NerdyLeather

Btw, I recently picked up a Coach tote from Coach Bags. It’s beautifully crafted with reinforced seams, and the design might give you some ideas for your project.

For the gussets, stitching them on the inside can give the bag a cleaner look, but stitching on the outside might add more durability if you're carrying something heavy like your music binder. Using a flap at the bottom to reinforce the seam is a great idea, definitely smart to avoid an outer seam at the bottom where wear and tear are most likely.

I just checked out your videos, really cool to see the stamping/tooling process in action! Regarding angles, maybe consider using a few different camera setups if possible, to give viewers multiple perspectives overhead, side, and maybe a close-up on the details. Adding music and subtitles is a great touch for engagement and clarity.

Growing your channel can be really challenging, but it sounds like you're on the right track by reaching out and asking for feedback. Engagement is key, so keep interacting with your viewers both in the comments and outside YouTube if you can.

I use postcards as well. on top, I made some stickers with my logo and I use them as well. I think it's a nice gesture that costs nearly nothing.

Your concern about maintaining a clear brand image for your leather craft is valid, and it's not uncommon for artisans to face this dilemma when they have multiple types of products.

If I have enough time I prepare an online catalogue that everyone can scan and look at prices. However, if I don't have time, I just use stickers.

Just last month, a friend of mine casually mentioned to his co-worker that I do custom artwork. That co-worker turned out to be organizing an art event and ended up commissioning several pieces from me. So yeah, word of mouth can be gold. While word of mouth is timeless and powerful, I've found that in today's digital age, the reach and speed of social media is unparalleled. It's like word of mouth on steroids. Around 70% of my customers come from Instagram and Facebook. I use the adspy library, which shows the ad campaigns my rivals run. Instead of shooting in the dark, I see their strategies and adapt them for my campaigns. It’s like a window into their playbook.

After tooling, I usually apply a resist like beeswax or a clear acrylic finish to the areas I want to keep lighter. Then, I'll dye the background. Once dried, I wipe off any excess dye and then oil the entire piece to give it that finished look. Just be careful not to use too much resist, or the dye won't take at all in those areas. Practice on scrap leather first to get the hang of it.

Last week, I ordered the "YKK® #10 Separating Nylon Coil Zipper" from ZipperStop. Got a pretty good deal on them, too. The bulk price for 100 pieces was $516. Pro tip: if you sign up for their newsletter, they offer a 10% discount. I took advantage of it and ended up paying $464 for 100 pieces. Found it on DontPayFull. There are more deals and discounts that might be handy in saving up some money for your projects. Good luck!

I'd suggest giving the tension discs a good clean with a soft brush or lint-free cloth. Sometimes a tiny bit of dish soap helps too. And yep, double-check the oiling spots. Maybe reduce the oil a tad if it's excessive.

Looks great! I like the patterns you used. You inspired me for my next work.

When I started selling my handmade jewelry, I was just as lost. Here's what I learned: Wholesale pricing and sales tax are two different things. Wholesale is about getting goods at a cheaper price because you're buying in bulk. Sales tax, on the other hand, is something you'll have to charge your customers if your state laws require it. If you're in the US, the sales tax laws can vary from state to state, so it's best to do some homework on this. Pricing items for profit was a challenge for me too. What helped was first figuring out the cost of materials and labor, then adding a markup for profit. It took some trial and error, but eventually, I found a sweet spot where my customers felt they were getting value for money, and I was making a decent profit. Running a business is a learning curve, and there's always something new to learn. I found that reading up on various topics and connecting with others who had been there was a big help. It's great that you're reaching out and asking these questions! When I was in your shoes, I realized that I was learning so much about the business that I decided to share my experiences in a blog. For a more in-depth look at these topics and more, you could visit here. It's packed with articles from my journey to building a few successful businesses.

Fewer points of failure.

I'm looking for a one piece leather wallet pattern. Hopefully something similar to Open Sea leather's wallets, but please let me know what you know of.