I got this one of the knife-list. It is a reply to an ongoing discussion on competition for the consumer dollar. I thought it made sense and wanted to pass it on.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don wrote,
>>>I am a full-time knifemaker, and for what it's worth, I don't feel
as
>>>though
I am in any sort of competitive arena at all; not with hobbyists,
part-timers, or other fill time makers. I make what I like to make, and
if
someone imitates me, I find that flattering rather than threatening.
I suppose that if I tried to make a living making nothing but
stag-handled
4" drop point hunters, or tantos, I might feel differently.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Well said!
I've been too busy to write much but had similar thoughts.... and to
add
some......................
I've never thought that I had any competition, except possibly myself.
At
shows we all have a type of competition for the dollars that come in
the
front door but when we lay out stuff that is different from the rest
all we
have to do is take care of business when the buyers reach our table. I
had
five knives at BLADE Show West, sold three of them. Those three knives
had
no competition at the show because they stood alone in their simplicity
and
utility. They are the same type of thing I've been making forever.
As I observe it, this is the way it works. At any show you can find
three
knives that are similar in size, shape, materials and workmanship. One
will
be $200. another will be $300. and the final one $400. I find that the
$200.
knife is usually made by a part time knifemaker who still has good
income
from a "real" job. He is probably taking too long to make the knife so
he
can't honestly charge for all his labor. The $300. knife is made by a
part
timer who has a start on getting the efficiency and business smarts to
get
the whole thing together. The $400. knife is probably made by a full
time
maker who is making a living off the product of his hands because he
has all
aspects of the business figured out. Some foolishly think the full time
makers charge more because of reputation or whatever, and in some cases
it
might be true.... most of the time they are charging as they do because
they
can't keep at it full time for less money.
Back to BLADE Show West. I saw too many makers sitting behind their
table
full of knives looking like they just ate a lemon..... Not greeting
folks
that came up, or handing them a knife and explaining the details of it.
Showing about as much excitement as watching grass grow. Then, it seems
they
make one knife and then make fourteen more that blend in with the first
one.
They took most of their knives home. I preach the value for beginners
to
make variety. That's because it works for me. I figure the start of
good
inventory for a show would be one miniature, one hunter, one utility,
one
tactical, one camp knife, one bowie and three folders all different.
After
that, start over on the list.
Most shows are not ever going to be what they once were for sales but
can
still be a fine way to get knives before the public and when done right
there is no reason why a maker shouldn't make his expenses. Even if you
don't
make expenses at every show, the advertising value might be worth the
dollars spent. I haven't advertised since 1973 and have kept busy full
time
by attend as many as five shows a year. That kept me with an active
customer
base with some who bought knives throughout the year. I write invoices
for
each knife I sell and keep an active mailing list of those who purchase
knives. They would get invitations to the show when we were in their
area. I
could mail out a list of knives left over from a show and would usually
sell
all of them within a week or two. Over all those years by actual
figures, I
spent 28% of my gross on show expense. I never put knives on
consignment
because I didn't want to pay someone 30% or more of the price of my
knives.
If I had run the figures on show expense sooner I might have considered
consignments as a viable way to sell stuff. At this stage of my life
I'd
rather stay home than travel to shows so I might be considering
consignments
if I can get any stuff ahead.
Wayne
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don wrote,
>>>I am a full-time knifemaker, and for what it's worth, I don't feel
as
>>>though
I am in any sort of competitive arena at all; not with hobbyists,
part-timers, or other fill time makers. I make what I like to make, and
if
someone imitates me, I find that flattering rather than threatening.
I suppose that if I tried to make a living making nothing but
stag-handled
4" drop point hunters, or tantos, I might feel differently.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Well said!
I've been too busy to write much but had similar thoughts.... and to
add
some......................
I've never thought that I had any competition, except possibly myself.
At
shows we all have a type of competition for the dollars that come in
the
front door but when we lay out stuff that is different from the rest
all we
have to do is take care of business when the buyers reach our table. I
had
five knives at BLADE Show West, sold three of them. Those three knives
had
no competition at the show because they stood alone in their simplicity
and
utility. They are the same type of thing I've been making forever.
As I observe it, this is the way it works. At any show you can find
three
knives that are similar in size, shape, materials and workmanship. One
will
be $200. another will be $300. and the final one $400. I find that the
$200.
knife is usually made by a part time knifemaker who still has good
income
from a "real" job. He is probably taking too long to make the knife so
he
can't honestly charge for all his labor. The $300. knife is made by a
part
timer who has a start on getting the efficiency and business smarts to
get
the whole thing together. The $400. knife is probably made by a full
time
maker who is making a living off the product of his hands because he
has all
aspects of the business figured out. Some foolishly think the full time
makers charge more because of reputation or whatever, and in some cases
it
might be true.... most of the time they are charging as they do because
they
can't keep at it full time for less money.
Back to BLADE Show West. I saw too many makers sitting behind their
table
full of knives looking like they just ate a lemon..... Not greeting
folks
that came up, or handing them a knife and explaining the details of it.
Showing about as much excitement as watching grass grow. Then, it seems
they
make one knife and then make fourteen more that blend in with the first
one.
They took most of their knives home. I preach the value for beginners
to
make variety. That's because it works for me. I figure the start of
good
inventory for a show would be one miniature, one hunter, one utility,
one
tactical, one camp knife, one bowie and three folders all different.
After
that, start over on the list.
Most shows are not ever going to be what they once were for sales but
can
still be a fine way to get knives before the public and when done right
there is no reason why a maker shouldn't make his expenses. Even if you
don't
make expenses at every show, the advertising value might be worth the
dollars spent. I haven't advertised since 1973 and have kept busy full
time
by attend as many as five shows a year. That kept me with an active
customer
base with some who bought knives throughout the year. I write invoices
for
each knife I sell and keep an active mailing list of those who purchase
knives. They would get invitations to the show when we were in their
area. I
could mail out a list of knives left over from a show and would usually
sell
all of them within a week or two. Over all those years by actual
figures, I
spent 28% of my gross on show expense. I never put knives on
consignment
because I didn't want to pay someone 30% or more of the price of my
knives.
If I had run the figures on show expense sooner I might have considered
consignments as a viable way to sell stuff. At this stage of my life
I'd
rather stay home than travel to shows so I might be considering
consignments
if I can get any stuff ahead.
Wayne
