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What would attract you to a knife show?
- Thread starter IamMatt
- Start date
- Joined
- May 9, 2000
- Messages
- 29,205
The first thing that would attract me to a knife show is proximity. If it is close by I will go even if there are not many makers. If the show is far away there has to be a lot of big name makers for me to want to take it in. I enjoy cutting competitions, knifemaking demonstrations, knife and/or tomahawk throwing competitions and seminars by experts on the history of knives such as bowies, khukris, different types of slipjoints, etc., are always of interest to me.
In my opinion all but the largest shows should be two day affairs; Saturday and Sunday. That means less time that people have to take of work and lower hotel and food costs. It also means that if you can't get there until Saturday that there is a chance that the big name makers will still have knives when you get to their tables.
In my opinion all but the largest shows should be two day affairs; Saturday and Sunday. That means less time that people have to take of work and lower hotel and food costs. It also means that if you can't get there until Saturday that there is a chance that the big name makers will still have knives when you get to their tables.
I live in a suburb of Atlanta and once went to the Blade Show. I was very disappointed because only a handful of the dealers and makers displayed the prices of their knives. I figured if I had to ask the price of a knife, it would be something I couldn't afford.
Putting price tags on knives would lure me back to the Blade Show - at least once.
Putting price tags on knives would lure me back to the Blade Show - at least once.
Location, location, location!
I am usually pretty busy between being a full time student and working to pay the bills, ok the bills are for knives
. Anyway there are only really two major shows iny NYC area that I know about, so I try to get to them when possible. Travelling further is usually a pain, and would cost more money than it is worth to me.
I am usually pretty busy between being a full time student and working to pay the bills, ok the bills are for knives
. Anyway there are only really two major shows iny NYC area that I know about, so I try to get to them when possible. Travelling further is usually a pain, and would cost more money than it is worth to me.
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2001
- Messages
- 4,399
W.T. Beck said:
Wow! We have ANOTHER Bingo! By putting a price tag on ANY item - from condos to watches to knives - you immediately define your market. If I see a small, discrete price tag on a knife that catches my interest - and you, the maker are deep in conversation with three other collectors - I can tell immediately, without interrupting you, whether or not that knife is in my price range. If it is, I'll hang around or come back in a few minutes.
Makers, dealers - are you LISTENING?
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2001
- Messages
- 4,399
BTW, if you want to know how it's done properly, pay a visit to Neil Ostroff's "True North Knives" tables at the next big show.
Each knife is accompanied by a card that shows the maker's name, a complete description of the knife, and the price in U.S. and Canadian dollars.
And EVERYONE - from 8 to 80 - is encouraged by Neil to handle the knives.
That's how it's done, folks.
Each knife is accompanied by a card that shows the maker's name, a complete description of the knife, and the price in U.S. and Canadian dollars.
And EVERYONE - from 8 to 80 - is encouraged by Neil to handle the knives.
That's how it's done, folks.
- Joined
- Apr 19, 1999
- Messages
- 3,560
Not sure why people don't put a large price sticker on the table cloth in front of every knife, maybe they are shy or are fed up with people who compare the prices with Wal Mart. In any case the price should be there in case a serious knife person comes along and is too shy to pick up the knives and look at the sticker on the back. Another added touch is information on the knife materials used, this helps initiate conversation with the public.
What attracts people to a show, variety, presentation, promotion and friendly approachable vendors. Once you have convinced the people to attend the best way to get them to come back is to make them feel welcome and part of the show. For this the vendors have to be encouraged to get involved with the public, smile, chat and encourage questions.
What attracts people to a show, variety, presentation, promotion and friendly approachable vendors. Once you have convinced the people to attend the best way to get them to come back is to make them feel welcome and part of the show. For this the vendors have to be encouraged to get involved with the public, smile, chat and encourage questions.
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2003
- Messages
- 193
I only went to a knife show this year actually.
I quite enjoyed it. It was small, mainly a custom knife show. Had maybe 30 tables tops.
Awesome products though, bought some stabilized wood and had a few interesting discussions with knife makers.
I will be going again next year.
Anyway to answer the question, it obviously cannot be too far (this one was about 10 minutes walk from uni). Entrance fee shouldn't be too large (I'm a student, this cost me about 6 dollars which was fine with me). Most of all, they should have interesting things to show (custom knives, great stuff to see in real life and handle).
I quite enjoyed it. It was small, mainly a custom knife show. Had maybe 30 tables tops.
Awesome products though, bought some stabilized wood and had a few interesting discussions with knife makers.
I will be going again next year.
Anyway to answer the question, it obviously cannot be too far (this one was about 10 minutes walk from uni). Entrance fee shouldn't be too large (I'm a student, this cost me about 6 dollars which was fine with me). Most of all, they should have interesting things to show (custom knives, great stuff to see in real life and handle).