means you charge more
This isn't just you, it's my opinion that most sellers block sizes are too large, (for my use)
Unless I'm not using them properly...I feel like half the block goes to waste when used on a 4 1/2" handle for a hunter or neck knife.
Sometimes if it's on oversized block, you can get 2 knives out of a block or have a bolster block left over.

2) What kind of knife gets a $50 block of wood? Certainly not a $200 knife, maybe a $1,000 bowie?
How many of those are made or sold? I'd want to get at least $400 on a knife to put 10% into the wood cost.
goto the knifemakers fixed blade section, the average price of the 14 knives just listed in order is $243.

3) I buy my desert ironwood (Grade A) for less than a third of what you sell it for. actually it's even less than a third.

4) add an "about me" to your website

5) "As far as I know my prices are roughly in line wit the market" my observation is that your prices are higher than competition, quite a bit so.
here is some snakewood you have - Snakewood 5 (2 1/2 - 1 - 6 in) $45.00, That's available for less....


6) If I'm going to spend more on materials, I want to do less work to them
I'd like the wood split, sanded and ready to go. I'm not interested in spending $50 for a block, sawing it in half and then sanding it down flat and most of it gone to waste.

7) work your Instagram more, it takes time to build followers and gain momentum

8) there are 3-4 local shows for you to attend with a table and you are a personable guy and you can educate your buyers in person



Ben I like you and buy from you because you provide knowledge and education, that's valuable. And I prefer the close personal relationship.

regards
Harbeer
 
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It takes time to build up a customer base, Ben. Give it some time. You have a good rep but you haven't been around that long. Just keep offering a good product at realistic prices and your customers will come. I've seen wood prices from some sources skyrocket in the last year or so. I can't put a $120 piece of wood on a knife I'm going to price at $300-$400. Fair prices and great customer service build businesses. You're doing fine.


Don't do away with larger blocks though. Not everybody makes larger knives so smaller blocks will be more attractive to some makers. But speaking for myself, I do look primarily for the larger bowie sized blocks that will accommodate some drop in the handle.
 
Greenberg Woods said:
Hey Harbeer, what are the other local shows?
Click to expand...

every month Cal Knives has a club meeting, that's an opportunity every month to meet local makers, the next one is July 16th in SD at Marcus Clinco's shop
Pasadena in March
Brea in June
Anaheim in October

then there are gun shows in Ventura and Costa Mesa
 
I'd work on your presentation. It's your only chance to sell me. I don't want a block of wood with a lot of checks, or one that is not cut square, Your product has to look so great that I can't help but pull out my credit card when I see a block of your wood. Take a look at the photos on the left below. They are from a company I buy from. Then look at the photos on the right. See any difference?

wood.png
 
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Hey Guys, I want you to know I hear you.

I just went through my site and lowered prices. Nearly every block has had the price cut, the average was by 14 dollars, mostly 25-40 percent has been taking off the price of each block.

I do understand most guys cant spend 50 dollars on a block of wood. I hope I can cater to a lot more of you guys now and hopefully help to improve this hobby that I love so much.
 
Make yourself a lightbox for photographing. Quite east to do and will give you a much more professional look when it comes to images. you could build one for less than a few bucks.
 
The only thing that has held me back from ordering from you is that I don't have a band saw to split the blocks. It would be nice (in my case at least) to see a few sets of pre cut scales in the moderate to lower end of the price range. I don't sell a lot of knives, but when I do, being a hobbyist, I don't charge much more that 100 bucks. I think there are a lot of new makers around this site that are in the same boat.
Maybe a variety pack of various pre cut scales? That could help you move in volume.
 
I agree, that most blocks are slightly too large. Most look to be around 2" x 1" x 5". If it was 2" x 1.5" or 3" x 1", I could cut that down and get 2 handles from that piece, but at 2" x 1", I'm paying for an extra half piece of very nicely figured, expensive wood that I can't use. If I'm buying a large block that's around 12" or so, that'd be ok, because I'm saving money on the larger block having to cut it myself, but on yours, they are super nice pieces, just slightly too large, and thus too expensive for 1 handle. But I do love the information you have about the different species on there.
 
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I'd love more of this. Stabilized and maybe some color in it.

-Eric
Overmountain Knife and Tool
Overmountain.us.com
 
E.Carlson said:
.... I don't sell a lot of knives, but when I do, being a hobbyist, I don't charge much more that 100 bucks. I think there are a lot of new makers...
Click to expand...

I don't want to discuss pricing on the open forum, but I have an issue with this. I would say as do other guys who work hard, value their time and need to be compensated for it. Equipment is expensive. Electricity is expensive. Raw materials are expensive.......

Price according to equivalent work on the open market. Don't undercut those who need to earn a living.

Sorry brother. But like many makers out there, you need to appreciate your own work and value your own time.

And sorry Stacy if that stepped over a line. I just hate seeing people functionally rip themselves off, and undercut other craftsmen (I don't think it is done intentionally) in the process.

-Eric
Overmountain Knife and Tool
Overmountain.us.com
 
E.Carlson said:
The only thing that has held me back from ordering from you is that I don't have a band saw to split the blocks. It would be nice (in my case at least) to see a few sets of pre cut scales in the moderate to lower end of the price range. I don't sell a lot of knives, but when I do, being a hobbyist, I don't charge much more that 100 bucks. I think there are a lot of new makers around this site that are in the same boat.
Maybe a variety pack of various pre cut scales? That could help you move in volume.
Click to expand...

I need to make anew option somewhere. I'm happy to cut scales for no charge. If you are after a block just send me an email or use the contact form on the site and I'd be happy to split any block.

I have a bunch of scales I'd like to sell at a discount. They are ebony, cocobolo and kingwood. The issue is that they are rough and so do the photograph well, and the time I would spend surfacing the. Up to sell would raise the lruce. But I may post them soon.
 
How many knife forums are you on? I know that Mark got some customers from Europe, but I am not sure where they found him. At least one that I know does not frequent this forum but some others do.
 
As of now juse this one.

And I also been cutting smaller blocks. Waso at the shop today cutting a bunch of 1.5 wide blocks out of wenge, redwood burl, cocobolo and walnut.
 
Overmountain said:
I don't want to discuss pricing on the open forum, but I have an issue with this. I would say as do other guys who work hard, value their time and need to be compensated for it. Equipment is expensive. Electricity is expensive. Raw materials are expensive.......

Price according to equivalent work on the open market. Don't undercut those who need to earn a living.

Sorry brother. But like many makers out there, you need to appreciate your own work and value your own time.

And sorry Stacy if that stepped over a line. I just hate seeing people functionally rip themselves off, and undercut other craftsmen (I don't think it is done intentionally) in the process.

-Eric
Overmountain Knife and Tool
Overmountain.us.com
Click to expand...
I don't want to derail Ben's thread, but I will respond briefly. I respect your opinion and input, but not everyone does this for a living. I have only been making knives for about a year and a half and still am amazed how much I learn with each new knife. I make knives because I enjoy it. Almost everything I have made I have given away to a friend in excange for their input after hard use. I'm now getting requests from friends of friends and other people I haven't met, so at this point in my hobby I feel like 100 bucks is resonable. As my skills and confidence in my product increase my prices will also.
I do not sell on this forum or anywhere online, and I don't believe I'm taking money from you or anyone else's pocket.

Erik
 
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