Tallbald

Maybe the local vocational school machine shop would oblige you and do it. Don

I've been waiting for a local gun dealer to return my call(s) for an appointment to show him the laminated belts I create and that he has voiced a desire to maybe carry in his store on consignment. But, for whatever reason, he hasn't called this week. I'll try to set the scene below for a regional craft show my wife and I participated in yesterday with encouraging and enlightening results. Yesterday my wonderful creative wife and I attended the first of about six art and craft shows we participate in yearly. A small show of only 16 vendors, some sellers were cosmetics dealers, pre-made and remarked imported "stuff", and one large diecast toy car seller. So maybe 10(?) booths of handmade arts and crafts were there. The show was held in a small neighboring community that like so many small towns across America, is trying to preserve its heritage and economic viability through interest-generating street festivals and events. We like small town venues, and prefer the atmosphere of their events to the large "mega-shows" held in bigger cities than ours. My wife buys parts locally and online, and designs and creates costume jewelry under her own name. She reworks silverplated table ware into jewelry too. She and I share a 10 foot by 10 foot booth, and my leather art takes up a small portion of the display space. Since I had not heard back from the gun dealer yet, I decided to display and offer for sale eight belts of various lengths and design at the show. Each has been tagged clearly with size to center hole, leather color, thread color, hardware material, and price. Many folks stopped to browse, and several bought some of my wife's art. We both have our cards available in holders on the table. My belts were hanging from the frame of our canopy, with a table display of heavy duty belt key ring holders. Those who closely examined my belts had wonderful things to say, and I watched their reactions to the price tag to see if I could gauge their thoughts. Toward the end of the show, a young lady and man stopped in to see our display. The girl was interested in my wife's wares, and the gentleman was closely examining my eight displayed belts. My wife and I are retired nurses and very much at east talking with strangers. I began telling the gentleman about my belts, how I create them and the work that goes into making a deceptively simple item like a belt. He was interested, and asked me why I have two rows of edge stitching instead of only one. I shared with him my thoughts about the additional strength and visual interest of double row stitching, and drew an analogy to the double or triple row stitching used at stress points in rugged outerwear. He voiced further interest and I talked to him about how I cut blanks myself from hides with a strap cutter to order, laminated them a bit oversized, trimmed them to final width, edged them with a hand tool, cut them to shape and length, sanded edges, dip dyed the blanks, conditioned them, buffed them, sewed and finished them. I also discussed the merits of my solid brass and stainless steel or nickel plated hardware too. This man was genuinely interested in what I was saying. Very rewarding for me. Both he and the girl with him took our cards. They returned about 30 minutes later. The gentleman said to me that he has never been able to find locally a belt of the high quality that my art exhibits. He asked if I would be interested in making for him one to his needed length. Of course I said I would. I don't yet have a completed order form (not finalized--my fault) so I wrote down what he wanted exactly. He took my paper and wrote down his name and contact information for me. He lives in my town too, and I told him my turnaround time and that I would meet him in town to deliver it when it's done. Now. Because the lady who was with him and I talked about where she works locally in customer service (a manufacturer of a product I need and use for my crafts) and she gave me her card, I felt secure enough to offer the gentleman with her wanting the custom belt the opportunity to examine what I make for him before exchanging any money. This will NOT be my routine because I realize I could be setting myself up for problems. But to me this was an extraordinary situation. Truthfully it was my first true, custom belt order. I'm excited and enthusiastic. I'm also very happy to learn of another LOCAL supplier of goods I need for my artwork. We will be participating in another, larger but rather local show very soon. By then, I will by then be sure to have my order form ready and available. I will also have a better way to hold my belts up for display. I will also have more than six business cards, because I ran out yesterday which surprised me. I also now know I need a more secure way to carry my belts in transport to the shows, rather than simply laying them flat across the tops of containers loaded in our SUV. I'm thinking that a padded, full length zippered rifle case would do nicely for all but the longest ones. They can be had here in the fall at sporting goods stores for like $10 each during promotions before hunting season. Thanks for taking time to read my story. Yesterday was an unexpectedly rewarding day and I wanted to share here. Don.

Hi and thank you all again. Truthfully I've left messages twice for the dealer last business week (It's Sunday here in Kentucky USA) to give me a call when he's in the shop so I can come over and show him my art. This past week he hasn't called me and since I'm always truthful here, I will admit I'm a bit annoyed. I know he has other employees to run the store, and as he is retired from a career and now owns two businesses, he may genuinely not be in the shop. The shop also attends many gun shows yearly and one is this weekend so prep time toward that may be in play. I will share here how things work out friends. I know I will be learning this aspect of marketing as I "fly by the seat of my pants" and my upcoming experience, if it comes to fruition, might help others here too. On another note, I'm fixing to post another thread about positive experience at a local art and craft show my loving wife and I participated in yesterday. I'd be interested in everyone's thoughts on the new post too. Thanks as always to all here helping me learn. Don, Don S. Leathercraft

Excellent points. I had wondered about how my art would be treated in a retail setting. I suppose I'll simply have to resign myself to the possibility of damage. As to inventory, I know I'll have to discuss this with the owner, but I would imagine that computer generated inventory tags would be used as with all their wares. Being that it's a gun shop, security is very good with armed sales persons, male and female (we have a very active shooting sport culture in my area of the USA), so theft doesn't bother me greatly. I appreciate your thoughts. Don.

I appreciate the well wishes very much. As to a web site, I really am unsure where to turn to start out. I understand that some cost significantly, some are free. I'm so busy making belts and smalls that I haven't been able to dedicate time to detailed research on creating a web page. DOn

Chris thanks for the thoughts. The store owner asked for 12 to 18 belts to have in his store, up to 44 inches waist size. He said that he could refer customers to me for other sizes or special orders, and I'm coming up with a simple order form for such occasions. I will meet with the dealer to show him my belts, making sure he is satisfied with the quality. Again, he had wanted me to make custom holsters for him a few years back, before I had a stitching machine. I really don't like having so much cash of mine tied up in artwork at his shop, but he is the biggest dealer for several counties around, does a high volume, and I believe the exposure will be good for me if he does indeed want to carry my belt artwork. I will continue to offer my work via Facebook and on some shooting forums, and have my cards on display locally. I'm hoping word of mouth helps me develop a following too. Don.

Excellent points. I believe I will limit my consignment arrangement with the dealer only through the holiday season, Oct, Nov and Dec. Traditionally that's the busiest season for him as with other retailers. If my art has not sold, then I will have to believe I chose the wrong venue, and will retrieve my belts. If they sell swiftly, I will possibly re-negotiate the consignment percentage rate.Better to sell one art piece with $50 revenue than none at 100% profit revenue. Guns sold with him on consignment are covered by his insurance. I've asked that very question before. Oh. Mine are finished pieces. Not blanks.I have no interest in selling blanks, nor do I think the dealer has any interest in selling blanks. How do you inventory the art you sell via a retailer? Don.

A large firearms dealer in my area who wanted me to make and sell holsters through him a few years ago is now interested in maybe carrying between 12 and 18 of my heavy duty belts in his store on consignment. The store is very well advertised in print, on TV and even radio. Folks do travel a distance to visit his store, and he has plans to expand to a larger store in the future. I've been a customer of his since 2003 and he's gotten money over the years in support of my wife's and my "other hobby". I feel comfortable with him as a business person, and a long time friend (retired police officer) is one of his employees. They have even asked me in the past for help market valuing a brand of revolver I am very knowledgeable about. My wife and I are on a first name basis with them. Anyway, the owner has asked me to bring in samples and to come up with a way to display my belts hanging openly. He wants 25% commission on each consignment sale, which is about what he gets selling a firearm on consignment too. All his products have a computer generated inventory sticker, which I believe he will put on my belts too if he decides to carry them. Please help me with a few questions. I have read the sticky and understand the need for stock rotation, not under pricing the retailer, and other points made. - Do I write out and describe each belt on a list and have him sign a receipt for the belts placed on consignment with him? - Should I advertise on my web page that folks can see some of my products at that store? -12-18 belts is a lot of money for me to tie up in a store display, but is it an amount to be expected? -I believe that any referral made to me through him or his store (custom size or features) would be due his 25% commission of sale price. Is that how such situations are done? -Who pays sales tax collected from a belt sale? Me or the store? 25% consignment commission of sale price is indeed a big chunk of any profits I could hope for, but given the high traffic in his store, I believe that because of the high traffic in his store I will reach a broad market segment of potential customers, which might help me generate some revenue from my art. Thanks for any experienced input, and please feel free to make suggestions. Don.

I know that a lot of men aren't comfortable openly expressing love and appreciation, but not me. As a trained health care provider I learned the value of sharing with another person kind thoughts. My wife Penny is one of God's blessings to me, and to those with whom she interacts. I always try to acknowledge hers and other's I love or know contributions to life, love and meaningful existence. Thank you for your compliment Jreeser1. I see from your ID you are a survivor twice. I don't know you. But with your permission I will offer words of thanks for your survival tonight. I do hope the modifications I made to my press help others with disabilities or need. It's so much easier on my joints and fingers. Don

I appreciate the compliments. Before I bought Bertha Jo, my Cowboy 3500, all my sewing was saddle stitching. I used the drilling setup to drill thread holes. Don.

I realized when I filmed the video I had indeed not captured the right side of my machine. Here is a still shot that shows the spring, as well as the attachment converting the press into a small drill press at the side. The spring is a tension spring from our scrap box, and is anchored to the base at one end and a leather strap at the other. The strap simply wraps over the press spur gear shaft and fits over a short bolt that I screwed into a drilled and tapped 1/4-20 hole. If not clear enough I can snap an additional photo easily. Don.

Thank you all. My press is indeed nice and quiet in the evening when I work after Miss Penny must rest. it easier too on my arthritic hands and arms. And I can set snaps precisely and quietly. I even made a drill press attachment for it to use my Proxxon rotary tool for drilling small holes for hand stitching before I bought Bertha Jo, my Cowboy 3500 sewing machine. Don.

Yes I figure that barring stroke, heart attack or accident, and with our Lord's good graces, I have perhaps 10 to 15 years left. Not enough time to learn as much as I did in 30 years of nursing practice or 15 years of tool and die maker work (yes I did both at once at one time). But enough time to enjoy learning to make nice belts, belt packs, sheaths and small items that may help our income. It's important to me to try to pass on things I have learned too. it's a shame we can't all plug a thumb drive into our nose and load up our knowledge to transfer to others at will. It's actually a relief to me that I've decided to limit my goals in leather art. Thanks for the replies. Don.

Dikman thank you for the reply. You make wonderfully valid points. If I sell what I make for a marketable price, I calculate I will make a little less than the legal minimum wage here in the USA. But it will be income to supplement my modest family income and shall help meet our bills somewhat. I'm toward the end of life's spectrum, and would like to share what leather crafting skills I have learned with others while I can do so. Of particular interest to me is helping bring interest to the lives of those in old age homes. I hope I can find an appropriate avenue. Don.

I appreciate those looking. Don.

I've been a leather crafter now for about about three years. I've progressed well, having learned many new and better techniques of working with this wonderful meat byproduct. And I sure do thank the many contributors here who have openly shared tips tricks and such with those like me working on their learning curve. Recently I've answered the call to begin selling my art works in leather. And I believe we leather crafters are indeed artists, striving to blend form and function into a useful item. We have all worked to make something pleasing to the eye but which fulfills a specific need. A problem I struggled with a long time as I contemplated start-up was "what to offer". I've become capable of creating many kinds of leather items a person needs or can use but I've decided that instead of trying to be everything to everyone, I'll focus on doing three to five kinds of items. My goal will be to make the very best and most beautiful examples (in their own way) of something I can make, make them rapidly while maintaining very high quality and offering them to end users at a fair, attractive price. Leather art fortunately does not have to support me at this time in my life. Our children are grown and independent, we are used to living frugally but relatively OK, and I have plenty of time. For forty years I punched a clock and worked countless extra shifts but now those days are done. I know that limiting the things I routinely offer and occasionally taking on a small different project is going to put a halt to any notions I ever had of making lots of supplemental income. Physically I'm limited from spinal injury and arthritis, but while I still can learn and do, I want to create and to give back to the artist community any way I can. I want to offer to teach Scouts, the elderly and the disabled the basics of leather crafting. I hope I'm not alone in changing my direction and deciding to limit my offerings. Thanks for taking time to let me share these thoughts with you. Don

Truthfully I "eyeball" the perpendicular to the fence. If a customer desires a "perfect" line they need to buy from an import CNC embossing setup. I point this out. My arbor press is an adjunct to hand stamping. This may not be for everyone, but as a physically challenged (hate to be PC) fela it has worked well and I hope it helps another crafter.Don.

I use Hermann Oak. Two layers of 6-7. Don

I see. Mine thus far have been flat laminated too. They show no wrinkling on either layer when I hold them in one hand and they droop. To my mind, a short tight bend as found in for example a holster wrapping around a handgun does create an issue, while the large radius bend around a warm human waist wouldn't exceed the ability of the leather fibers to "give" or "bunch" without showing surface deformation. Thanks all for the replys. Don.

Good point and I understand that for sure. The question remains in my head though whether or not over time the difference between outer and inner layer length is significant enough in use to create a problem with conditioned veg tanned leather. I suppose one could laminate the layers over a lightweight curved form made of plywood to mimic the curve of the human body and retain the shape on the belt's way to the final user. Don.

Reading some old threads I found a discussion about laminating leather belts. Thread centered around something like "should I make the outer layer a bit longer and laminate the wholebelt in a curve because the outer layer needs to be a bit longer when wrapped around a person?" Folks I hadn't considered this an issue, considering the leather's "give" on the inner and outer layers. I've watched many videos, and read several tutorials none of which seemed to say that flat laminating was wrong. Also given that strong contact cement and secure stitching keep the layers together, is flat laminating over time going to cause separation? Maybe just overthinking things. Thanks. Don.

HAHAHA!

Very good information. Very good indeed. Thanks. Don

Thank you all. I do have acetone here and may give it a try experimentally. I'm a devotee of Weldwood, but I need to better learn to use it as another one of my "tools". Don

Thank you all. I'll try a bit of wax over the Resolene. Don.