Frank Hunter
Well-Known Member
Alright, Dogs - it's been a big couple of years and I've got the basics down. The product sells if I build it, at this point - so now it's time to ramp up for greater volume. I've got 1200 square feet to work in and some work on the bench that likely be getting myself and Black Wolf Armory published in the near future.
I'm going to be launching an ad at a few additional online sites and am shooting for one in print at Blade magazine as well. After, that, I suppose the question is are you typically contacted by knife dealers regarding your work once you attract some attention with ads or print, or do you initiate contact yourself?
I know what each of my standard models costs me to produce down to the penny, and have sufficient repetition building them that I also know how long each takes down to the minute range - I think I'm ready for whatever I can drum up. I have dealt with local stores and regional galleries in the 15-25% markup range but understand retail honestly can command closer to a 40 or 50 percent discount - which I believe that I can accommodate with the value I build into my work and taking volume discount of materials and consumables into account.
Have any of you successfully made the jump from a "on request and at galleries" career to a "get it at these leading knife sites" endeavor? I understand industry connection has a lot to do with it, and right now I'm a 1 man operation that has been self taught with a lot of forum support - any advice?
I'm going to be launching an ad at a few additional online sites and am shooting for one in print at Blade magazine as well. After, that, I suppose the question is are you typically contacted by knife dealers regarding your work once you attract some attention with ads or print, or do you initiate contact yourself?
I know what each of my standard models costs me to produce down to the penny, and have sufficient repetition building them that I also know how long each takes down to the minute range - I think I'm ready for whatever I can drum up. I have dealt with local stores and regional galleries in the 15-25% markup range but understand retail honestly can command closer to a 40 or 50 percent discount - which I believe that I can accommodate with the value I build into my work and taking volume discount of materials and consumables into account.
Have any of you successfully made the jump from a "on request and at galleries" career to a "get it at these leading knife sites" endeavor? I understand industry connection has a lot to do with it, and right now I'm a 1 man operation that has been self taught with a lot of forum support - any advice?