What are the current economics of exhibiting at Blade Show?

navman said:
Several years ago, I watched a gentleman handling a beautifully made piece at a table...and then dropped it. Instant trauma.

I will say, one of the best deals around is if a maker you know is willing to display a few pieces for you at their table.
Click to expand...
I have no idea if it's actually enforced but I do know the folks that put on Blade Show say there is to be absolutely no selling of other peoples stuff. They say if you're caught then you are banned. 🤷‍♂️
 
Contender Machine said:
I have no idea if it's actually enforced but I do know the folks that put on Blade Show say there is to be absolutely no selling of other peoples stuff. They say if you're caught then you are banned. 🤷‍♂️
Click to expand...
It's like Brown Bagging...it's not enforced. Difference being, with Brown Bagging someone is selling on the floor from a backpack or whatever. An exhibitor with a paid table/booth can sell whatever they want. Completely unenforceable...and I do not think the BLADE show reps should have a say.
 
I've been doing this a fairly long time. Here is one piece of advice "You don't do shows to sell knives."
Shows are advertising, if you sell enough to break even it's a plus. You will meet prospective clients from all over the world.
You think Grace had to come to Atlanta to sell here amazing scissors.
But she is there, along with all the other amazing craftsman who wish to meet their clients in person.
 
navman said:
It's like Brown Bagging...it's not enforced. Difference being, with Brown Bagging someone is selling on the floor from a backpack or whatever. An exhibitor with a paid table/booth can sell whatever they want. Completely unenforceable...and I do not think the BLADE show reps should have a say.
Click to expand...
This could be right. I just remember reading something in an email from them, to exhibitors, that sharing tables and selling under a name that wasn't registered with the table was against the rules.

But like you said I doubt it's enforced at all.

Edit: I found what I was thinking about in the actual contract:

"Subleasing booths or tables is forbidden. SHARING A BOOTH OR TABLE WITH ANOTHER COMPANY IS EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED. The distribution of samples, literature, or other materials for non-exhibiting Company without a Show Contract is expressly prohibited."

I suppose it's a liability thing for them.
 
Last edited:
I just paid my 2026 table fee, it was $625. I look at Blade as a promo opportunity. I've met multiple customers that continue to purchase from me year after year. Not only did I sell knives at Blade but have had people contact me since wanting to order.
 
Contender Machine said:
This could be right. I just remember reading something in an email from them, to exhibitors, that sharing tables and selling under a name that wasn't registered with the table was against the rules.
Click to expand...
But what if you set up a group?
Like a few overseas makers pooled money to send one person to exhibit their work. One company representing multiple people. For example, there's Tharwa forge near here that have a bunch of smiths working there, what if they got a table?

As for the question of sharp knives; i think that caused insurance problems with a local show. They were worried about hunting knives and the like being loosely displayed
Although given the USA's general weapon laws i would be more worried about the general public over there
 
Alex Topfer said:
But what if you set up a group?
Like a few overseas makers pooled money to send one person to exhibit their work. One company representing multiple people. For example, there's Tharwa forge near here that have a bunch of smiths working there, what if they got a table?
Click to expand...
I think that would be legitimate. As long as the person selling was the "dealer" I don't think there would be anything wrong with it. The Blade Show people seem to be really accommodating so just talking with them to clear anything up would be the way to go about it.

Maybe we need to start a Bladeforums members table.
 
It's surprising how often the answer is: have a chat with everyone involved and be open about what you're doing 😅
 
Alex Topfer said:
But what if you set up a group?
Like a few overseas makers pooled money to send one person to exhibit their work. One company representing multiple people. For example, there's Tharwa forge near here that have a bunch of smiths working there, what if they got a table?

As for the question of sharp knives; i think that caused insurance problems with a local show. They were worried about hunting knives and the like being loosely displayed
Although given the USA's general weapon laws i would be more worried about the general public over there
Click to expand...
It's been tried and unless you are already a very well known sought after maker.......it's a failure.

No-one is motivated to sell your knife, no-one is motivated to promote your work and name, and no-one is motivated to even look after your knives.

You need your own representation. That might not be you (the maker) but it must be someone dedicated to promoting just you........
 
In the past The Green forum has had a table there. Usually members would volunteer for time slots to man the table.
 
I know the Arno Bernard booth was actually an importer that sells their knives. One of the Bernard brothers was at the booth but you actually bought through the dealer.
I think as long as you were clear about being a dealer up front it wouldn’t be an issue based on several of the tables I saw.
 
It's not really an issue anyway. I had a few knives at Les's booth, (which he shares with Brock), in the past. Once the table is paid for...show organizers do not care.
 
I shared a table with another exhibitor before. We both were there and worked our combined inventories. This allowed time to see the show and do business with suppliers. We both made enough to cover our costs, but attending the show was the real goal, profit or not.

I personally hate backpackers who go around and offer to sell or trade knives at shows. They are basically stealing from the promotors and the exhibitors who paid for the show. How long before you were thrown out or the police were called would you last at Dick's Sporting Goods if you came in with a backpack of knives and offered them to folks shopping in the knife section????
 
Yeah, there's a huge difference between selling out of a backpack via an attendee wristband and splitting a table with someone on an Exhibitor pass. I had a small section of the Latama table and it worked out great for me, definitely planning to continue exhibiting😊
 
Never been to Blade but we do quite a few little shows in the cowboy world, ropings, cuttings, rodeos, horse shows, etc. Sometimes a full blown booth, sometimes just a lil table. Heck we’ve sold off the tailgate of the truck. As many have mentioned its not the sales at the show, its the contacts made. Time and time again, within a couple of weeks we’ve sold more from contacts made at a show then we did at the show.
 
Last edited:
It ends up costing a lot. I never had luck selling anything at Blade Shows, probably because the stuff I brought was too weird. It's fun to show off the blades and see people's reactions though.

What I like best is meeting people and hobnobbing, which is is always fun and worth it. So from now on the plan is to just bring a sword for show & tell and hobnob around instead of tending an expensive table.

It's also fun when someone you've relentlessly trolled in Whine & Cheese shows up at your table! XD
 
This was my 4th year as a vendor. Every year I prioritize meeting with dealers and being available to talk to and thank customers that have bought knives from me and stop by at the show, my first year I had 14 knives and met with 3 new dealers, each took a few knives off the table and either put in a order on the spot or reached out within a few weeks and placed and order. I’ve made an effort every year to check in with those dealers and relationships I started and build new relationships. Second year had around 70 knives and sold half at the show then left the other half with one of the dealers I connected with the first year that was local to the area. Third year had 85 knives and sold out by end of Saturday as well as meeting with 2 new dealers. This year I only had 59 knives with me, was dealing with an oven being down and sprained wrist while grinding all of my knives. I only brought 1 knife home and it was a fairly high end piece that I didn’t expect to sell but brought as a conversation starter. Each year I’ve had between 30-50% of my sales from retail customers and the remaining sales from dealers. It’s been a show that has really grown my business due to connections made directly at the show that I may not have made otherwise. Then on top of that you get the opportunity to connect with material suppliers and other makers as well as connecting with customers, I get quite a few repeat customers each year that add to their set of knives and it gives me an opportunity each year to thank them and talk to them in person. I’d highly recommend any maker that wants to pursue knifemaking as a business should have a table to display their work and try to make connections at the show. Making friends at the show and asking for advice on things like pricing, or what to bring, or who to talk to also makes a big difference. I connected two makers I’m close friends with this year to 2 of the dealers I work with personally and both ended up selling several knives and making a new connection. I’ve seen both kitchen and edc knives do well, I usually have around 70% kitchen knives on my table. The vendors I see that don’t do well or complain about the show are often not engaging with anyone, obviously there’s always the chance of a bad year but when you see someone sitting at their table head down glued to their phone for the entire show it definitely doesn’t help your chances. Having variety on your table definitely helps as well as trying to be realistic and reasonable with your pricing.
 
With Wilmont and a couple others not there this year, my Alcohol consumption dropped significantly.
 
navman said:
With Wilmont and a couple others not there this year, my Alcohol consumption dropped significantly.
Click to expand...
You got to flag me down in the pit next year. I'll make sure you don't have a dry cup! :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top