LA area Leatherworkers?

[rdb]

Yep, Ian, that's what everyone tells me. If I had my way, I'ld be back up in Ma...but the wife says no more winters for her.

Kustom, it may be sooner than you think...lol

Steve, I've already google earthed you. You guys will probably be the first to see me, if the move happens.

[HARVEY]

Well, here's some demographic information for you:

City of Los Angeles is 454 square miles. Population is around 4 million.

The County of Los Angeles is much larger population-wise; estimated at about 13 million. (I have no idea as to square mileage). Distance across L.A. County can easily run 45 miles. The area's a B-I-G place.

Neighborhoods run from high-end Beverly Hills and Bel-Air to rent-controlled Santa Monica to totally Hispanic East L.A. to crime- and gang-ridden South-Central Los Angeles (Not that there aren't good people down there, but demographically-speaking the area is lower-income, less-educated and immigrant populations.)

From a leather perspective . . . well, just figure what a city like Chicago, Atlanta, New York is like and you got L.A. Los Angeles is the second largest city in the country. Leather markets run the gamut from the fashion industry to the equestrian industry to custom cars and motorcycles.

Good luck with your research.

Harvey

[rickybobby]

The wife and I are considering another big adventure, a possible move to the La area. So, of course I want to know the leatherwork scene. What are the possible sales sites, fairs, etc.

I heard Venice Beach has only a few slots that go in a lottery on tuesday nights, so that doesn't sounf like a permanent type venue for sales. Are there some good places to sell out from your shop or residence?

I could ask a hundred questions, but you get the idea, I hope...

Thanx ahead of time!!!

rdb,

I would check out the area north of L.A. I lived in Ventura County for many years and drove to L.A. County for work (15years) Ventura county has a good population, some open spaces, it has a much to offer and is 1 hr. drive to downtown L.A.

Look into..

Simi Valley Closest to L.A. County

Moorpark next closest (nice area) can be pricey

Thousand Oaks

Agoura Pricey

Camarillo

Oxnard Look here carefully, some nice, some not so nice

Ventura

Ojai Valley I lived here for many years, some good areas, some not so good. Allways a drive (10 miles) to get to the 101 freeway.

When you live there you adjust your driving, you just leave early morning or drive late night to avoid traffic

I left there and spent 2 years on the Big Island of Hawaii, there was no leather work going on there, Now I am in Phoenix, it feels like the heart of Leather Land !!!

Rick J.

[cybertracy]

Finding a home to "sell" from (and be successful) would probably be costly in the LA area. Try outskirt towns (everything goes by time rather than miles).

Don't discount the northerly places--just a short drive away and you leave the smog and crowd behind you (and cost of living is quite a bit less) About 40 min to an hour (on a good traffic day) away you can land in the coastal towns in Ventura County or a tad further in Santa Barbara--which is stuffed full of smaller shops that will sell on consignment (Ojai Valley is a small little town that does a huge consignment biz). You can still live in LA if you want to, and just take a trip to the outlying, smaller towns to sell your wares. I'm only suggesting shops outside LA because the cost (to you) is normally less and although the popularity is growing fast, the leatherworking skills have not caught up yet (I can only speak for Ventura County and north). In LA you've got a lot more competition.

If you make your way out here (Ventura) stop by the Tandy there and say HI, just a couple miles downtown from us are tons of consignment and "antique" shops and I'd be glad to show you guys around.

If you want any more detail or would like me to do some specific invenstigating for you, just send me an e.mail.

PS: If you are hearing good things about a town or just curious, e.mail the Chamber of Commerce or the Visitor's Bureau for that town and they will be glad to send you a TON of stuff.

[rdb]

Thanx, Harvey, rickybobby, and cybertracy. I know now more than I did before this topic got started. Looks like I'll have some instant friends because of this Forum. Got to love this place.

I have been looking at the outskirts, Riverside was depressing..sheesh so much foreclosures, but the good news seems to be my timing. This maybe the bottom, or close to it, so it's a buyers market for sure. Now, this week, I have to figure how good or bad, my market here in NC is. I will be talking to realtors. That will have a lot to do with what community I zoom in on in LA . Stay tuned. I've made these whim decisions before, some happened real quick, others faded. There's just no accounting for when I get "itchy feet". Damn us hippies....lol

[Schno]

Wow... more talent coming into Los Angeles!

I'd definitely suggest hooking up with Wayne Christensen at Standing Bears Trading Post here in the San Fernando Valley. The Leathercraft Guild runs meetings out of there every other month. They also attend a lot of the local leather outlet events. That should be some good contacts for you. And I'd definitely like to make your acquaintance. I've always enjoyed your work!

[Jordan]

Funny you should mention those durn hippies, I hear rumors that there are a bunch hiding out in Idyllwild, Sierra Madre Canyon, and Walnut Creek up yonder in the north country. Most appear to have been assimilated long long ago, in a galaxy far far away!

[Kustom]

Wow... more talent coming into Los Angeles!

I'd definitely suggest hooking up with Wayne Christensen at Standing Bears Trading Post here in the San Fernando Valley. The Leathercraft Guild runs meetings out of there every other month. They also attend a lot of the local leather outlet events. That should be some good contacts for you. And I'd definitely like to make your acquaintance. I've always enjoyed your work!

Without a doubt Wayne is the man. I've been studying with him for over a year now. He's does more for advancing leatherwork than anyone else in LA that I'm aware of. Besides being a great teacher and teaching four classes a week plus private lessons, he also brings other masters out to LA to teach workshops at Standing Bears. So far I've taking a class with Jeff Moseby, Bob Beard, and I would have taken a class with Al Gould but he had to cancel because of and horse riding injury. If anyone's ripe for an Al Stohlman award it's Wayne.

Edited August 17, 2009 by Kustom