Thanks Mr. Ed, that really helped <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />

So for I am loving this topic I have learned a ton already.

Thanks everybody for the info. <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />

I think; that is pretty rare for me, mostly; that marketing must follow your work. Do not take the shotgun approach. Going in nine different directions while trying to do everything for everybody is not the best MARKETING strategy. It is a good knifemaking development tool. But doesn't put you in place in the knife market.

By that I mean your market is detirmined by what you make and would like to make in the future.

If you make a good, functional, using type knife: then your promotions and your exposure should lean toward those parts of the customer base that has those interests.

If you want to make lots of utility type knives, mass advertising will get in the orders.

If you want to make collectable art; the guys buying hunters will be impressed but not many will be buying. You will need to get your work before the guys that want to spend money on a collectable type knife. Very select exposure to a VERY SMALL GROUP is the way to go.

Our interests change during our career; that is good. Our art; and it is art, by the way; should reflect those changes. Hopefully, our clients will appreciate that change in direction and we can also move into a larger base.

Sooner or later word of mouth will catch up to your work and your business.

M

Jonathan,

As far as photo software I use Photoshop. Your camera should work great with the 18mp resolution. I have been repolishing old skills and learning many new ones with Photoshop and with the help of an expert, have come to realize that most of the "pro" knife photographers are taking photos of the knives on a neutral colored background, gray for example, digitally cutting out the knife and then placing that cut out onto a digital back ground. There are three avenues for digital backgrounds: you purchase them from stock photo websites, you scan in the back grounds or you build the backgrounds in photoshop. There are several free online tutuorials for building backgrounds in photoshop. Ed, for example, could scan in the matt boards he likes and use those image files as a layer in his photo. When you see a knife pohoto that has three shots collaged on a background, there are at least 4 layers in that image: threee separate cut outs of the knife shots plus the background. A simple starting point, however, is to get something like a photo tent (google it) to diffuse the light, a tripod for the camera, learn to use the closeup features of your camera and collect backgrounds like matt board, leather, placemats and art paper.

The below image is compiled in photoshop. I have just been practicing techniques and style. To the right of my logo, in the shaded area, is where I intend to put info about the knife. I'm still experimenting and learning. You can see the plain version of this knife photo at the bottom. I took that image, on a neutral background, and cut out my knife shots and pasted them on a digital stock photo background I downloaded. The cutting and layering is part of what makes the pro photos "pop."

Wow!

Thanks! <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />

I forgot to mention that I also use picasa.03 for editing my photos. Dose anybody have any experience with that. <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//huh.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':huh:' />

Once again thanks for all the helpful info, You guys are the best <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//biggrin.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' />

I have a small knife shop in a local flea market and before that I did the traveling circuit and such as well. Here's a few items I have learned over the years.

1. Don't judge a potential customer buyer by their looks/dress. I have seen other sellers look down their nose at someone because they may not look like they can afford anything and then they walk over to me and ended up spending quite a bit simply because I treated them kindly.

2. Ed mentioned being friendly at shows. That cannot be stressed enough. If you look unhappy, people will avoid you like the plague. Be friendly. Keep a smile on your face. Say "Hi. How are ya'll today?" when someone walks by or walks up to your table. If someone says they're "just looking", don't get discouraged. I tell them, "That's alright, feel free to look around. If you have any questions, I'll be more than happy to answer them." Then I back off and don't hover. Even if they don't want to see anything, I still wish them a good day. You always want to leave a good impression because you never know if they may come back.

3. Entertain the women. If a couple walks up and the wife/girlfriend doesn't seem interested, try to find a way to get her laughing or at least smiling. If the "missus" is pulling on his arm, the guy won't stay around very long. And if she has any influence on how the money is spent, her opinion can make or break a sale. You don't have to be the world's greatest stand up comedian. I find that what I call down home humor works well. For instance, I had a massive 51" sword that was based off of an anime series,(anime is a type of Japanese cartoon), and the guy was looking but the little lady was not happy. "Why do you need something that big?", she asked. Before he could say anything I replied, "I use it to cut up cheese for crackers.", with a big smile on my face. She cracked up laughing and he got the sword. If someone is looking at a large bowie and the wife wants to know what it's used for, tell her it's the same style of knife George Washington used to pick his wooden teeth. Entertain the women and you will have more fun at shows.

I believe that the best marketing for our type of business is still to get in front of the public first hand. Buying a custom knife is not just the purchase of an item but buying a piece of the maker as well. All of the marketing ideas mentioned here have their place and I use many of them but my foremost avenue will always be "meet the public". Do whatever is necessary to get in front of potential customers be it through shows, hammer-ins, maintaining a public showroom, etc.

I make it a habit to greet each person who enters my shop and give them a cordial, "Thanks for coming in." as they leave. Let them get to know you and explain how you make your knives. I can't tell you how many times I have gotten a "thank you" for explaining the process as many are ignorant of all that it entails. <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> If you make a friend as well as produce a quality product, the sales will follow.

Gary

Cheyenne makes a good point about women customers. Years ago I ran a hunting and fishing store. I had a lot of women customers because I treated them the same as I did the men that came in. The women said that some of the other stores either ignored them or talked down to them. At a knife show, several years ago, a young woman came by my table and was looking at a particular knife. I talked to her some, about hunting and such, told her about the knife and how it was made. She walked away but came back a little later and bought it. She said that she had looked at several other knives, but that none of the makers would talk to her. She said that she was buying mine because I had taken the time to talk to her and to tell her about the knife.

Dale

While we are on the subject of customers. Be at your table or have your wife, significant other, or somebody there to greet customers and talk to them. You would be amazed how much the act of simply talking to a potential customer can fix you in their mind. Also do not just sit there behind your table with your nose stuck in a book. This gives the impression that you would rather be doing something else than being at the show. These little signals can make a lot of difference. I have seen makers at shows that spend the whole show reading a book and then wonder why they did not sell anything.

Another thing I have found is have a bowl of candy or something similar on your table. It will draw people to your table. We especially like the Hersheys miniatures. The only problem is that we end up eating a lot ourselves. <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//biggrin.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' />

Treat every person that comes to your table as a potential customer and friend.

Brion

Haven't done any knife shows, but have done a fair share of arts and crafts ones. Yup, being actively present with your display--enjoying yourself, your craft, conversing with folks--goes a long way. I've recently started doing a monthly weekend show in Waikiki with some of my high school students. Without fail the ladies out sell the guys by a long shot as they are genuinely engaging with folks.

If I might make an observation about the cyberspace aspect of marketing. I believe the same type of comments about shows apply here: being actively present--enjoying yourself, your craft, conversing with folks--goes a long way. The fellas that chat up their work and do lengthy informative WIP (work in progress) posts are promoting themselves as well as their product.

Not sure if anyone has said anything about perfecting one's craft as part of marketing, probably because it goes without saying. From what I've read on the forums it seems many guys feel they need to make a perfect product of a master craftsperson before selling it. I believe sales can be made along the way of developing your craft, it just needs to be done in context. When I started crafting as a young pup hitching around the good old US of A, I was carving deer antler and bone with pretty primitive tools. I sold and traded a fair amount of this stuff before progressing to sterling silver and fabricating simple jewelry. Sold thousands of pieces. Progressed into lost wax casting and sold thousands more. At my zenith I was gold smithing in Beverly Hills. Sold fewer pieces, but they had higher price tags. I guess the point I'm trying to make is you can sell as you go along developing your craft. Just don't try to jump into the deep end right at the beginning. Grow your marketing and sales along with your craft.

Make sure you grow your management skills, resources and systems along with everything else, but that's probably another discussion.

Another thing I have found is have a bowl of candy or something similar on your table. It will draw people to your table. We especially like the Hersheys miniatures. The only problem is that we end up eating a lot ourselves. <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//biggrin.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' />

Very true Mr. Brion, very true <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//biggrin.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' /> <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//biggrin.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' />

Whenever wee have a garage sale at our house us kids usually sell cookies and lemonade...... but in the end more go to our mouths than our customers <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//biggrin.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' /> <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//wink.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' />

Create a YouTube Channel

You should consider creating a YouTube account for yourself. The accounts are free and you can upload videos telling about yourself and how you build your knives. You can have videos that show the techniques that you use to make your knives. Talk about and show the latest knife that you have made. The possibilities are unlimited and anyone with Internet access will be able to find and view your videos and learn how to contact you.

I created a YouTube Channel for the ABS as part of the development of the new ABS Website and our Forum. It has proved to be very successful in not only promoting the forged blade and our organization but also providing educational videos which are viewed in countries around the world each day. You can easily do the same for yourself.

There are many videos on how to create a YouTube account and channel and I have embedded one of them below for your convenience.

[media] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VfuCTxwL4M&sns=em [/media]

I use the administrative tools in YouTube to manage our ABS YouTube Channel to see which videos ,and more importantly which kind of videos, are the most popular on our Channel. I also use the analytical reports to check on demographics, view numbers, playback locations, likes and dislikes, and comments. The top video for us every month in every category is "Bill Moran and the Forged Blade". The top ten countries where the ABS YouTube Channel is viewed are the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Brazil, Germany, Poland, Austrilia, and the Czech Republic.

You would be able to use the same tools to manage your YouTube account and the videos that you have uploaded to it.