'Net Purveyors and Blade Show Wares

J

jbravo

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Sep 16, 1999
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Approximately 280 million Americans did NOT go to the Blade show! But many of them wish they could have, because they've saved up precious dollars to spend on the new and interesting custom knives that were shown there.

So why, 3 days later(!), has virtually none of the custom knife websites been updated with Blade show purchases? The whole point of the net is to be up fast. And, obviously the seller up first enjoys an advantage over the slower competitor.

Stop selling what you bought to the 'net-deprived (at higher mark-ups) and update your sites!
 
Sounds like you are impatient to see what new knives the online dealers and purveyors are going to be offering. I am sure they will get them up soon. Heck, I have gone to sites of manufacturers and not been able to find information on new models months after they have been released. Some people just hate updating their sites. When your income is based on getting people to buy the knives you recently added to your inventory, you would think they would be put up pretty quick.
 
Hi JB,

In theory you are correct. However, in practice (which is usually different from theory) it is the speedy dealer who can get home, place several phone calls and or emails.

Then sell the knives obtained at said Blade Show without having to take pictures, do descriptions, add and delete pages, etc.

Doing this saves you many hours. As you said the whole point is to be fast!

Permission and target marketing are even faster than the Net!

** HINT ** Place your order with the delear before they go to the show! You eliminate angst and would have your knife by now!

That aside, I hope to get my site updated sometime late this week.

As for now, I have to run a bunch of credit cards and see if I can fit one more box into the Suburban before I head to FedEx. :D

BTW JB, were you looking for anything in particular or were you just wanting a little "eye candy". ;)
 
Les - we need the eye candy to make it through the week!!

After saying that, well done to TAD who have started to add the new stuff to their site!

Regards,

Ed
 
I guess others check my morning routine: nordicknives.com, then arizonacustomknives.com, then knifeart.com (updated today!), etc, etc...

JD
 
Yes! I was just thinking EXACTLY the same thing.

Les, we DO need to see the pics, even if the pieces are sold...it gives us an idea of what's new...and, who knows, it might lead to future orders for you :) (HINT)

RL
 
Glad I'm not the only impatient one. pfff

I can understand most point's Les stated, but not all.
Sure you sell what clientel has ordered or expressed interest in.
As for pictures: How long can it take these days to put let's say twenty or so knives on a table have a pic with a digi-cam and put that on the web, as a kind of preview?
I think those knifenuts who are really deep in it know what they see.
Have better pix's later and put them up with full description.
As for the snapshots, I can imagine to take some photoshop-tools (or something else) and put numbers on the knives, so you can put the makers name under the photo.

I do not meant to give you any hints, just my thoughts.

Greetings
red
 
Red Mag, RL, KWM, Joss, JB, etc.

Yes, in theory it would seem a simple project, for me that is not reality.

Let me give you some numbers.

I updated the site on May 27th

Between Wednesday May 29th and Wednesday June 5th. I received 572 emails, 273 phone calls and 5 faxes. I also spent 4 days at the Blade Show. Note, of the purveyors that have been mentioned here so far, I was the only one who was set up at the show. I won't bore you with the logistics of setting up and tearing down for a major show.

I sold 73 knives
I had to write invoices, FedEx Labels and email tracking numbers and take 47 of these knives to FedEx. That trip is 30 minutes round trip. I know I can call FedEx. Did you know they now charge $4.00 per box (not per trip). I figured most of you would want to save the $4.00.

Additionally, you have to run credit cards and make bank deposits in there somewhere as well.

Don't forget to send the maker's their checks!

Don't forget about the emails and phone calls!

Don't forget you have to prepare for a 1 hours seminar at the Blade Show.

Don't forget that the Guild Show is only 5 weeks away. If you want anything specific you have to let the makers know this week!

Another number 2...the number of children I have.

Both are in Drama camp this week and next.

The oldest is on a softball team that had 2 games and two practices this week.

The youngest was selected for a part in Tom Sawyer/Huck Finn Play. She has practice every night for two weeks.

When they are done with their softball game/play rehearsal(6-8 PM) each attends
rehersal for their dance receital this weekend (8-10PM). They have two shows on Saturday (they each do Ballet, Jazz and Clogging) so they have one routine in each show for that. Additionally, they both are on a competitive dance team and have two more routines with that group.

The good news is they are very active...the bad news is they cannot drive yet.

So myself and my web master/photographer(my wife who is also on a competitive dance team and had to practice and do the receital this weekend) have to drive them all over Augusta. So the Mom and Dad taxi is on the move this week.

I was up Tuesday night till 3am answering emails..trying to catch up a little.

Guys I havent' even unpacked from the show yet.

To take some quick pictures and put them on the web is inviting more problems. Then I will get 50 emails wanting better pictures..I then have to answer those. As they will not understand that these are just temp pictures.

RL, it's not just taking the pitures. It is laying out the knives, cleaning the knives, getting a picture of the knife, then manipulating the photo, write the description and the description. Double check all the links, double check all the index pages then send the pages to the web site.

Then you have to price the knives, tag the sheaths, put them in case and put a tag on each knife case (so you can find them quickly).

Don't forget to answer those emails and phone calls!

Fortunately, the "family" activities are excessive this week and this is a trend that will not continue next week (although there is always something going on).

Obviously, I do not wish to slight any customer or potential customer. However the reality of running a business is having enough cash flow to pay the bills.

As I set up at shows, I am not wholly supported by web sales. Although, web sales are responsible for the majority of my sales. So in a 8 week period when you have Blade Show "prep, the show, then Guild Show "prep" and then the show. It eats up a lot of time.

All of my shows sales are up this year from last year. From between 33% and 145%. As you can imagine net sales are up over last year as well.

Im not complaining, but there has not been a lot of "down time" this year so far.
I hope to have all the new knives on the site early next week. I did an update last night taking everything off that has been sold in the last 10 days. Have to wait for the web master to double check it.

Guys I apologize for the length of this post. It's not just me, everyone is running 100 mph these days. I just wanted to show what has me going 200 mph this week.

By the way did I mention I have two dogs?

Oh, one last thing, once all the dealers have their new knives up on their sites. I expect everyone who posted on this thread to buy at least 3. :D
 
See!! You actually ADMIT that you don't have that much to do to keep you busy. So let's get those pictures up at once, OK?;) ;) ;)
 
Les,

When you say you have not unpacked from the show yet, does that mean you are wearing dirty underwear?
 
Hey Les, you forgot to mention the time you have to spend with folks who are upset because they could not get hold of you because you were at Blade. :D.

(Even after I stopped dealing I still get those.)

The funniest call I got over last weekend was from a guy asking if I was going to Blade (na the 20 min drive just is not worth it :)) and for me to call him Saturday afternoon at 2 since he had a busy weekend and that would be the only time he would be home :D).
 
Ok, you badgered me into it. The site was partially updated this morning.

I have changed clothes.

Gus was right about talking with people I didn't get a chance to talk with at the show.

Acutally, I expect things to get worse, as it appears some people think my name is Bob. :D

Im waiting for those orders to roll in!
 
Les streamlined his life by not wearing underwear anymore:)
 
I could have gone my entire life without knowing that!!!

Thanks Bob. I enjoyed talking to you at the show.

Zach Chalmers
 
Sounds as if you need a hard working assistant !

Who just happens to have a particular excitement about knives ! :D
 
Les,

Only three knives - you are going easy on people :D

Regards,

Ed
 
Hell, I just found out about Les's site two weeks ago and keep going back to drool over two knives he already had up. Can't imagine having more of them to look at and cry about night after night.

You've got an awesome site man with a great variety of knives. I've already found three makers with styles that really appeal to me thanks to your site.
 
Originally posted by Les Robertson

RL, it's not just taking the pitures. It is laying out the knives, cleaning the knives, getting a picture of the knife, then manipulating the photo, write the description and the description. Double check all the links, double check all the index pages then send the pages to the web site.

Then you have to price the knives, tag the sheaths, put them in case and put a tag on each knife case (so you can find them quickly).

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Les, no problem...I'll make you a deal...next time just send the sloppy pics to me directly...that way you won't have to worry about uploading, writing descriptions, pricing, modifying the pics, checking links etc....in return, I won't bombard you with a billion questions :)

RL
 
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