Switching Leather Types and Expanding Product Range

[Abdo]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for ideas and advice about making some changes to my leatherworking approach. I've been specializing in small wallets for the past four years, selling primarily on Etsy https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/kattanleather, but recently I've lost some motivation due to a few challenges:

1. Leather type: I've always used full-grain leather (80% Buttero and 20% pueblo), which has beautiful natural "imperfections" like bug bites, scars, and uneven coloring that make each piece unique. However, many customers don't fully appreciate these features and see them as flaws. As a result, I spend a lot of time carefully cutting pieces (using clicker dies) to hide these imperfections, especially when layering parts. This process is time-consuming and sometimes frustrating. I’ve also noticed that the brown hides in particular can have issues with uneven dyeing or specks from the dyeing process, which adds another layer of difficulty. I’m considering switching to top-grain leather or another type with a more consistent finish. Does anyone have recommendations for leather types that strike a balance between quality, ease of work, and consistency?

2. Personalization: A significant portion of my sales (around 75%) involves embossing names or initials. While I charge extra for this service, it takes a lot of time to get everything perfectly aligned and professional-looking. I’ve been wondering if investing in a better embossing setup—like a hot stamping machine or guides—might help speed up the process. Has anyone else faced similar issues and found solutions to make personalization more efficient?

3. Product variety: It seems like the demand for wallets is decreasing, as many people now use digital wallets on their phones. I’m thinking about branching out into other small products, like keychains, phone cases, or laptop sleeves. I’d like to stick to small, practical items but explore designs that are still enjoyable to make. Has anyone made a similar shift, and what items have you found to be both popular and fun to work on?

I’d really appreciate any advice, suggestions, or insights from your experience. Thanks!

Edited November 24, 2024 by Abdo
grammar

[DoubleKCustomLeathercraft]

Expand. Try different types of leather. I was hesitant to do the same, and only wanted to work with veg tan leather. But then I got into making shoulder holsters and chest holsters and I wanted to line the harnesses with something softer. I first went with a crazy horse pull up from Tandy that was ok feeling, but didn't edge or burnish well at all. I recently started using Water Buffalo from weaver. That stuff is awesome up work with. It makes great wallets, and it's a very nice feel for a liner on belts and shoulder straps. It's durable as all hell. 

As far as personalization goes. How far do you want to go? Just initials? A hot stamp machine should be more than sufficient for that. But if you are willing to practice and sacrifice a bit is leather, go with a thin veg tan that you can tool yourself. This allows you a lot more variety of font available. The sky is the limit there. I don't even own a set of letter stamps because I want to be about to offer any font  (old English styles I refuse to do) 

Again, expand. Variety is good. Getting sick on just one type of product can really freeze up your business. Phone cases to laptop bags (not just sleeves) might really help expand to different clientele. Small practical items are good, little investment good return when they sell. But that's niche and it's constantly changing. Key fobs are always being redesigned as an example. The problem is if you make up too many of one thing and it suddenly falls out of style, you're stuck with it. So being able to adjust to a ever changing climate would help and it's hard to predict. 

I started out only wanting to make belts. They're fast easy profit in my opinion. But belts are not a sought after here so I had to expand. I them started making knife sheaths and simple holsters, hoping to keep my time invested lower. That didn't work either. I ended up having to really change my way of thinking. Getting calls for shoulder holsters was when I really changed how I was going about drumming up business. I listened and I got into designing my own products. It took me a month of cardboard and tape designs, 3 different leather harness designs and a small period of testing out the ergonomics of my shoulder straps before I settled on what I thought would be best. This is the sacrifice I mentioned. It cost me probably a half side of leather and a total of a few months of my time testing and adjusting everything. It's my number one selling item. I've now personally designed a fully modular shoulder harness system and chest harness system that can accommodate anything from a cell phone case to a holster and with a little adjustment they can be used for cameras or binoculars. I've even venture out into exotics and bag making. (I hate making purses but I will) So what I'm getting at here is, get out and explore new avenues. Ask your customers what else they would be interested in. You'll be amazed at how many will be thrilled to help if you ask. Sell some of your new products at a way lower price than normal and inform the customer that you want them to help test the product for that discount. Then get their feedback on what might need improvements or what's perfect. Not all projects are going to work but when they do it pays off ten fold. 

[Mulesaw]

@Abdo

Regarding 2) personalization.
When I do something like that (I engrave a brass plate and mount on the item), I choose to look at it like some extra sort of advertisement. I might not make as much money out of that little thing as I should, but potentially it will give me extra business.

If people get a really nice customized item, they are more likely to show it off to some of their friends, and if the thing really look the part due to a personal touch, there is a better chance that the friends would want to buy something form you. At least that is my theory. Plus it gives a me a sense of pride when the item that I made look so good that I would like one myself.

If you should invest in a hot embossing machine is hard to say. It will probably make the task faster, but if you don't get much more business, then you'd have to think it was interesting to do or necessary due to reasons like e.g. health or something similar. It also depends on whether this is your day job where you need to make every penny count, or if it is a hobby where the income is just an added bonus on top of working with something you find fulfilling. 

Regarding 3)
Like @DoubleKCustomLeathercraft says: expand. 
How about making key wallets? That is pretty close to what you are making now, small items that can be personalized and they compliment your existing product range.
I make some dog leads for working dogs that I like making, but it fits very well into my customer segment which is 95% horse people.

Good luck :-)

Brgds Jonas