So Why are Makers Seeming to do Well?

W

Will Leavitt

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Jul 28, 2006
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Well since the makers that answered on AG's thread seem to be doing well, I was wondering "why?" For the top makers I think it's people making what they see as tangible investments. I wonder why the mid to lower tier makers (myself on the lower tier) are doing well. I'm guessing that people are feeding their urge to buy customs with the lower cost offerings or perhaps there's some urge to buy something handmade from someone you can talk to.

I dunno, I'm rambling from codiene cough syrup. :rolleyes:
 
i think we r looking @ to small a sample to really tell how makers r doing. And the makers that have posted r more connected because of their presence on the forums and stuff, so they have more exposure. I just think this isnt a true indicator of the market as a whole.
 
severedthumbs said:
i think we r looking @ to small a sample to really tell how makers r doing. And the makers that have posted r more connected because of their presence on the forums and stuff, so they have more exposure. I just think this isnt a true indicator of the market as a whole.
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Very good point.
 
For me there's a sense of satisfaction buying direct from the maker and knowing the person who made the knife and did all the work will get the lions share of the payment.

In these uncertain economic times it's like shopping at your locally owned businesses and making an effort to support the people who make this Country Great.


Mitch
 
I think personal relationships as well as being able to work with a person vs a machine on a phone line is a big part of it. So much anymore people are seen as nothing more than a number by anyone from their doctor or dentist in the multi level primary care type facility they are forced to go to for health care to taking a product back for a return or making a warranty call on the phone about something they bought and any big or even many small production companies contribute to this both in this industry of knives and elsewhere.

In the future (probably more immediate than most expect) I suspect that local businesses owned by mom and pop will be the type that do well and that the 'big businesses' like we see now all over in the way of these bigger chains doing poorly will drop off like flies due to changes economically. Knife makers fall into that 'local' or individual one on one type business and people will continue to support that. I think in many ways they are more inclined to support what they can get close to but when you stop to think about it the times could force them to because the other places they used to go are getting fewer and farer between. I don't know about you guys but things have picked up for me since this economic downturn. I see empty office space, and stores closed with the gates down in the mall here unlike before so its quite a contrast, at least in my mind.

STR
 
severedthumbs said:
i think we r looking @ to small a sample to really tell how makers r doing. And the makers that have posted r more connected because of their presence on the forums and stuff, so they have more exposure. I just think this isnt a true indicator of the market as a whole.
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I think also that makers who are doing well are more likely to post that they are doing well, while makers who may be struggling might feel more reservation about posting their slump in orders and sales.
 
I think that doing well is subjective. A part timer maker who has a job and only makes 50 knives a year and a 2 year back log may be doing well by his standards. A full time maker who needs to make 200 knives a year and tries to maintain a 4-6 month backlog may be struggling a little to find customers for those knives.
I am holding my own and have quite a few orders, but I also have had a lot of cancellations due to the economy. Those that think they have a huge back log need only to get on the phone and tell people that their order is just about done.
It can be humbling to say the least.
BB
 
I don't believe knifemakers in general are doing so well.

The upper tier are doing well for the reason you mentioned and a couple others.
The "Currently Hot" makers who are on an upward curve are probably doing OK as well.
And the hobbyist maker who sells some pieces, however does it more for enjoyment rather than income is probably doing better than most. ;) :)

However the rest (hundreds? thousands?) are most likely struggling. :(
 
Kevin Jones said:
I don't believe knifemakers in general are doing so well.

The upper tier are doing well for the reason you mentioned and a couple others.
The "Currently Hot" makers who are on an upward curve are probably doing OK as well.
And the hobbyist maker who sells some pieces, however does it more for enjoyment rather than income is probably doing better than most. ;) :)

However the rest (hundreds? thousands?) are most likely struggling. :(
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I agree KJ.:thumbup:
 
Kevin Jones said:
However the rest (hundreds? thousands?) are most likely struggling. :(
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I resemble that quote. Times are tuff for everyone now-a-days. The average Joe who buys average customs probably has a lot less disposable income now.

The average maker who sells to the average Joe certainly has less. (That would be me)

I have been fortunate in that I sell everything I make fairly quickly (orders excluded), however, in the last few months, my "available" knives are not moving at the pace they once did.

That tells me that either I am making stuff that is not interesting, OR, that times are tight. It could be a combination of both I guess. I would like to think that it is just the economy.

Robert
 
Robert I just think you need to hire a professional hand model to hold your lovely knives instead of a crusty knifemaking hand :p
 
Bobby Branton said:
I think that doing well is subjective. A part timer maker who has a job and only makes 50 knives a year and a 2 year back log may be doing well by his standards. A full time maker who needs to make 200 knives a year and tries to maintain a 4-6 month backlog may be struggling a little to find customers for those knives.
I am holding my own and have quite a few orders, but I also have had a lot of cancellations due to the economy. Those that think they have a huge back log need only to get on the phone and tell people that their order is just about done.
It can be humbling to say the least.
BB
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I fall into the part time maker category to a tee. And as you rightly say, by my standards I'm doing well. Most of what I make are working knives, and my main surprise is that so many people are still willing to pay £80 - £150 for a handmade using knife, when an Opinel is available for £6.
I would love to make a sole living out of knife making, but I'm realistic enough to know that it will never happen.
My point on the other thread was more to do with people still buying handmade knives, rather than me sitting on a pile of bank notes laughing!
I'm staring at a bank statement crying like everyone else:(

Ian
 
I don't think most or all makers are doing that great right now. I was at the ECCKS on Friday and although I'm sure most of the bigger names will sell out by tommorrow, I didn't see the sort of frenzied activity that I have in years past, as of 2:30 on Friday, the following makers had knives on their tables Frank Centofante, W.D. Pease, Warren Osborne, Joe Kious, Steven Olezewski, Des Horn, Joel Chamblin, Bill Ruple and the list goes on...:eek:

No, I don't think most makers are doing super well these days...:(

Many makers and engravers who have had a table at that show in the past were not there either, and they are big names.
 
marcangel said:
I don't think most or all makers are doing that great right now. I was at the ECCKS on Friday and although I'm sure most of the bigger names will sell out by tommorrow, I didn't see the sort of frenzied activity that I have in years past, as of 2:30 on Friday, the following makers had knives on their tables Frank Centofante, W.D. Pease, Warren Osborne, Joe Kious, Steven Olezewski, Des Horn, Joel Chamblin, Bill Ruple and the list goes on...:eek:

No, I don't think most makers are doing super well these days...:(

Many makers and engravers who have had a table at that show in the past were not there either, and they are big names.
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Thanks for the report.
Did it seem like collector/general attendance was down as well or folks just were buying?
 
I would imagine I'm somewhere on the ladder. I have never found this time of year to be busy for me but I am actually working on an order. Something I normally don't do. I add several of my knives every year to the worlds largest Raymond Richard Knife Collection. I'm thinking about adding an extra room just for that. :D Fortunately I've got another couple months till I start getting my SS payments. Something I didn't think I would live to see.
 
I originally posted because I was curious about why people thought certain makers or other makers thought they were doing well or not. I'm sure I'm old enough to know better to post stuff drunk on codeine syrup. I guess not :(

I know as a part timer, I don't rely on knife sales to pay ALL my bills but honestly I wouldn't have had lights and food for the last several months if it wasn't for knife sales due to the cutbacks at the plant.

I can't wait until we're through this period and we can all get back to not worrying. I hope none of my fellow makers thought I was gloating or anything about my orders. I know fully well they can dry up.
 
I always attend that show with my Associate Guild membership card in hand. Usually, it's hard to get around by 12:30 and impossible once the throngs come in at 1PM. That certainly was not the case this year. So unfortunately, yeah buying is down, even on the VERY high end.
 
Bobby Branton said:
I think that doing well is subjective. A part timer maker who has a job and only makes 50 knives a year and a 2 year back log may be doing well by his standards. A full time maker who needs to make 200 knives a year and tries to maintain a 4-6 month backlog may be struggling a little to find customers for those knives.
I am holding my own and have quite a few orders, but I also have had a lot of cancellations due to the economy. Those that think they have a huge back log need only to get on the phone and tell people that their order is just about done.
It can be humbling to say the least.
BB
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Excellent post Bobby.
 
I wish the knifemaking world the best, and I certainly hope all talented makers make it through.

With this said, it's way too early in this to assess the situation. There is a valid argument to be made that we are at the very beginning of the crisis, and that it's going to get (much) worse before it gets any better.
 
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