Lets talk about sales (or lack thereof)

[fredk]

LARP is like SCA but fantasy. With LARP you make 'fantasy' gear, steam punk etc. With Cos its more difficult as you mostly have to replicate items used in films.

I did bits for one young lady for Cos a long time ago. First time I did some serious wet-moulding. I had to replicate the belt, pouches and holster used by Queen Padme Amidala, in Episode 2, 'Attack of the Clones' of the Star Wars film. I only had low quality film stills to go by. afaik it was worn with success. I still have the bucks and have thought of doing another set sometime

In their un-finished state;

  

The originals, afaik, were made in moulded plastic

There is good money to be made as in both the people are often willing to pay top ££ for the right things. And often, as in that Star Wars kit, they just cannot buy it

Unfortunately N.I. has been flooded with ex-Games of Thrones items. So many people here were 'extras' and got kit supplied and for each new filming season new kit was supplied so the extras sold their old kit

[Handstitched]

@Spyros

At a regular market I attend,, one of the other regular stall holders thats sells s/h...stuff, junk etc. , tried to knock me down on the price of a plain, but long  belt. But as everything has gone up in price* , I wasn't going to budge on my prices . He kept trying to knock me down...I was having none of it, the harder he tried, the more I dug my heels in. He walked away in the end, I didn't care. However, at the same venue for an Easter market at the weekend, he came  back...trying once again to knock me down... I  dug my heels in deeper this time . " You drive a hard bargain over 5 bucks" he said.

"If I kept knocking my prices down, theres no point in me being here" I said  . He laughed, and paid me full price .

*When I went to Perth  to get some leather around 2 hrs away, I would normally pay around $30 -$40 in fuel, but as the cost of fuel has increased exponentially , I paid  over $80 - .  Its not just the cost of leather, but the cost of fuel to go and get it. I could get it couriered out, at a cost,  but I like to see what I'm buying. 

HS

 

 

[Handstitched]

On 4/10/2022 at 1:20 PM, fredk said:

I'd never even heard of a 'valet tray' until I saw them on this forum

 

On 4/11/2022 at 10:52 AM, Spyros said:

I've made dozens because at some point everybody I know wanted one

I made a few of these this arvo from off cuts. Just simple square trays about 6" , dyed, dried sealed  and riveted.  No need for a pic. I'll 'test ' them out this weekend. 

But I went to check on how much these go for ...it was a case of 

I saw one for $945 . WTF ???????????

https://www.hermes.com/au/en/product/mises-et-relances-change-tray-H400060Mv18/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4Ja8_pfX9wIVFRvnCh3uxAk5EAQYASABEgILUPD_BwE

Was the cow fed champagne & caviar while having a facial and a  pedicure while  being serenaded  holidaying along the French riviera ??  Sh*t a brick !!! 

HS  

[fredk]

There are folk out there who think that if they pay a great deal more for somat somehow they are getting something much better, but very often they are not they are just paying out more and getting standard goods or services.

I can relate this into a true story, but its long, and I'll not tell it unless asked

[JayEhl]

3 hours ago, Handstitched said:

Was the cow fed champagne & caviar while having a facial and a  pedicure while  being serenaded  holidaying along the French riviera ??

No, but the maker was.... LOL!

[Handstitched]

1 hour ago, fredk said:

I can relate this into a true story, but its long, and I'll not tell it unless asked

I'm asking, Do tell, don't keep us guessing  

1 hour ago, JayEhl said:

No, but the maker was.... LOL!

 Some idiot will actually  pay  that price  , thats what keeps me shaking my head. 

The ones I'm making  from scraps are just simple and practical .  Later, some might be a little  bit "fancy" , a bit of lining and stitching, perhaps some different shapes, depends on the  size of the scraps . I'm just testing the local market to see what sells and what doesn't .  If they don't sell, then I'll learn from it. 

HS

[fredk]

1 hour ago, Handstitched said:

I'm asking, Do tell, don't keep us guessing  

mmmm, maybe, dunno, its kinda long and boring, but absolutely true

[Spyros]

3 hours ago, fredk said:

There are folk out there who think that if they pay a great deal more for somat somehow they are getting something much better, but very often they are not they are just paying out more and getting standard goods or services.

There is an actual category of customers who get disappointed by low prices.  There's levels and levels of perversion out there.

[Klara]

But where tf are they! I still have that €500-shawl....

[Handstitched]

14 hours ago, Spyros said:

There is an actual category of customers who get disappointed by low prices.

Yeh, the " Keep Up With The Jones'  "  category.  The snobs version of ' one-up-man-ship' . ....and the neighbors  that  go broke while trying to keep up, but yet happy to brag to their mates how much 'xxx'  cost them to make themselves sound wealthy and important.

I have bags & boxes of scraps ( aka money)  lying around. Time for me to put my creative thinking cap on. 

HS