Something totally new

B

Burt Foster

Joined
Jul 1, 2003
Messages
270
Hello Gents,

I have an announcement to make. I have been busy as always with making knives, but I have spent the last several months working on something that will be ready go in the next two months.

Some of you have heard about this, but it's been largely under wraps until now. I am putting together a new web site that will be able to offer makers and collectors alike something totally new in the custom knife world. This site will give makers the opportunity to list and sell one-of-a-kind custom knives directly to the public in a professional, modern way.

Here are the basic features of the site:
1. The site is being professionally designed and will look and feel as good as the knives being sold. It will present custom knives in a way that will communicate to visitors the artistry involved.
2. The entire site will allow e-commerce, online purchasing of knives listed for sale.
3. Best of all for the makers, there are no percentages taken of the sale. There's a small flat listing fee, but the cost will be the same for a $500 knife and a $5000 knife.

The site is still under construction and is scheduled to go live sometime in the next several weeks. Here is the web address:

http://www.virtualknifeshow.com

If you are a maker and want to find out how you can be a part of the site, and have a presence there when it goes live, visit the web address above and and send me an email and I'll get you more detailed info.

If you are a collector and you want to make sure you are notified when the site goes live, visit the link and email us. We'll keep you informed the site develops and approaches launch date.

Thanks!
Burt
 
I'm pretty sure some custom knife dealers are going to be pissed, but what a great idea for growing the custom knife scene!
Great work Burt, and others if there are any...
:thumbup:
 
Burt,

This sounds like a great idea. I have allready sent an email.

Have you thought of possibly allowing collectors to sell their knives on the site or is it just makers who will sell?

Either way I'ts a great idea.

Jim Treacy
 
Great Idea and email sent. You just have to love what possibilities the internet has opened up for all of us...what an age we live in!
 
Have you thought of possibly allowing collectors to sell their knives on the site or is it just makers who will sell?
Click to expand...

That is in the works. This site is going to be totally different from what is normally out there. There are a lot of moving parts and a lot of custom programming that has to be done for it to all work behind the scenes. The site will start out only listing knives from makers directly. Call it phase one. Then as we grow, will be able to incorporate other things like collectors selling from their collection to the public.

I have plans for factory knives and knife related accessories, too. We just need to bite off what we can chew for now and then expand from there.....
 
I'm excited to see this develop.

I think you have something really great in the works my friend :) :thumbup::cool:
 
I was thinking that this might take the dealer out of the picture a bit. But, I could be wrong. There are advantages for makers going with a dealer to get their stuff out there. This system would allow makers to sell direct through a source which requires no consignment or dealer margin, though.

What do you think about it Les?
 
Hi Lorien,

Currently there are several ways a maker or collector can sell knives without a middle man.

Knife Forums

EBay

A collector can put up their own website like Jonathan Brand

Makers can put up their own web sites.

There is already a monthly internet show available for those who want to buy knives directly. This site has been around for several years.

Burt is too savvy a businessman to pay for this out of his pocket. Ultimately the end user will pay for this service...which is fair.

Anything that promotes custom knives is good for the industry.

Collectors pay makers for their expertise in making knives.

Collectors and makers pay dealers for their expertise in the selling and marketing of custom knives. This is done through consignment fees and dealer discounts.
 
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