Resources for Custom Makers

Michael Rader

Michael Rader

Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Messages
627
Hi Everyone. I feel this appropriate for the Custom Forum because a lot of traffic here consists of makers, collectors and others interested/involved in one way or another w/custom knives.

I'd like you to share any resources you have found helpful in running your business or that could help anyone in this forum. So let's do this: a) keep it positive. If you like one source better than someone else's, just put it up and let us decide. b) keep each post fairly short. c) no self-promotion. If you offer a great service, then one of us will put it up.

Thanks and I hope this will be valuable for everyone.

_________________
Michael Rader, MS
 
Great thread idea Michael. Smart.

Intuit Software - Quicken/Quickbooks
I've been using Quicken for over 15 years. Invaluable for business and home.

Intuit Credit Card Processing
Best value I've researched. I pay $12.95 per month and a small percentage fee per transaction. Super deal on what CAN BE a big pain and rip-off.

Intuit Website templates and hosting
I signed up just to see what they had. Great value.

Allwebco Website templates
This is what I used to build my site. Cost: $80 + shareware editors and MY time.

Atlanta Virtual website hosting
That said, I use this site. Absolutely top rate service and help. A+.

Fototime Photo hosting
Although I have a thorough website, the day to day posting of images is MUCH better handled through a site which does this more easily. I HIGHLY suggest you pay for a site, as the benefits outweigh the cost ($24 yr) in the long run.

USPS Click and Ship
Dollar for dollar, it's the best VALUE for shipping and credibility. 1/2 the cost of other shippers and you print from your desktop, picked up daily from your shop or home. Done.

These are my tools to survive.

Coop
 
Pops Knives and Supplies http://popsknifesupplies.com/ They DO have belts at great prices.

Sheffield Knifemakers Supply http://www.sheffieldsupply.com/catalog.html Tell you what, their titanium or stainless thumbstuds with inlay will get you to quit making your own.

Riverside Machine http://www.riversidemachine.net/productCat0.ivnu The carbide faced file guide is a particular favorite

Fred Lohman Company http://japanese-swords.com/ If you are serious about Japanese style mountings....this is THE place....none better, imo, and this is after 10+ years of looking, including Japan

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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Great thread idea. Already got a couple new leads.

In Canada, the best and easiest place to get anything from is
www.knifemaker.ca
They tend to cater more to the stock removal crowd though.
 
Thanks for participating guys. In one sense we are in competition, but in another sense a rising tide raises all ships. Bob Kramer and I have been kinda sharing information lately (he has been doing most of all the sharing) and even though we both make custom kitchen knives, we both want each other to be very successful. So, let's help each other be successful - it will be good for all of us.
 
Blade Magazine, other knife publications, the knife forums and our knife photographers are valuable resources for promoting and exposing your knives to the buying public.

Google Analytics is a free website analytics solution that gives you insights into your website traffic and marketing effectiveness.
An excellent resource or tool for keeping your finger on the pulse of your knifemaker website and knife market. http://www.google.com/analytics/
 
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I use Sheffield Supply & McMaster Carr for many of my supplies, but if you need specialized micro-fasteners in bulk, fastenersuperstore.com might be worth checking out.
 
Great stuff...

+2 on USPS Click and Ship

Jim... So the $12.95/month and percentage save you as opposed to Paypal? If so.. sign me up.

As to my resource.... You can't beat your local scrap iron yard. Mine is Chicago Iron in Ashland, Wisconsin.. and is one of our planet's 'Sacred Places of Peace and Power'. If you know what to look for.
 
Michael Rader said:
Hi Everyone. I feel this appropriate for the Custom Forum because a lot of traffic here consists of makers, collectors and others interested/involved in one way or another w/custom knives.

I'd like you to share any resources you have found helpful in running your business or that could help anyone in this forum. So let's do this: a) keep it positive. If you like one source better than someone else's, just put it up and let us decide. b) keep each post fairly short. c) no self-promotion. If you offer a great service, then one of us will put it up.

Thanks and I hope this will be valuable for everyone.

_________________
Michael Rader, MS
Click to expand...

Awesome Thread
Great to see you posting, I have huge respect for your work
In the 361 we keep our paper on the block, eating ghetto grub daily, spending cash and staying on our grind 24/7. You heard me..

Same thing here at BF
We support the hood.. Hood has to eat...
AKS has already been mentioned.
Here are two more incredible suppliers from the Hood
Respect from Texas






 
Ha ha. Very good, Snody. You are the man. Have you ever posted a business tutorial for knifemakers yet?

Some very good links here - Kelly Cupples is a very nice guy and a cell phone that can process credit cards... I'll have to check that out along with some of those other tool suppliers. Thanks guys.
 
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