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  1. Les Robertson

    Selling Your Knives

    I hope those who need it the most find it useful.
  2. Les Robertson

    Selling Your Knives

    Hi Tracy, Since you asked me to address this thread I will. First, most of your information is accurate some is not. Dealers are not all created equal. There are only a couple of full-time custom knife dealers (note I said custom). Most dealers sell factory and custom. Nothing wrong with...
  3. Les Robertson

    Email marketing software?

    Constant Contact is the best mass emailing software available. Their biggest advantage is that their emails will get through 95% of the Spam filters. If you really utilize it to its max. You virtually target 1 individual, the type of knife they like and the time they are most likely to open...
  4. Les Robertson

    Blade Show 2011 Preview

    Hi Ed, Nice selection of knives. How about prices on them!
  5. Les Robertson

    Selling Knives

    Hi Justin, You are scaing the hell out of me!!! :D Man you sound like a business man talking. I would appreciate it if you would send me some photos of your work. I would like to see what you are making!
  6. Les Robertson

    Selling Knives

    hi Justin, What types of knives do you make? Materials? Price range? You seem to have taken advantage of what you have seen in the forums. Holland...I hope you are taking notes of what Justin is writing he is giving you some excellent advice. Justin, what do you see as the next step for...
  7. Les Robertson

    Selling Knives

    Hi Justin, Questions: Why do some maker's knives move in hours? Is it the maker or a collector selling the knife on the forums? How did the maker identify what the market wanted? Or did he have help identifying it? Only about 5% of any given internet forum buy custom knives (at best)...
  8. Les Robertson

    Selling Knives

    hi Holland, When Willie Sutton was asked "Why do you rob banks?" He replied "Cause that's where the money is!" So while Craigslist, Ebay, local stores, etc. Are good ideas....that is not where the money is. The key to sales is "providing a solution for someone's problem". The problem may...
  9. Les Robertson

    The finance aspect of this all!

    Hi Legion, Go back and re-read what I wrote. I said be careful about getting sucked into an eMBA course (especially one that doesn't offer a degree). A question for the PhD would be..."How does this program stack up against an MBA from Wharton" (Stanford's Business School). Wharton does...
  10. Les Robertson

    Market research

    Hi Legion, What marketing tools are you currently employing if any. Basic SEO perhaps? You show photos of the knives and other than the Japanese pieces you don't give prices or materials (or did I miss it?) What steels do you use to make your Damascus? You have a website, show your knives...
  11. Les Robertson

    The finance aspect of this all!

    Hi Leigon, Looks like some good basic info. Don't get too sucked into the whole eMBA thing. First, there is no degree issued (remember the M in MBA stands for Master's Degree). The courses are basic 200 and 300 level college courses...again not MBA level. MBA level courses are 500 to 700...
  12. Les Robertson

    frame handle fighter

    Nice looking knife Andrew.
  13. Les Robertson

    Small Business Classes

    Hi Les, Is that what you did? Sold your equipment to your corporation? I know each state is different. Hell the county I live in charges 7% sales tax and the state is only 6%. Pays to check with a CPA.
  14. Les Robertson

    Small Business Classes

    Hi Les, I was referring to Federal tax. But that is a good point about sales tax...you would have to check. The good news is that TX has no state tax so that would have no impact. When I sold my holdings to my corporation there were no sales tax.
  15. Les Robertson

    Small Business Classes

    Hi Dan, A CPA can explain all of that to you. There are huge advantages to actually making your knife making a business...not just in name only. Knife makers who utilize the "self-proprietorship" set up can lose thousands of $$$$ each year because they don't want to pay (and take the business...
  16. Les Robertson

    Knife sales trends?

    Hi Steve, I just saw this...what are you talking about?
  17. Les Robertson

    Small Business Classes

    Hi Dan, I agree with Bob a basic business class can do nothing but help. Regarding the grants, very difficult to get. The current administration is not "small business friendly"...unless you are hiring people. Veterans, the disabled and minorities will be looked at first. If you are a...
  18. Les Robertson

    Loan a knife to an unknown writer?

    Hi JDW, If he is a legit writer...he will have an editor or two that will vouch for him. The scam several years ago was the writer did the article and kept the knife. I came along to late to take part in this. LOL
  19. Les Robertson

    I'm not sure if I should be tickled or ticked-off.

    Hi Calvin, Excellent advise! Fortunately for most custom knife makers...most custom knife collectors buy what they like. It gets tougher when the collectors start to expect the knife to hold it's value!
  20. Les Robertson

    How to blow things up!

    Hi James, First, nice AC/DC reference! Very few endeavors are. That being said, to be able to do something you love for a profession, provide for your family and be able to spend time with people who ultimately become friends....ain't bad! :D
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