Sales "off" the last few weeks?

Chiro75

Chiro75

Joined
Feb 4, 1999
Messages
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Until the last couple weeks everything I've posted has sold in a few days, but I have two knives (well, now just one, but the other took a couple weeks to go) that have just been stalled. My theory is that with Blade looming people clamp their wallets shut. What do you think? People are either going, and saving up for it, or they're not going, but they know that post-Blade the trade/sale forums light up with "Oh, $hit, my wife found out how much I spent and I have to sell some of these" posts. Either that, or the last couple knives just weren'y as appealing to people, which is altogether possible, too. ;)
 
Unless you are working your backlog, outgoing sales usually are down between now and July.
 
Yup, but it's with more than just knives, iron work in general moves slow this time of year, that's why I stay on contract with a few museums, and spend this time working on repro iron for different projects they do throughout the year.

Gotta do something to pay them bills

Tony
 
Good question, when you find the aswer let me know. :)

Out of all the stuff I have posted for sale I have only sold two items here; a little plain 15n20 utility style knife and a carbon fiber pen with a total combined sale price of $250.

Ask anybody and they will tell you it is a tough business. So tough that I decided to go back to an engineering job and just make knives part time again as opposed to liquidating an IRA and continuing trying to make it full time.

I wish I only had one that fizzled. IMO I think you have done very well to basically sell just about everything that has come off your grinder. I hope that continues for you, but in based on my personal experience and what I have learned from others, that situation is the exception not the norm.

Just recently I have had a well established knife company wanting to sell my Balisongs for me. It would be an exclusive deal, to where they would be the only ones to sell them, which means not even I can sell them myself. I think it is a fantastic way to go for me, but it comes at a time now where I only have Sundays to work on knives. So I have an outlet, but no time to make them. Go figure! :rolleyes:
 
Sean, that means one of the dealers wants your stuff? That's cool! It helps that my stuff is all in the $100-$150 range for the most part. People love those little Tactical Orange Peelers, too. I guess they fill a niche that was lacking?? They're fun, but it gets kind of boring to make the same thing over and over again, although it is a nice feeling knowing that for now, at least, if I make one in that style it'll be gone. I'm telling you, pretty much anything with a Wharncliffe blade will sell right now, so strike while the iron is hot! I don't see too many damascus Wharnies...
 
Chiro75 said:
Silent, here's the link to the one that has fizzled. My last black & tan tanto just sort of sat there, too, but it sold today (well, at least someone said they'd buy it). So I really can't complain, but I wondered how much Blade show had to do with it.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=347051
I think this one may be a bit overpriced, too, but that's life! :D
Click to expand...

That's one of the designs I'm looking for! I love it! I'll use the hell out of it!



Dammit I'm broke :mad: :mad: :mad: .


Very nice knife, if it's still there when I get my head out from under, I'll take it! :cool:
 
I believe that part of the problem is that people have gotten, and spent, their tax returns, and suddenly, after spending that extra bump, they feel as though they have less money, it takes a few months to even out.

Just my opinion, but I'd bet I'm at least part right.

Tony
 
Before I rode a desk, I worked in retail, and found that most people, after they got their credit card bills in January for what they spent for Xmas, they stopped shopping. Is there a time like that other than Xmas for knife makers?
 
With the blade show 2 weeks away people are selling to make some cash for the show, not buying. Many collectors have a limited budget to spend and they save all year to buy one nice piece at a show, most likely the blade show. Why buy now when makers will have new knives that you have never seen before. Manufacturers will also have new models on display at the show that you might have to have when they become available.

The other thing is that summer is quickly approaching and customers have to deal with saving money to go on vacation, pay for summer camp for their kids ect. They could either buy a custom for $1000 or take their family on vacation, which one would your wife want? The increased gas prices don't help either.
 
I'd say the Blade show also. Once a year opportunity. Saving the cash for that I guess. I've also noticed my sales are always down over the summer. They pick back up in the fall. I serve the hunters and outdoors folk.
Scott
 
This time of the year is when you need purvayors and collectors in your back pocket. remember that the 100-200 knives pay the bills. :cool:
 
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