Question on marketing knives?

D

Dixieblade57

Joined
Jun 20, 2007
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This is probably going to sound strange but up until my kids started on computers in school I was totally computer illiterate. When I was a kid they only had computers in places like NASA and colleges and they took up whole rooms and the units were big as refrigerators. They taught typing in school but no computers courses.
OK now that I have dated myself here is the question. I ass u me that you are marketing knives through a web site. I also assume they charge for that.
What does it cost to maintain a website and is that a cost effective way to sell knives?
Are there better ways such as a homepage? If I am correct that doesn't cost anything but does it get you out there where you can actually create a site that you can actually sell anything on.
I ain't planning on getting rich but, it dang sure would be nice to at least break even on a few of these next pieces! The knife I delivered today was sold locally to a neighbor. He was very pleased and tells me,"you got to get out there on the Web and start selling your knives". I belive he might just be right the that, the time has just about got here. I can only sell so many knives to friends and neighbors before I run out of them, and so far they haven't shown enough other folks to pay any bills.
Problem is I don't know where to start. I guess you could call me clueless in Florida!!!!!!!!
I would appreciate any feedback that might help a PC illiterate to get his product out on the web for others to see and buy!
 
As a fellow Floridian and knifemaker, I can tell you that I do a large local market, but the internet sales are easier and potentially more plentiful.You can pay and get knifemaker status here and sell here. Go herehttp://blademakers.com/site/ and you can get a 3 month free trial and pay $72.00 a year and setup your own site.Good luck.Dave:)
 
Most of my knives I sell from my Website. And you can sell here on this site as well. There many ways to go about it. Wish you luck on getting one up and going. :)

Terry
 
To be honest I shut my old site down. You can get too busy and it really detracts from the "craft" aspect. BF is a great place to market and sell knives, I really only post knives that my local customers don't want. I have some great local guys that buy a lot of my knives.
 
I do sell here and on my website. I find the site to be helpful as a tool. If a computer is nearby you can show people pictures of your work with out haveing to carry stuff with you. Even if they don't purchase a knife thats on your site it gives an idea of what you do and can make. I think my site is around $12.00 a month.
 
I put my site up using Yahoo and their tools, its about $120 per year. The web site really helps and doesnt take alot of work but the real good part is have a good email to communicate with customers, suppliers, and friends.
 
I used Me.com, which is the new name for Mac.com. It is a service provided by Apple for their customers and has a few more things other than webhosting. It costs around $100 per year and while my site may not be the sexiest around, the site building tools are pretty much idiot proof as evidenced by the fact that I actually have a website.:D Other than the fact that it is very easy to use, the thing I like about it is that I worry less about Apple's servers crashing or having other issues. The downside is that you may have to be using a Mac, although it is designed for use with the iPhone, which will work with a PC. It is worth checking out.
 
I have a website, but actual sales from the site are not too great. I sell several blades here.......... Best money I have spent so far.

By selling here, it leads folks to check out my website. That has resulted in a few sales based on models displayed on my site.

Pony up the forty or so bucks and get a knifemaker's membership here. You will be pleasantly suprised.

Robert
 
Robert Dark said:
I have a website, but actual sales from the site are not too great. I sell several blades here.......... Best money I have spent so far.

By selling here, it leads folks to check out my website. That has resulted in a few sales based on models displayed on my site.

Pony up the forty or so bucks and get a knifemaker's membership here. You will be pleasantly suprised.

Robert
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Robert has it nailed. This is a great place to sell. Probably the best money I've spent to promote my sales was here.
 
I think a web presence is the best thing you can do for yourself. I personally have my website hosted at Atlanta Virtual. Alex Whetsell is the owner, who's majority of website hosting is knife related. Its roughly $100 a year for hosting, $50 a month for my high speed internet service, and by building my own website, I saved myself big bucks there, while at the same time designing my site in the manner which I think best portrays me.

Websites are one of those things that take a bit of time to get noticed, but there is no better way to expose yourself, and your work to more people. For the past few years, my site averages about 6,000 visitors a month....which means that is 6,000 people who otherwise would not be exposed to my knives.
Right now knife sales in general are just slow....times are tough for most folks, and nobody has disposable income....but times will change. The current situation not with standing, I can either directly or indirectly attribute approx. 80% of my knife sale to the internet. Between my website, and purveyor sites. My opinion is that if you do not have website (and more importantly, one that you keep updated) you missing a huge business opportunity.

On a side note about websites, I encourage you to learn how to, and to build your own website. If you have someone else build/administer the site, your not going to get something that is truly you, and when it comes to updating, your going to have to send the information into someone, who will update your site at THEIR convenience. That means it might be 3 days, or two weeks to get a new knife up on your site. By doing it yourself, you can finish a knife, photograph it, and have it on your site within 30 mins! Call me impatient, but when I have a new knife to offer, I want it there today...not 3 days to 2 weeks down the road!
 
Thanks everbody, I do appreciate all the good feedback here.
I have a son in law who is computer geru. Don't now what he know about websites but I am sure he probably can help if I decide to go that route.

I know time have changed and I myself will often do a search for a certain product. Google can bring up thousands of hits for any given subject and then I set and surf through alot of different info. I see aspects of certain custom knife sites that is great and then you see those that just don't seem to work. I can see where I would want to control my own site and not depend upon someone else like Ed was talking about.

I will probably start with the upgrade here on the forum and see where that takes me. Like I said I would just love to see some money coming back in. I would like to reinvest some back into my shop but that's hard to do, especially right now with the crappy economy!
 
No one could explain it better then Ed did here. That's exactly how I feel about it. Also, if you are making knives and want to get more exposure, get nice photographs of your work and send in to some of the knife books. If they select one of your knives or knife to be placed in there book that would be one of the greatest marketing advertisements you could do. Getting recognition and exposure will be your key in marketing your product. :)

Terry
 
First of all, I am not a maker, but, I have purchased more knives here on this forum than anywhere else. Even some of my forum buddies know what I like and if they do see something at another web site, they will notify me. So, If I was you I would invest in a knife maker membership and start showing your wares here. BF is one of the largest, if not THE largest, site where collectors, purveyors, and makers gather. I think the first step is your knife maker membership and start showing off. Remember one thing, Coop says, " Good pictures do not cost, they pay"

Good Luck on your decision,
Jim
 
Just make as best a knife as you can and post photo's on the forums.people will notice and generally contact you through the forums.atleast it has worked for me :) i need to upgrade to knifemaker status though :o
 
I frequent this forum every day and found that to be helpful in sales too. The for sale forum here works but for most collectors out there you will need a web site. If you have a community college you should take a course or two. I was the same as you and had to get some education or go by the wayside.
I used Bladegallery.com in the early days before I got my website. Daniel only accepts knives worthy enough so email him some images or send him a few for his inspection.
 
I build sites, in my spare time. My specialty is in the graphics and layout. I'm not a code monkey, but I know enough to be dangerous. I set up a "build/buy a knife section" for John Landi (landiknives.com). He sells way more knives through this forum, but the website is great for information and displaying his work for his potential buyers.

I have bartered websites for cutlery with both Landi and Stephan Fowler (fowlerblades.com). Hit me up if interested.

Rob
 
I don't sell much because I don't make much. It is a hobby for me.
I go to a local art gallery and have supplied them with low end letter openers for about 10 years. I had a sale from ebay and that turned out to be a repeat customer. He takes all my good stuff for the past 6 years.

I have no intention of making high volume so the moral of the story is use some door knocking on art galleries doors. be prepared for knock backs. It is just another option while your waiting.
 
Tx Bass Tech said:
Is it just me, or is it kinda uncool to use your first post on this forum to promote your business:confused:
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You know there really ought to be a way to date these posts as this post is at least a year old and maybe closer to two years old as of today 11/11/2010!:eek::mad:
 
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