Sal, Bram: Any marketing Plans to promote the GUNTING System ?

A

AG

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Hi Sal & Bram,

I would like to know what marketing plans does Spyderco have regarding the promotion of the Gunting system (both the knife itself and using it closed as a new approach to self-defence).

Of course Mr. Bram Frank is the best demonstrator of his design and whenever he teaches seminars and attends knife shows around the globe - more people are educated about the Gunting and buy it. Still, I want to know what have Spyderco done and plans to do in order to really make this knife the "GLOCK" of tactical folders and not just another new piece on the 2002 catalog.

1. Are there any plans to offer a Gunting system bundle (Knife + Trainer + Videos) at a reduced price ?

2. Does Spyderco consider financing part of the cost of Bram's seminars (in the US & around the world) that specifically teach how to use the gunting ?(assuming most participants usually buy both the knife and the trainer during such seminars).

3. Maybe assign a small number of Gunting knives & trainers for each major US & international dealer (lets say around 5 pieces) to use for demonstrations of the gunting and even give some away to influential persons involved in Media, law-enforcement, military and security work. If those persons will carry the Gunting more people will be exposed to the knife and encouraged to buy one for themselves.

4. I seriously encourage Spyderco to bundle at least Volume One of Bram's excellent training videos with the Gunting TRAINER:

a) This will seriously promote the selling of the trainer.

b) Increase safety of training.

c) Expose more people to the benefits of the Gunting (as they are clearly demonstrated in the tapes) - not only the buyer but also his close circle of friends.

*** This is from my poor experience as a Gunting "promoter" - I showed the Gunting to a friend - who is an Israeli policeman and a knife collector (mainly Spydecos) and his first reaction to the Gunting was:
"This is the ugliest Spyderco ever !" - and I must say I agree with him - as a collector he looked for beauty and form in the knives he buys. Then I showed him all 3 Volumes of Bram's training videos and the next day he bought the Gunting - He was immediately hooked on the knife and now carries it daily in his bag (waiting anxiously for his Skunkworks holster to arrive).

I am conviced that this is not an isolated experience and most people won't buy the Gunting on looks only. Bram's videos are an ESSENTIAL selling tool for the Gunting and a 3 minutes abstract of the tapes should be given to dealers and stores to show on VCRs wherever the Gunting is sold.

Just to test this without puting too much money on video tapes duplication and distribution - just have someone edit a 1 minute long video segment from the tapes and convert it to a MPEG / AVI format, send it to on-line knife stores on the internet (like the Knifecenter) - and have it available for visitors to download and view. I bet you guys that sales of the Gunting on those sites will be considerably increased. This should have a minimal cost to Spyderco and will be a test to see if it's really worthwhile to go for a demo tape on the Gunting.

Hope to hear your feedback on this

AG
ISRAEL

May the memory of our Tourism Minister, Rehavam Zeevi - who was assasinated in cold blood by palenstinian terrorists - be blessed.
 
This sounds like a really good idea. When I hear people talk about the Gunting here, it sounds very interesting but it's hard to picture exactly what they are doing (kinetic opening? pressure techniques?)
 
AG:
very cool..OK I approve of it...your whole idea..hmm sounds like me!
I agree that "to see" is to believe and to buy..

I hope to be back in Israel soon..
Guy, Yuval and Gadi are coming over from Israel to see me, train with me in London Dec 1..

As usual I'm sending myself over seas..I will be in Paris before the London seminar demo-ing and showing & explaining the Gunting Program to the crowds @ MILIPOL..

Thanks for the support and great suggestions!

Bram
 
Hi AG. Good ideas. It's still too soon to see. The program that you speak of is a very expensive one and the cost would knock out another new design. Right now we have to consider our limited investment dollars very carefully.

Bram's promotion of the Gunting is excellent. I believe that it is from his promotion that most Gunting sales eventually come in. We have been running a 4 color ad in many mags, but the knife does not sell very easily visually.

We're hoping that Bram's skill in both the Gunting and demonstrations will bring the model into mainstream Law Enforcement Professionals.

Bram, Thanx for the efforts and the travel. It is a difficult model both to build and to sell. We can handle the building part just fine, but you are the World's best Gunting Salesman.

The original Spyderco Clipit introduced in 1981 took a good five years before the demand was there. We sold them by demonstrating at shows and fairs until the demand developed. The one hand open, clip and serrated edge features were just too unusual for the public at first.

sal
 
But then I think my Glock is beautiful too. I like tools that work well.

The MPEG is a great idea for showing people how the Gunting works and where its beauty lies. It shouldn’t cost too much for someone with the proper equipment to put a couple of MPEGs from Bram's videos up on the Spyderco site and give dealers permission to link to them.

Perhaps a kinetic opening, a tomahawk strike, and an example of using the horns. The whole sequence could be about 15 seconds of MPEG.
 
Thank you Poppa Spyder and Spyderco for believing in me..and the design..
Since you know the learning curve of a watershed design.. I have some time to open their eyes..ROFL>.

Thank you again those that believe and Poppa Spyder for giving me the chance!!!
 
AG, your words are so true. The Gunting, may be the ugliest Spyderco, but in my opinion is the most functional. I've only been into knives for the last 5-6 years, but the advent of the Gunting, in my opinion, is the most revolutionary design to happen in the industry, since the caveman first picked up the sharp stone. Again, it is my opinion, both Bram and Spyderco owe it the all people, to spread the use of this tool. Sal, I know you have to look at the investment of a program that AG talks about, but an investment also can have an intrinsic value that can't be overlooked, that of being the sponser of an evolutionary tool.

Bram, I know you are out there pushing the use of the Gunting, and if you never need help, don't hesitate to contact me.

Al
 
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