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The Newbies Arena Are you new to knife making? Here is all the help you will need.

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  #1  
Old 08-10-2012, 10:56 AM
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J.Lec J.Lec is offline
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first knife show

Hey guys. I am going to be setting up at my first knife show (metal art show) at the end of september. What advice would you give to someone who has never done a show before? other than my knives and buisness cards what should I have on my table? should I get dressed up or just wear nice street clothes? suggestions for displaying my knives on the tabe, realy any tips and pointers or things to avoid would be greatly appreciated


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Old 08-10-2012, 12:02 PM
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Ray Rogers Ray Rogers is offline
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Put some bandaids on the table both as a warning about handling sharp things and because somebody will need one. Hang a price tag on each knife with a description of the knife - don't make people guess. If they stick around to talk about it you'll know the price didn't scare them....


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Old 08-10-2012, 01:35 PM
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I will deffinately have bandaids with me, but have had a number of folks tell me that it's cheesy to put them out on the table, like they dont already know that knives are sharp.


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Old 08-10-2012, 02:22 PM
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Ray Rogers Ray Rogers is offline
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I'm sure some do know but I've seen an idiot pick a knife up off a table and immediately start draw the edge across his tongue to see if it was sharp while a chorus of "Noooo!" rose up from everyone else standing around the table. Obviously, he wasn't so sure the blade was sharp but fortunately he froze when everyone else hollered. I'd rather be cheesy than sued because of somebody's weekend warrior idea of how to test a blade's edge ...


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Old 08-10-2012, 02:42 PM
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I will bring the bandaids but place signs stating the knives are sharp handle at own risk....


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Old 08-10-2012, 03:18 PM
Matt Bufford Matt Bufford is offline
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I want to set out some "hello kitty" or "barbie" ones on the table!


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Old 08-10-2012, 03:51 PM
metal99 metal99 is offline
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I want to set out some "hello kitty" or "barbie" ones on the table!
Haha ya man those are my favorite kinds!
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Old 08-11-2012, 09:05 AM
Jacktheknife Jacktheknife is offline
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L.Lec,


I have two friends who are good salesmen. One sells knife sharpening stuff up in New York and the other is the manager of the Aggie feed store in Dallas, born salesmen both.
Ethan up in New York says he only puts two or three knives on the table at one time, sometimes only one and the reason is psychological; like they are the only remaining knives of that type. When he sells one he reaches under the table and gets another. This also helps keep the knives clean, makes it faster and easier for people to pick out the one they want, and it is easier to keep an eye on all your knives.
Randy says that when someone comes in to buy chickens and finds one they really like... that one is always 'already sold'. And he gets another $10. $15. to let them have it even if "the first buyer will be real mad".

I'm setting up at the Gun/Knife show in Dallas in three months and plan on using a 'display stump'. I'll cut a stump flat on the bottom and about 4" tall in front and 6"- 8" in back so as to show the grain of the stump wood. Hammer screw####### or old knives in the stump several times to make a 'wallered out hole slot' easy to stick a new knife in.And when displaying the knives tap them in the pre-made hole with a little piece of wood.
A display stump makes the knife show well sticking in something like a knife should rather than just laying there on the table or even laying down on a stump kinda propped up like a spoon or a fork. Hell, they are knives. They need to be sticking in something!


Thank you...


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Last edited by Jacktheknife; 08-11-2012 at 07:29 PM.
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Old 08-11-2012, 01:24 PM
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Originally Posted by Jacktheknife View Post
J.Lec,
Randy says that when someone comes in to buy chickens and finds one they really like... that one is always 'already sold'. And he gets another $10. $15. to let them have it even if "the first buyer will be real mad".
This just seems dishonest to me, like a greasy car salesman, and not the way to build trust and customer relations. If the knife was already sold why would I be willing to sell it out from under the original customer. If I was the buyer I would be walking away from any seller who offered to sell me a knife or anything that had been already "sold"
just my opinion. YMMV


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Old 08-10-2012, 03:30 PM
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lol I have a 5 yr old daughter so I happen to have hello kitty ones


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Old 08-11-2012, 01:47 PM
Matt Bufford Matt Bufford is offline
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I live in Dallas, so remind me never to go to the aggie feed store. That is immoral, unethical, and not to mention, just plain bad sales practice.

If you take the time to build a rapport with a client, and you over charge him for a knife, how do you think he would react when he finds out everyone else is getting your knives $10-15 cheaper than him? It certainly would not be to buy another one of your blades ever again. I'd rather build good, honest relationships with buyers. That is more valuable than $10. IMHO


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Old 08-11-2012, 03:11 PM
Cthulhu Cthulhu is offline
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I've never done a show, (But I hope to one day) but somethign you might want is one of those apps for your cell phone that lets you scan credit cards into your phone and recieve payment right then.

Just a thought.
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Old 08-12-2012, 05:28 AM
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I've never done a show, (But I hope to one day) but somethign you might want is one of those apps for your cell phone that lets you scan credit cards into your phone and recieve payment right then.

Just a thought.
Good idea.......thanks


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Old 08-11-2012, 03:41 PM
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If you take the time to build a rapport with a client, and you over charge him for a knife, how do you think he would react when he finds out everyone else is getting your knives $10-15 cheaper than him? It certainly would not be to buy another one of your blades ever again. I'd rather build good, honest relationships with buyers. That is more valuable than $10. IMHO
+1 my proffesional integrity is worth way more to me (and I hope my clients) than $10


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Old 08-11-2012, 11:48 PM
metal99 metal99 is offline
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I live in Dallas, so remind me never to go to the aggie feed store. That is immoral, unethical, and not to mention, just plain bad sales practice.

If you take the time to build a rapport with a client, and you over charge him for a knife, how do you think he would react when he finds out everyone else is getting your knives $10-15 cheaper than him? It certainly would not be to buy another one of your blades ever again. I'd rather build good, honest relationships with buyers. That is more valuable than $10. IMHO
Totally agree man. There's a reason I don't like "salesmen" and I believe that is it.
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