What are YOU doing to bring in new collectors?

[Bobby Branton]

I have been somewhat involved in the debates going on regarding the different organizations.
What are YOU doing as a maker or collector to bring in new blood to the collecting world. Some people seem to think that the collecting world revolves around the internet. I know for a fact that it does not. After my brain surgery earlier this year, I took a one page calendar with a pic of one of my knives and web site info on it and left them with three different Doctors during my follow up visit. One was the Radiology Dr. who found the tumor and the other was my Neurosurgeon.
A week later the Radiology Dr. called and said that he comes by my road once a week and wanted to stop in and look at my knives. He placed an order that day. Two weeks later my Neurosurgeon called and left a message on my voice mail and clearly stated that he wanted to speak with me and it did not involve my health
He stopped in a few days later and immediately purchased two knives totaling approx $1,500.00 and place an order for $2000.00 more. He was blown away that people made hand made knives.
Once back in 2001 I was able to teach Army Rangers and their families how to throw knives at the Best Ranger competition. I was able to expose a lot of soldiers and their families to the world of custom knives.
I've given knife throwing and safe knife handling lessons to countless boy scouts and even was invited to speak to a class at a local high school.
You may not realize it, but a lot of young men and women turn 18 years old every day. We need to seek these people out out and educate them about knives. I grew up around knives by working in my Uncles slaughter house.
The generation of young people that are being raised today are taught to fear knives. We need to get out and somehow find these people and educate them about knives. I am open to suggestions for more things to do to bring in new collectors. What are YOU doing?? I want to know.
Bobby

P.S.
I also have been a seminar speaker at Blade for 13 years and have been in the local newspaper, magazines and television.

 

[JParanee]

Bobby I know you do alot for the knife world and for that I thank you.

The biggest thing I do is carry custom knives and use them in front of people

I explain the merits of good steel and heat treat

If they seem interested I am always willing to talk

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P.S. Bobby I have been trying to get in touch with you about this knife it is #9 what can you tell me about it

Sorry to derail your thread but a pic of some of your work always adds interest

 

[T.K.C.]

I passed out the CKCA calendar to some non-knife people. When I have people over our house, I show them my knives. For instance, this past Christmas my sisters and boyfriend were here. I used my pocket knife for a variety of things while they were here. They got very interested in my knives. I also gave them one of the calendars. They really aren't knife folks, but my knives & the calendar piqued their interest. I also give knives to people too. I do whatever I can. I talk knives to anyone who will listen to me.

 

[Hmathews]

Has anybody been to a Dr's office or dentist's office and had to sit there and the only magazine to read during the wait was something like Family Circle or Southern Living. Why not take a Blade Magazine in with you and leave it when your name is called. Or better yet take several. Doesn't matter how old they are. A doctor’s office I was in on Wednesday had a Popular Science from 2004. How many people do you think have read that magazine?

When the High School kid comes around selling magazine subscriptions buy one for the local library, but buy them Knives Illustrated, or Blade.

Donate a knife to the local chamber for their "whatever" fundraiser or to present to a visiting VIP. They love them. I took one that we had donated to the Chamber office and got three orders from the ladies there for Christmas presents.

School fundraisers are also a very good way to spread the word. Put some business cards next to the knife if it is a silent auction and you will be surprised at the comments you receive.

 

[Lorien]

-I have the CKCA calendar up in my bike shop which I explain to people who are interested
-there is a little display case with factory folders in my shop also which generates interest
-my webstore, bladeworks.ca, is oriented toward folks who are generally looking for outdoors knives, and I'm working toward populating the store with custom knives as I can afford them, and hope that it will create interest in custom knives
-my daughter is getting into Beavers, and I hope it will be a positive venue for exposing knife saavy folk to custom made knives

It's only just little stuff, but it's all good stuff nonetheless.

This is a great thread, Bobby. Very positive:thumbup:

 

[Hmathews]

my daughter is getting into Beavers, and I hope it will be a positive venue for exposing knife saavy folk to custom made knives

Lorien I wish you would expand on this a little. We have beavers and they are one of the most destructive animals around. Is she trapping them, watching, studying or what?

 

[nifegrinder]

I married a supportive woman and together we've had 6 kids and they tell everyone they meet about what I do for a living.

 

[John M Cohea]

Good topic Bobby. It will be interesting to hear what folks do to promote our world. As for me, I show my work to anyone that is willing to take a look, and will talk custom knives with anyone that will listen.
At the begining of the year I told the leader of my son's Boy Scout troop what I do and offered to put on a bladesmithing/knifemaking demo for the troop. The troop leader is a woman, and the only response I got from her was a rather strange look, so I did'nt push the issue.
I will take on anyone that wants to get their hands dirty and teach them anything I know about knife and or sheathmaking at no cost to them, other than a little time.
As far as bringing in new collectors, I try to update my website as often as possible, pass out as many business cards as I can, and post on as many forums as I can keep up with, having a link to my website in the sig line at the bottom of each post.

 

[Lorien]

hey Harry, around 20 years ago I think, Boyscouts became co-ed. I left Scouts when I was 12, before the change to co-ed.

When I became aware of a 250 acre Scouts Canada camp just 10 minutes up the road, I kept my ear to the ground for the opportunity to introduce my daughter to that amazing organization which provided me with so much as a young man. I had forgotten about the co-ed change and was thinking dancing or swimming or whatever; some kind of communal activity for the little nipper to take part in. But I love being in the outdoors as does my wife and daughter, and during Camp Barnard's open house last week my wife and I shared the epiphany that we had found our niche as a family in an organization we can all take part in. Activity is now taken care of, in fact, I think there's an overnighter this month.

The first tier in Scouts Canada is Beavers. I understand that would be Eagle Scouts in the US? (obviously I will have a lot to learn as I become a leader!).

Long answer to your question, but I guess you could say the US has its eagles, whilst Canada has its beavers. This kind is not usually as destructive, but hopefully as industrious as their namesake

ps. maybe the camp would be interested in having a hammrin:thumbup:

 

[Jos]

What are YOU doing to bring in new collectors?

- I tell people about my collection
- I show pics of my nicest knives to "unbelievers"
- I give knives & multitools as presents to people I like

Not sure if those actions are going to create new collectors, but at least it will help some people from their fear of knives!

Kind regards,

Jos

 

[John T Wylie Jr]

Great thread Bobby..

A couple co-workers have sons who will become Eagle Scout this year , so I decided to give them with a 3 1/4 blades utility type fixed blade as a reward to celebrate their achievement. I am in the process of finding other scout leaders in the Valley who have young men who are achieving the rank as well.

I take my older knife mags to work and make sure to always have one custom on me , even if it is just one I made.

I always have some knifemaker's shirt on as advertisement , and it has started many conversations with folks who never knew about custom or high end knives.

 

[ddd]

I do high quality books on Modern Custom Knives and the people
behind them, both knifemakers and collectors, to document this art form
as it deserves AND to attract new collectors.

The feedback I received from many dealers and Knife Show organizers
indicates that a great number new collectors have discovered custom knives
and began collecting this art form because of these books.

My 7th book, "The World of Art Knives" goes to print in December 2009.
This makes 7 books in 7 years.....

Hopefully, this is only the beginning....

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

 

[r connally]

Great thread, thanks Bobby! Hopefully this becomes an area to share "best practices" for other members of our community to adopt.

as others have stated...show my collection to visitors, talk about my passion and follow up with some level of detail with those who express interest.

What else have I done...

I carry an Ipod Touch (larger screen) with pictures of my collection. When folks look at me sideways because they can't appreciate my passion I show them pictures. They are indeed worth a thousand words. A Hanson folder or artifact knife, our Olszewski Eagle knife, or anything with black or yellow lip pearl gets comments like "that's beautiful!". Start talking Mammoth/ancient Ivory, the forging process, mosaic damascus, heat treating and some folks get really interested real fast. All appreciate that it's deeper than they initially thought.

A close friend's brother became a police officer recently. His fellow officers all like neck knives. He had a factory necker. I gave him a Wally Hayes blade as a gift, boy did that create a buzz in the unit!!! Cost me a few "Benjamins" but the young man is as proud as can be to own that knife.

Also, gave him websites for makers and suggested that strong folders and rescue knives are something they all might want to consider. I'm hoping that buzz continues to spread and translates into collecting customs.

 

[John M Cohea]

That's one thing I forgot to mention , thanks for reminding me Rob. I also have a lot of pictures of my work on my Ipod Classic, and I use it as a compact digital portfolio of sorts. And although it may be a little quirky, I also have a hawk and bowie knife I made a few years back tattooed on my left forearm!

 

[JParanee]

Just talked to Bobby and let me say what a gentlemen and a true credit to the knife world he is.

Thanks Bobby

 

[Bobby Branton]

Just talked to Bobby and let me say what a gentlemen and a true credit to the knife world he is.

Thanks Bobby

Thanks Joe, Nice talking to you as well. Looking forward to seeing you in Atlanta next year. Keep it coming guys. I've picked up some good tips so far.
BB

 

[Hmathews]

Thanks Lorien. That cleared it up and is a great move on your family's part. Eagle Scout is the highest rank you can achieve in the US. Scouts usually start as a Cub Scout. Very few make it to Eagle. My nephew made Eagle Scout a couple of years ago and I made him a letter opener with the most fantastic carved eagle head grip I have ever seen. I wish I had made it, but I didn't. Heck I kind of wish I’d kept it, but giving it to him is what made it special to me. I did take a ton of pictures of it and will give carving one a shot one day.

Any way, back on topic. I was asked to present him with the letter opener during the ceremony in a packed church and explain what it was. I also carried it during the reception and never got to the refreshments from all the conversations with people that were interested in the knife. The people there pretty much had no clue the world of custom knives existed. They do now and while I wish I could say that tons of orders poured in following the even they didn't. We did pick up a few, but everybody there got exposed to the world of custom knife making. That was not the intent at all, but it was the result.

 

[Lorien]

^oops! Like I said I have a lot to learn about Scouts, even though I was in that organization for 5 or 6 years.

I guess that anybody who joins the CKCA is doing a small part in bringing more interest to custom knives from the general public. Like Harry said, the fascination with the edge is a latent fascination in many North American human beings.

I hope nobody minds, but I've cutnpasted the CKCA's missionsngoals;

Mission Statement:

The purpose of which is to recognize and promote the artistic significance of handmade
knives in the 21st century, to advance their collection and conservation, and to support the
craft and creative expression of the individuals who design and make them.

Goals:

• To increase awareness and acceptance of custom knives and the collecting of such as
a respected and appreciated art form.

• To create a worldwide united and organized group of custom knife collectors, makers
and dealers to assist in getting corporate, media and art community support for the
betterment of the industry.

• To seek out and interact with related groups and organizations in attempt to create new
interest and to help in recruiting new custom knife collectors.

• To educate and mentor new custom knife collectors and makers.

• To form a network of custom knife makers and collectors to promote the industry and
support one another.

• To create ways in which for custom knife collectors to better market and connect with
other collectors in regard to buying/selling/trading their knives on the secondary market.

• To create more open dialog between customs collectors and makers in regard to
education, knife design, knife construction and sound business practices.

• To represent members and the custom knife community’s interest regarding issues and
political policy which could have a negative impact on knife owner rights and the custom
knife industry as we know it today.

• To create a custom knifemaker data base to store maker’s pertinent information such
as contact information, address, products offered, price range, certifications and maker
mark/stamp history.

• To create general minimum quality standards for custom for custom knives and best
business practices for use as guidelines for custom knife makers, dealers and collectors.

• To initiate discounts for the CKCA membership on materials & services (currently have
discount program with Collectibles Insurance Services, Sharp by Coop and Chuck Ward
photographers).

 

[sheathmaker]

Thanks Joe, Nice talking to you as well. Looking forward to seeing you in Atlanta next year. Keep it coming guys. I've picked up some good tips so far.
BB

Bobby, it's great you talked to Joe, and I bet you even told him all about old number nine pictured above........Now how about telling us!!! (even in another thread to keep from derailing this one) Thanks

Paul

 

[Charlie Mike]

I show my friends what I can do to a knife. I also use my myspace account and youtube (FTWCM) account to spread good knives to the "civilians".