Why many top names not at Blade?

Joss

Joss

Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
7,353
It's interesting to me how so many top names seem not to be going to be at Blade this year - or at least without a table. For example:
- Virgil England;
- Don Fogg (will be at the show, but no table);
- Pierre Reverdy;
- Tim Zowada;
- Etc...

Of course, there are many top makers who will be there, but it's still interesting to wonder what are the reasons why some find it not worthwhile. Some have personal reasons, and I suppose that 1 of the reasons is that they know that they can sell without being there, but still - that's also true for Moran, Fisk, Mayo, etc. So I wonder.

JD
 
Why do they go in the first place? Socializing with the knife knutts like me? Publicity to promote their product? I doubt Kit Carson goes to Atlanta to sell knives!

Depending on where you live, the expense of getting a table and setting up can be over whelming to some folks. To others it is a gold mine as they get the oppurtunity to sell knives to people whom they would otherwise never see or have the chance to stop in the aisle with chatter and have them look at their knives.
 
Attending shows is an expensive and time consuming proposition, some people would rather not lose the time in the shop if they are busy.

I am wondering if I made the right decision to go to Atlanta..It will take a full week out of my schedule to drive down and back as well as the three days for the show. I can't afford to lose that time from the shop.
 
I've never understood how famous knifemakers can spend tons of money in time and travel to go to these shows, and sell knives on their tables when they are 2 or 3 years behind on their customer orders! Why not take those knives on the table and give them to your customers who have been waiting forever? I'd be pissed if I was told so and so isn't accepting orders because he's so far behind, just to find out he's at a show somewhere selling a knife that should be mine to a guy who just walked in the door.
 
JP,

I think you are way off base. As Sid stated earlier, the show isn't just about selling knives. It's about a chance for makers to meet and share ideas with each other. It's a time for dealers and makers to touch base and form a partnership. It's the perfect time for makers to get feedback on new materials or designs from customers, dealers, and other makers.
Most makers I know don't make knives for shows instead of customer orders. These makers spend extra time at night and weekends to make these knives on top of the orders. If you think makers are tossing their customers to the side for show sales, you are sadly mistaken. Most of these makers would make much more money staying at home for those 3-4 days making knives for customers. The show is more of a break for them, and a chance to touch base with old friends and meet new friends.
Getting mad about a maker being at a show and selling knives, even without taking orders, is very stupid. Makers have to keep their name out there and stay in the public eye to be able to keep their backlog that high. Whether you like it or not, knifemaking IS a business, and these gentleman must do the necessary things to promote and keep their business on top.

JR
 
Very true, Jeremy, and well spoken.

It's amazing how many people still cannot accept the fact that knives made to take along to a show, and knives made to order for a customer are two entirely different animals.

Such a source of angst.

:rolleyes:
 
If someone's knives are on the covers of magazines and TOPs is making versions of their knives, they don't need any more exposure. Sorry.
 
Originally posted by PlaceKnives
If someone's knives are on the covers of magazines and TOPs is making versions of their knives, they don't need any more exposure. Sorry.
Click to expand...

I'm sure that if you look at magazine covers from a few years ago you can find some makers that have fallen out of the limelight and could use a little exposure. Attracting new customers, trying out new ideas, getting exposed to what's happening in the industry, etc, are all critical in any business -- you're either ripening or rotting I think.
 
PlaceKnives,

Get a reality check.

They may not need more exposure, but just like anyone else they need a vacation. For most of the people that travel to Blade (including a number of the makers) this is a vacation. Don't you go on vacation to do the things you love and be with people that like the same things you do?

They also may need to give their creative juices a chance to flow by making what they want occasionally (instead of what the customer wants). What do you expect them to do, keep every non-order knife they make?

Do you expect them to work on orders 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Just because they use their time-off making knives, takes nothing away from for those knives on order.

Also a lot of makers go to shows to promote the ABS and generally the love of custom knives. I suspect that neither Jerry Fisk or Bill Moran need to attend shows to sell their knives, but they are the spokesmen for the American Bladesmith Society. They are there to help promote this wonderful hobby!

I certainly enjoy hanging out with these guys. The fact that big-time makers are so friendly and are so willing to take time out of their busy schedule is one of the best things about this group!

Pam
 
I think that some makers just don't have the time to go to the shows. I don't how many big name makers have not gone to past shows, so I can't say how this year compares to others, but I would guess that every year quite a few don't make it.

There is no such thing as too much exposure. Shows give makers lots of opportunities, but the big one is getting to meet and talk to previous and current customers and getting the chance to converse with possible future customers. It is also a great time to get together with friends and kick back a little. That's what "the pit" is for; to head down after the show for a few drinks and laughs with friends old and new. I wish I were closer, I'd be there every year.

When makers give you a delivery date, they calculate making some knives for shows into that time period. They are not making these knives at the expense of meeting this delivery date. If they are not taking orders it is because they have become to far behind or just want to have creative control over the knives they make. I get a little disappointed when makers like Don Fogg or Dan Pfanenstiel tell me they are not taking orders, but I don't get pissed off. It is there business how they run their businesses.
 
J.P.

You are such a source of bitterness on this topic, have you had some bad experiences with this before. If so, please share.

As far as Trace getting exposure, that is great. Do you think he will get more collaboration offers from other companies by dropping off the map as far as shows and advertising? If he doesn't continue to keep his name out in the spotlight, those offers will stop coming in. Getting exposure and KEEPING exposure are two seperate issues.

You seem to be focusing on one issue here, exposure, when there were mutliple reasons given for attending shows. Exposure is only one of those. I think one of the greatest benefits of a maker attending a show is feedback. It gets knives into collector's hands to see if a new design or maybe a small design change will be useful and/or well accepted.

Last year at Blade, Les Robertson and Bob Neal had a semminar on the current trends of custom knives. These two gentleman are a mountain of information in the custom knife world. They covered various topics over the lecture. One of the topics I remember the most was exposure.

Les and Bob rattled off a list of several names of makers who were very popular and high sought after. They developed large backlogs and decided to stop advertising and going to shows. As a result, their names were not as highly circulated around the knife community any longer. Their secondary market died out and very few new customers were gained. Eventually, these men were basicly dead in the business because they didn't keep their name out there, or keep taking knives to shows to allow future customers to handle and appreciate the wares.

As I said earlier, exposure is very important for a full-time maker. Getting it is easier these days, especially with the growth of the internet role in knife collecting over rescent years. Keeping that exposure is what will make or break a maker. I think every makers should continue to seek collaborations, seek magazines articles, seek dealer partnership to help promote their wares, and seek feedback from various collectors on the ever changing world of knife designs and materials. The best place to seek all these on one place is at a show.

JR
 
Amen, Jeremy. Knifemakers need to keep at it.(exposure) VERY IMPORTANT
Randy
 
Wow, did I open a can of worms or what? I know a few custom makers who spent almost as much money as they made going to knife shows and had to stop doing it for that reason.

Personally speaking, if I had been waiting forever for a specific knife, or was told I could not get one and yet the maker was at that moment making one to sell to whoever at some show, I would not be happy. I'm not the only one who feels this way.

I do understand, that is life, and that is business. Business is business.
 
Another thing to consider is that full time makers seldom make one knife at a time but rather in batches, most of each batch goes to satisfy customer orders but the odd one goes into inventory for shows and such.

I try to make a few extra of each model that I get orders for because the time taken in often less per knife than when making one at a time of each model. This means that I will either have product in process, inventory in stock, or the customer will have to wait until I make up that model again. The upside is that the customer shares in the higher efficiency of a short run environment by getting a better price, the downside is if the customer missed a run cycle he will have to wait until that model comes up again. If the customer doesn't want to wait for the next run I lose an order. I would rather try to have some inventory in stock to avoid that order loss.

Why do I go to shows? I go to talk to people, get to know them and let them get to know me. I don't go to sell but it is hard to talk about my work without something to look at and talk about.

When I go to Atlanta I will take some kitchen knives, a couple of bowies, some liquidmetal knives, and some stellite models....exactly what? Couldn't say, I have been working 7 days a week taking care of customer orders so I haven't started on anything except the bowies and the kitchen knives yet.

Oh by the way I don't appear on the show list because I will be sharing a table with my good buddy Chris Christman unless a table comes free at the last minute.
 
The Blade show is one of the best to find suppliers. I normally pick up a years supply of mother of pearl, mastadon, desert ironwood, and other specialty stuff. I've tried buying it over the internet and telephone but there's nothing like picking thru a table full of stuff and finding just the right sizes and looks.

This, added to all the other things that have been mentioned, seem to be plenty of reasons for a maker to go to a big show, whether he is behind on orders or not.

The way I see it, since I'm going, I might as well work a lot of extra weekends and nights and bring a few knives to sell. The extra money will come in handy paying for all that handle material for those next year knives that are on order.
:D

Edited to add - I'll be at Table 3K or on the loading dock :)
 
I'm sure I am not the only one to place a multiple order with a single well know knifemaker. I have received one knife basically as fast as it could be boxed up, another in a couple of months and, a third almost a year later after the quantity required for heat treat was reached in addition to overall numbers for a less popular model.

It's a fact.

Even custom knives are often batched together. Batched because of special heat treat. Batched because of material used in construction. Batched because of the pattern being made.

Tell a maker you want a model "2" or, tell them you want a model "2" with stabilized Ironwood and S90V. Which one arrives first :confused:

We call them custom knives, and they are. But, most of us aren't comissioning a truly unique one of a kind piece.
 
Jeremy, AKO Knife Lady,

You hit each and every nail right on the head, well said:)

Joss,

I would bet that some makers that are not on the list MAY be at the factory booths that they have collaborations with.
 
I refuse to consider knife making a business, to me it is a way of life, the knife shows are family reunions, time shared with cleints, makers and suppliers and those who put out the magazines. Many have pearls of wisdome to explain what happens, that is OK that is their part in the world of knives. That is what it is for, we are all here because we want to be. Live it, breathe it, sleep, dream and love it.
 
Maybe I look at things a little backwards. I could care less about who isn't going to be there. I care about who is. There will be those that can't make it and hopfully I will be able to see them at other shows. I will miss them.
But to me it will be three days of enjoying the company of those that can go. There are more makers there than I can talk to, but I will try to say hello to everyone of them.
Kit, save me a spot on the loading dock.
 
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