Only Room for One Knife Brand in My Store - What Should it Be?

Instead of trying something original or interesting, people are happy with McChoices, and vendors provide the McChoices because that's what they think people want. :barf:

So, I guess you could try Case (like Lowes) or SAK and Buck (like China-Mart) - or you could try something interesting like solely selling Queen.

These points are in your favor:

1) As a resort/touristy place, people would probably like to take something home that was Made in PA. You could boldly display that fact. (And that many Schatts have the Keystone right on them would be a great reminder of the trip).

2) Contrary to the argument that they're too expensive - actually many Queens start at about $30 retail - not too bad. You can go up from there. If you're in some spendy place like Bucks Co., people wouldn't bat an eye at a higher-end knife.

3) You're selling something that your nearby competitors aren't.

Now, if you really need to fill in the low end, I can't disagree with the Camillus suggestion - they have some very inexpensive, but well made pocket knives.

As for the Schrade/ Uncle Henry suggestion, forget it, they're out of business.

Regards,

Jeremy
 
Another vote for Queen. Stock some of the models with D2 tool steel. Tell your customers who are looking for something more high end that the D2 steel will hold an edge much longer than the steel found in SAK's, Case, etc. You may also want to stock some diamond sharpeners for them to use on it. :)

I just started whittling with my Queen. Maybe you could stock some Queen Whittlers in D2 and sell books on whittling. :P
 
Another vote for queen. Being a land based retailer of queens would put you in rarified company, possibly attracting knife people to your store. Also as has been stated already, they're not THAT pricey.
 
Jerok said:
WadeF - nice suggestions on supplementing the knives with whittling books and sharpeners!
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Gotta push the accessories! :) Might make $10-20 on the knife, but you can make another $10-20 on a sharpener, and another $5-10 on a book, etc. :)

Oh, and don't forget a nice leather belt case to hold that fancy slipjoint! :) Another $10 in the bank!
 
If it were me making the decision I would look down in my own pocket and see what knife I carried all the time
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That's it! Strider and Microtech.

Glad I could help. Next question? :D
 
I'd say sell whatever is old style and local. This seems to be Queen for you. SAK (swiss army knife) are too common IMO
If you don't sell sharpeners for them (maybe a little pocket diamond rod) then know wher people can get them from. It will give a good impression :)
 
Andy_L said:
I'd say sell whatever is old style and local. This seems to be Queen for you. SAK (swiss army knife) are too common IMO
If you don't sell sharpeners for them (maybe a little pocket diamond rod) then know wher people can get them from. It will give a good impression :)
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Agreed about SAKs being common. They're available everywhere(Walmart, hardware stores etc) along with Case, Buck, etc.

With the Queen and Schatt, you have knives that are by and large available only through the Internet.

You get old time patterns, with good choices in scale materials....MOP, stag, jigged bone and nice wood.

Thomas Zinn
 
WadeF said:
Gotta push the accessories! :) Might make $10-20 on the knife, but you can make another $10-20 on a sharpener, and another $5-10 on a book, etc. :)

Oh, and don't forget a nice leather belt case to hold that fancy slipjoint! :) Another $10 in the bank!
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Hey WadeF,

Have you checked out the Oar Carver model by Queen?

D2 steel, canoe style handle, 2 models, one with large and small wharncliff blades, the other with two large wharncliffs.

It's one of my favorite whittlers.


Thomas Zinn
 
In the type of shop that you have, I don't know if it would be wise to sell knives, especially with two competitors so near. I would start out with a low cost high recognition name. Easier said than done, but I would go with Schrade. Unfortunately, they went out of business, so Buck's more traditional knives, Case, Queen as some have mentioned. Try to stick with lower cost knives first, and see what happens. Worst case scenario, you have to buy a Gold membership and sell your overstock.
 
I would start with SAKs. There are lots of different models, for all kinds of people, prices are quite affordable and their quality is well known to uninformed consumers. You can offer some cellidor models with your store's logo or perhaps an image/inscription to remind your customers of their trip. Having them etched is not expensive and they make great souvenirs.
You can also offer some of the Victorinox accesories (like their keychains, belt pouches, sharpeners, etc.).
I just think Victorinox knives would be easier to sell in a non-knife oriented store.They are very common, but they are also very popular.

Queens and Camillus' traditional line are nice, in fact I would probably buy one at a souvenir shop if I saw one, but that's because I'm a knife guy. They do have a nostalgic feel that SAKs don't have, and they are the true American pocket knives, but I wouldn't start with them. After checking out how the SAKs do, I would certainly get a few Queens for customers who are interested in them.
 
If your shop is close to the mountains, you might want to push the survival/readily available tools angle of SAKs.
 
The Queens in cocobolo and red cherry delrin are fairly affordable. If you could get some old-timey posters or signs from Queen they could really help boost sales. Muffy and Kip won't be able to resist the old-fashioned appeal. "Oh look dear, pocket knives like Jed Clampett used to have."

I'd suggest that you go with the more familiar patterns like stockmans and trappers. If they sell good, maybe think about some of the nicer Queen Classics.
 
TorzJohnson said:
The Queens in cocobolo and red cherry delrin are fairly affordable. If you could get some old-timey posters or signs from Queen they could really help boost sales. Muffy and Kip won't be able to resist the old-fashioned appeal. "Oh look dear, pocket knives like Jed Clampett used to have."

I'd suggest that you go with the more familiar patterns like stockmans and trappers. If they sell good, maybe think about some of the nicer Queen Classics.
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I'd add on some of the Country Cousins......inexpensive, and a great first knife for the young un.


Thomas Zinn
 
For name recognition Case, Buck, K-Bar, Old Timers (if you can find any)

Saw an awesome display of Case knives at the NRA convention in Houston.

Or consider a Theme of say all stag handeled knives from different manufacturers.

Make more room, throw out that other junk.. Everyone loves knives :D :D
 
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