New Magazines

striper28 said:
How about Cigar Aficionado
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I'll second this one. I talked Burt Foster into making me a simple, but spectacular damascus draw poker when I got my last knife and when I manage to get some good pics I'm going to send them into Cigar Aficionado along with a pic of the knife.

It just seemed like it would be an interesting place to show off his work and my new toy (assuming they're interested in publishing it). :)
 
The reason I posted this question was because there was a writer coming to interview me today for a local publication and he wanted to know if I'd like it submitted to a new publication that may help expand the market.

Les your comments about waiting lists and expanding our market are different topics I feel. The best makers are going to have long waiting lists no matter the size of our collector market. I think there is an obvious need to increase the knife world exposure for the good of everyone including you Les. When i walk around at the Blade Show I look at table after table of knives on Sunday that haven't sold and think to myself, how in the heck are they staying in business. It's hard enough for me and I have a backlog and sell my knives that the shows. I do understand that it's a process of elimination and some makers just won't make it. But I see some great knives out there being made by great people and they just can't sell their work. I also look at it from my perspective and that's the perspective of being young. I'm 26 and only know 2 collectors in my age range. I have to sell knives for 50 more years and I want to do everything I can to encourage new collectors.

The writer that came out today was intrigued and ended up spending the whole day. I forged a blade, then he forged a blade and I made a piece of twist damascus and ground and etched it. Just from that experience I think he may be someone that can help push the knife world to people that don't know about it. Imagine what kind of impact the knife world could see if 50 blade smith's did that. One day with one writer and it could have a great impact.

Just some rambling thoughts but I just can't see how having articles in new publications portraying the knife world in a positive light can do harm.

Josh
 
I think your right about Cigar Aficionado. It's such a natural fit. I have a collector that is a member of a cigar club in Beverly Hills. He ordered an auto from me and uses it every day for his cigar. He has a cigar locker next to Arnold Schwarzenegger and he said no one there has anything like it. I have to think that knives in a publication like that would just go hand in hand. I have a feeling there not just smoking Swisher Sweets either.:)

Josh
 
Josh, I think you make a great point. Being a young collector this is something that crosses my mind often. I don't know ANYONE close to my age who collects handmade knives. I would love to do what I can to promote the industry but its hard for me to come up with such ideas. It would be great to see art galleries supporting knife makers and giving them shows every so often, but most people have never heard of custom knives.
 
One marketing technique that is used in the non-knife world is to send free products (not sample size items but full feature products) to opinion leaders (rock stars, actors, etc). Maybe that's something that can be replicated to some extent in the knife world. I know that D. Meier donated a damascus bowie to Pdt Bush (Sr). Of course, I don't know if it's displayed anywhere.
 
Coop-

I am incredibly thrilled for you!!!!! :D

That magazine is the nicest knife magazine I've ever seen. To be included, AND in such a BIG WAY is freaking fantastic!!! HOORAY for you my friend!!! :thumbup: :D

I was very fortunate to have my mug and a dagger I made for Mitch Lum published in that mag when Chuck Bybee, Bill Cottrell, Tom Ferry, and I all were showing TiMascus for the first time at the Blade Show.....and it's still ridiculously rewarding to know it was published in there.

Sometimes I think just having a broader audience recognize and respect what we do is enough to make whatever work goes into getting that attention more than worth it. It doesn't have to equate to orders and longer waits. I know Les is very much dollars and cents, so it probably does for him, and I can respect that.... but it doesn't have to go that far (IMHO).

Good on 'ya Josh!!! I hope we can see what your writer friend comes up with.

I am supposed to have a couple people from the paper come by for a similar deal. It's not Newsweek or The International Enquirer, but it's something in print :)
 
RogerP said:
I was recently contacted about doing an article on hunting knives for a "men's lifestyle" type of magazine. I'll let you know how it pans out.

Roger
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Have you ever been hunting? Thats a must when writing about hunting knives.
 
Les Robertson said:
Hi Keith and Murray,

I understand what Josh was asking. I have heard makers and their organizations talk about expanding the market.

What the makers and the organizations don't understand is that they are missing the obvious answer to that question.

With the answer right in front of their face...they ignore it and continue to ask the question...how do we expand that market.

If you really want to expand the market...again the answer is simple. But few if any makers want to do what it takes to find/create new markets and then create or improve their position.

Les Robertson
Custom Knife Entrepreneur
www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com
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What's the answer Les?
 
Maybe ten years ago I watched a high end life style magazine set up at the Knifemakers Guild show. Makers were falling all over themselves trying to talk to the lady working the table but for only one reason. They all wanted her to feature them in the magazine, make them famous, and sell lots of knives to "rich people." She, on the other hand, was there to explore the advertising possibilities of all these "art knife" makers. I doubt a single knifemaker ever spent a dime with the publication. That includes simply taking out a subscription to it.
Magazines like that may be willing to feature an occasional knife article but they have little or no reason to make it a regular part of their format. There simply isn't any return on investment. The magazine did not come back the following year. Total waste of their time.

If you are beef rancher, every time you sell a head of stock, a certain percentage goes to the beef promotion board. Maybe knifemakers should quit complaining and also spend some money on promoting their craft.
 
How about "High Society" or maybe "OUI".

Josh- I think it is important to point out the article you had written about you in Money magazine a couple of years back. That magazine ended up on thousands of airplanes flying around the world. I had two people cut it out and give it to me. You would think that the readers of Money magazine would have some. And maybe some of the readers of the Robb Report are just dreaming.

Matt D
 
Hi Josh,

The reasons you see so many knives for sale on Sunday...the answer is simple.

The reasons you see so many makers fade away...the answer is simple.

By expanding the market you are really talking about increasing sales. More specifically when makers talk about this they are talking about looking for potential collectors with a lot of money. Those who will allow the maker to show what they can do to create the knives they want. This is why going the non-knife magazine route seldom if ever works...makers don't get it.

Even though Joss asked I will leave the thread as is.

Les Robertson
Custom Knife Entrepreneur
www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com
 
Hi Sidehill,

Excellent post.

You sir have hit the nail on the head!

Josh, this is exactly the point. How much money are you willing to spend on advertising in any magazine that you would like an article. Perhaps you could have the knife makers attending your show (good idea by the way) and put together $5,000 - $10,000 for an ad in the Robb Report or some other high end magazine.

If you haven't checked you should (just for grins) get the rate card from the Robb Report or Cigar Aficionado.

Another question, which magazine(s) do you think...dollar for dollar would put your knives in front of the most people that you would have the potential to sell a knife to?

Les Robertson
Custom Knife Entrepreneur
www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com
 
Sanchez said:
How about "High Society" or maybe "OUI".

Josh- I think it is important to point out the article you had written about you in Money magazine a couple of years back. That magazine ended up on thousands of airplanes flying around the world. I had two people cut it out and give it to me. You would think that the readers of Money magazine would have some. And maybe some of the readers of the Robb Report are just dreaming.

Matt D
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Josh,
how many orders did you get from Money mag readers?
 
I think magazines like GQ and Esquire, which regularly pitch men "accessories" that run from hundreds to thousands of dollars, could be good, if the article is written well. I think that certain sorts of knives could be marketed as the sorts of accessories that any well-dressed, well-prepared gentleman doesn't leave home without. But, like all things in advertising, invention is the mother of necessity.

John
 
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