UKRay

Its far too tidy, Schno - not anywhere near enough tools strewn around and no little bits of leather and edge shavings on the floor. hey there are no dye stains... Sorry, not good enough! Nice to see it all came together for you. I'm sure you will enjoy it!

You could get a whole stack of banknotes in one of those Kevin! Nice job.

Here you go Tashabear - In the interest of privacy I have removed my address details. Remember this is a fairly inclusive statement about the way I intend to do business and covers all aspects of it not just sales. It was produced mainly for my own benefit as it lays out the way I want to deal with folk and how I want them to deal with me. It is not in any way an 'I'm better than you' sort of document, just a calm statement that says 'if you want to deal with me then this is how it is going to be'. Having given this to a prospective customer I often feel I have a lot to live up to - not a bad thing really as it keeps me focussed. It also helps to keep them on the 'straight and narrow' as you can always quote it at them if they step out of line... I ought to say that this document was based on a number of other CoPs but is essentially mine to give away. Feel free to copy/reproduce/share as you see fit. You can even change the spelling if you like! Code of Practice Confidentiality I am committed to maintaining the highest degree of integrity in all my dealings with potential, current and past clients, both in terms of normal commercial confidentiality, and the protection of all personal information received in the course of providing my services. I extend the same standards to all my customers, suppliers and associates. Ethics I always conduct my own services honestly and honourably, and expect my clients and suppliers to do the same. My advice will always take proper account of ethical considerations. Duty of care My actions and advice will always conform to relevant law, and I believe that businesses and organisations should avoid causing any adverse effect on the human rights of people in the organisations we deal with, the local and wider environments, and the well-being of society at large. Proposals My proposals including aims, activities, costs, timescales and deliverables are valid for fifteen days. After this time they may be subject to re-evaluation. Contracts My contract will usually require acceptance of a detailed proposal, including aims, activities, costs, timescales and deliverables. The quality of my service and the value of my support provide the only true basis for continuity. Fees My fees are always competitive and reflect the quality of the service I provide. As such I do not generally offer arbitrary discounts; generally a reduction in price is only enabled by reducing the level or extent of services to be delivered. That said, I always try to propose solutions which accommodate my clients' available budgets and timescales. Wherever possible I agree my fees and basis of charges clearly in advance, so that I, and my clients, can plan reliably for what lies ahead, and how it is to be achieved and financially justified. Payment I aim to be as flexible as possible in the way that my services are charged. Some clients prefer fixed project fees; others are happier with stage payments, and I try to fit in with what will be best for the client. I make no attempt to charge interest on late payments, so I expect payments to be made when agreed. My terms are generally net monthly. Intellectual property and moral rights I retain the moral rights in, and ownership of, all intellectual property that I create unless agreed otherwise in advance with my clients. In return I respect the moral and intellectual copyright vested in my clients' intellectual property. Quality assurance I maintain the quality of what I do through constant ongoing review with my clients, of all aims, projects, outcomes and the cost-effectiveness of every project. I encourage regular review meetings and provide regular progress reports. Professional conduct I conduct all of my activities professionally and with integrity. I take great care to be completely objective in my judgement and any recommendations that I give, so that issues are never influenced by anything other than the best and proper interests of my clients. Equality and discrimination I always strive to be fair and objective in my advice and actions, and I am never influenced in my decisions, actions or recommendations by issues of gender, race, creed, colour, age or personal disability.

Tashabear, I completely agree with Windy. I can't remember any occasion when I have chased after someone and actually got the job without dropping the price or losing in some other way. Best to take a wise man's advice and tell them at the outset they have fifteen days to make a purchase or the price needs to be re-evaluated. One thing I do that may help is to have a Word template for my quotes that says all that stuff and also states my trading conditions. It may also be worth thinking about writing a code of practice as it helps to make the way you want to do business clear in your own mind - I am happy to post mine here if anyone is interested enough to want to see it.

I do SO like your wallets. Work faster man, I want to see more pictures!!!

When you are dyeing leather, do try not to scratch, rub or pick your nose... or anywhere else for that matter! The stains can hang around for several embarrasing days. Trying to remove contact adhesive from plastic lenses can be amusing - especially if you can't see a thing without glasses. Forgetting to dry your hands on the 'special' towel reserved for drying dogs and using after dyeing leather will cause all kinds of misery in your houshold. Having floorboards with a gap between them means everything you drop will be lost to you for ever. Get a rug. Never grab for a dropping tool - it will be a knife every time.

It is fascinating if you haven't seen the stuff before - I can't say I want to watch it again any time soon though so perhaps tonyc1 has a point... In its defence it WAS free!

I just had an order delivered from Tandy in the UK and I have to say, I'm impressed. The service was excellent and not only was it all there, it arrived within 24 hours. Most impressive! I've been looking at those Weaver Heritage machines for a while, Bree. They are beautiful! I'd be interested to know how well they work.

I sent them an email and they sent me a DVD - and jolly good it is too! Haven't seen it as a download -it is about 2.5 hours long.

For South African goodies in the UK try www.biltong.co.uk - I love Biltong! Would anyone be interested in a real cultural exchange? The idea was put into my head by another forum member who very kindly offered to swap a bag of Oreos for something quintessentially British. I jumped at the opportunity and thought it a great idea. I'm actually quite excited at the prospect of trying something I have only read about and enjoyed finding things to send that are not available in the US. I have six padded bags that could be filled with British goodies and shipped anywhere in the world and would be delighted to offer my services as a personal shopper if you have something you have always wanted to try - or can't live without. The only proviso is that you send a similar bag of goodies in return. No money changes hands. This is a 'one time' offer - unless it works out really well! Obviously I'll have to put a limit on the value, but this doesn't have to be expensive. With so many regional delicacies you could easily get a taste of Olde Englande without the airfare! Any thoughts? I'll limit this to six to start with but we'll see how it goes. If you want to take part just put your bid on the table - in other words: tell us about the local delicacy you have on offer and say what would you would like from the UK in return and I'll pick six I am happy to fulfil. Packages will go out within a few days and will be with you asap. If we get swamped with offers then I may have to re-think but see how it goes eh?

Thanks Luke - I'm working on it! From a sales and marketing point of view it would be interesting to know if people thought : 1) the silverwork is essential in order to sell the leatherwork? 2) the silverwork is not essential and not desirable? 3) the silverwork is simply something you can do if you have the silver to hand and a customer with plenty of dollars?

I hadn't realised until I saw all the different designs just how interesting a phone case could be. I am working on my own design and will post as soon as I have it sussed. Meanwhile, this is turning into a really useful resource so has anyone else got a design to add? It would be good to hear some suggestions from those who maybe haven't contributed before or who have ideas rather than pictures to share. Just one point; I notice a lot of people use silver decoration on these cases - how do people feel about this sort of thing? Is this what people are asking for or do we do it because the decorations are available?

Check this page out Crystal - I love the stuff but I guess it may be an acquired taste http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dandelion_and_burdock I am a tad dubious about 'hog bits and cornmeal' - which bits precisely? This isn't like those 'ole chitterlings we had earlier in this thread is it? - I was a tad surprised when I found out which bit they were! >O< Art - Northallerton is in Yorkshire. One of the loveliest counties in England as long as the sun is shining. Great cricketing tradition and, as you say, local people are almost unintelligable without a lot of concentration. Having said, that I like doing business with Yorkshire folk as you always seem to get a straight deal. Talking of language, I have lived on on the Welsh border for the past five years and still have trouble with our local dialect which isn't quite like anything else I have ever heard in the UK - Ludlow is well worth a visit if you enjoy history... little has changed over the years, it has fabulous restaurants, terrific scenery, lovely architecture but it isn't quite what it seems on the surface... Ludlow is still quite blatently medieval and I love it! Back to Yorkshire, I suspect you fell foul of the 'fatty bacon' thing that seems to be popular in those parts. In these days of cholesterol tests and heart attacks, we Midlanders don't tend to eat stuff that is heaving with chol. But they do in Yorkshire! Oh yes - I was in Sheffield a week or so back and had a monster brekkie that was very similar to yours. I didn't get any of that 'scrapple' stuff though - I can't imagine what that might have been. Your RAF escort probably WASN'T going to eat for the rest of the day... I worked with the RAF briefly and rations were definitely in short supply - unlike a jungle trip to Belize with 1st Batt. Royal Gurkha Rifles which was a gastronomic delight - good job I like large mess tins full of snake curry! Marmite on toast is one of those things you either love or hate - there is no 'middle ground'. Live with it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marmite I also like Bovril 'cos you can mix it up in a mug with hot water and drink it. Very comforting on a cold day and great for fishing trips. http://www.unilever.co.uk/ourbrands/foods/bovril.asp

Oi oi oi! If there is any 'umbrage' to be taken at this point, I'm having it! Irrespective of the relative merits of Marmite and Vegamite (I prefer Marmite but will happily eat both), I'm not having my lovely brekkie insulted by anyone! The English/Welsh/Irish breakfast was developed over centuries and provides exactly the right amount of good stuff to get you through a working day. I didn't include the Scots because on the few occasions I have been in Scotland I didn't get any bloomin' breakfast so i'm not sure what they do. Porridge probably... Fresh grilled bacon, two eggs, tomatoes (beans optional), sausage, toast and butter and a nice hot cup of tea or coffee is simply civilised... It is worth noting that I have eaten exactly the same meal in Portland, Oregon (where, strangely, it was called an Oregon breakfast). Indigestible? - I think not! Perhaps our Oregon members have something to say about this? Do you guys have indigestion? Harrumph!

I'm in total agreement with Pip - outstanding!

That video really is is excellent! Have you seen the one distributed by Weaver in the US?

I have dealt happily with JTB for more than thirty years but their mail order service seems to have gone downhill lately. Just had a delivery that was short of a whole load of buckles and a bottle of finish had burst inside the package and spoilt the leather - they always put bottles inside the parcels of leather - I complained but, living so far away, can't get them to do anything about it. No refund, no replacement and no damn buckles even though I have paid for them. Just a word from the wise... I would personally suggest Le Prevo in Newcastle www.leprevo.co.uk who have just supplied me with a load of the best veg tan I have ever seen. They are not particularly cheap, but we all know you pay for quality. I will get less waste from these hides than ever before so the price evens itself out. They also do tools and fittings. (For the record, I didn't get paid a cent for saying that!). I like http://www.jfjbaker.co.uk too!

Hi Kattegat, welcome! Rawhide and RDB have said it all - apart from the sun thing... we don't have much of that over here in the UK so we all use sun lamps LOL. The wonderful thing about leatherwork is that everytime you think you have screwed up you learn something. It may be you learn that you haven't screwed up at all! Hopefully that oil will have soaked in by now and the colour will have evened itself out. The only trick to getting an evenly finished project is to do exactly the same thing to all the pieces. Enjoy the forum, R.

In the UK, cordial tends to be the sort of stuff you mix with alcohol (lime juice or blackcurrant cordial for example). We have fruit squash that is mixed with water. In the main it is fairly unpleasant stuff and the orange flavouring made my son hyperactive for hours - CocaCola did it too. Rootbeer is pretty scarce over here, but can anyone get bottles of Dandelion and Burdock in their part of the world? I wonder if this is exclusive to the UK?

I agree with Luke. Nice job.

That is beautiful. Do you make your own woodwork too?

Lovely job. That basketweave is excellent. Now all you need to do is post the next one!

Y'know, I'm rather pleased to hear that, Tashabear, baked beans always give me terrible indigestion! Lobster doesn't... ever! Personally, I am extremely partial to a pork pie or a scotch egg. Has anyone ever had a pickled egg? You can buy them in some old fashioned pubs in the UK. they are often eaten with the fingers out of a crisp packet (potato chips). Delicious with a pint of mild or old ale (both dark beers). You must be able to get pickled eggs outside the UK but I have never seen them. Despite some initial concerns, I may have to give those peanuts/goobers a try... You never know... Same with the sunflower seeds. I'm quite looking forward to a good solid "pthfffff". I checked out that Wisconsin bubbler and I would definitely call it a drinking fountain... Wassa Spud launcher? Brief (and old) humourous (humorus?) interlude: Two British tourists were driving through Wisconsin. As they approached Oconomowoc, they started arguing about the pronunciation of the town's name. They argued back and forth until they stopped for lunch. "As they stood at the counter, one British tourist asked the employee, 'Before we order, could you please settle an argument for us? Would you please pronounce where we are . . . very slowly?' "The employee leaned over the counter and slowly said, 'Burrrr gerrrr Kiiiing.' " The Two Fat Ladies were superb but we now have the Hairy Bikers who ride large motorcycles around the country and cook stuff. I do enjoy their show but thought the TFLs old combo was a lot more fun. Has this show reached the antipodes yet? I'm not entirely sure that Celticleather's contribution (which I should add is totally accurate) is a lot of help when it comes to helping people understanding the rules of cricket - Strangely, I think I have always known the rules of cricket but can't remember why... I think it is long past time to encourage some ribbing from the Aussies and Kiwis - what do you guys find most amusing about we Pommys (or should that be Pommies?). Perhaps it is our sense of humour (humor): WELL KNOWN BRITISH FACT: Approximately 80% of the population of Australia and New Zealand actually live in Earl's Court, London...

I was only teasin' ya Jordan! I checked out your location on Google Earth - that lake just down the road from you looks like a great (big) spot to go fishing! I'll save the fishing stuff for a more suitable occasion but as a keen fisherman, obviously I'd like to know more. Two big surprises today - bread in a tin and beans in a jar. I have not seen either of those things before. I was also amazed to find 14 different varieties of baked beans from the same company. Astounding! - and you guys regularly eat lots of beans with brown bread eh? I think I saw a film about that called Blazing Saddles... No, no, no, Hilly, don't spoil it for me. I've wanted to try grits since I saw my first western film... it may be like wallpaper paste but I've got to find out for myself. I might like it! Boiled peanuts don't imediately grab me as party food, Whinewine, but I'm keen to give 'em a try if you recommend 'em . Do they come salted or plain? Sadly that language thing cut in about here: "...after youn'z guyz redd up yer rooms..." Sorry, you lost me - "redd up yer rooms"? wassat? A bit of British culture you might find amusing is that cricket is the only game in existence (as far as I have been able to find out) that has meal breaks written into the rules. It is worth noting that a good village cricket tea is a joy to behold and a delight to eat. Plates stacked high with cucumber, egg and cress and tomato sandwiches. Huge steaming pots of tea, homemade cakes and the occasional fruit scone with jam and cream as a treat. The sound of studded cricket boots on the wooden floor of a cricket pavilion and the murmer of gentle conversation and polite applause is something that will stay with you for ever... Rugby on the other hand is a little less genteel. After the match all the players share a huge bath full of dirty water and sometimes several teams will use the same water (I know, it is hard to believe) :soapbox: . All kinds of pranks are played with soap and hot water (you really don't want to know, okay?) and, having sung loudly and shared all the mud they brought in from the field evenly between them, the players head for the bar. Many clubs provide a pie and beans or pasty and beans style meal that oozes carbohydrate in a vain attempt to pre-empt and absorb the intake of beer that invariably follows. Drinking games abound including several that require participants to sing loudly and drink a pint of beer very quickly and then put the empty glass upside down on their head. After several of these games the players hand/eye/leg co-ordination often goes badly wrong... 'nuff said. Field hockey is a game that makes me shudder. It is like rugby but everyone is armed with a hooked stick and metal studded boots. Very dangerous and not to be played by gentlefolk. LOL Actually, British games all deserve more mention than they get just because they are so quirky. Sure, cricket can be boring but it gives you a chance to read the paper, snooze in the sun (you should always use a proper deckchair for this), do a crossword puzzle - anything but watch the game. IMHO, the best way to appreciate cricket is on the radio whilst you are fishing - the commentators are hilarious! Now, about that barbecue sauce...

I have found much the same thing over here, RDB. 1.5" is standard and 1.25" is next. I have sold some plain 1" belts to business suit wearers but I can't sell the .75" too easily. The big hassle for me is length as once you have got the width thing sorted they all want belts of different lengths. I keep all my plain belts long now and only make tooled belts up in different sizes. I don't mind cutting down a plain belt but it breaks my heart when they ask for a chunk to be lopped off the end of something that took time to tool. If they insist then I'll do it because I charge the same price for long or short. The money in my hand quickly makes me feel a whole lot better!