Making Production Runs Instead Of Taking Orders

[rdb]

There's a big difference between part timer, and full time holster maker. Neither one has the ideal situation.

Personally, I'm just stating off in the larger holster world, with eons of learning to do. It used to be one thing to make a custom holster every once in awhile, another to make production runs for samples at gun shops, or large requests. I've spent the past few months building a few patterns that might work on the retail level, a few that seem to do well, and then there are the possibles. With so many types of weapons, and the cost of blue/duncan guns, it will take a long time for me to catch up.

Every where I look online, the custom makers are putting up signs on their web page shutting down all new orders, or putting off deliverys for weeks, if not months. Supply and demand, simple! But a business model that takes all this into account is imperative!

There are some basic standards, I would think, that you may be able to make up a stockpile of, in a few styles, such as pancake, avenger, belt slide. You know your customer base best. They might include a few Glock 17-22, Beretta 92fs, jframe. I wouldn't go too crazy, as noted above, the one thing for sure is that if you have it in stock, the customer wants something else. The old shop keepers motto is, "If one person asks for something, tell them you may have it in the future. If a second person asks, tell them you'll have it next time they're in. If a third customer asks, you better have it."

[Shorts]

Alright, now that it's been mentioned, what is everyone's definition of a "custom" holster and a "production" holster?

The majority of holster makers, I'm thinking, make a large portion of their revenue from what I would consider "production". I see production as a patterned piece. I see custom as a one off, unpatterned piece, or a holster made from a patterned piece that's be tweaked on a customer's request, and doesn't qualify for an exchange or refund. But I'm a hard nose.

[kevinhopkins]

Hi Monica,

My idea of something custom made is (i think) the same as yours. It's an item that is made from start to finish according to what the customer wants. Anything that is termed "production" is usually associated with mass production techniques of some form or other, that allow you to produce products that are all the same, in a rapid manner. We make "production" wallets for resale. We have cutting dies for every single part, and can make about 20 wallets in the time that it would someone to do a "custom" wallet. I think there's room for both products in most people's business, but that's just a personal opinion. We've found that at times, a custom product price will drive a customer to a "production" product, and sometimes the production product will drive a customer to purchase the more expensive custom product. I think it really depends on what your own business needs and desires are. Sorry for being a bit vague!

Happy productioning!

Kevin

[Denise]

I wonder if there is room for a "semi-custom" category (for any leather work) where the customer can choose, for example, the color from a set number of colors or the carving style from a set list, but they can't make changes other than what you specify in those lists. I believe this is what a lot of people sell as "custom" when I see it really as production with options. True "custom" work to me means the customer gets to choose or modify pretty much anything so long as it doesn't negatively affect the function, which includes safety. Some see the defnition as semantics, others as a crucial distinction. Which way you see it may depend on what category of product you are trying to sell...

[Lobo]

I wonder if there is room for a "semi-custom" category (for any leather work) where the customer can choose, for example, the color from a set number of colors or the carving style from a set list, but they can't make changes other than what you specify in those lists. I believe this is what a lot of people sell as "custom" when I see it really as production with options. True "custom" work to me means the customer gets to choose or modify pretty much anything so long as it doesn't negatively affect the function, which includes safety. Some see the defnition as semantics, others as a crucial distinction. Which way you see it may depend on what category of product you are trying to sell...

Exactly! Custom work involves making a piece to the specific demands of a particular customer. I do this as a matter of course, charging for materials and shop time to produce exactly what the customer wishes to have.

However, that is a very small part of my overall business. The majority of my production is standard designs with limited options produced on demand to fill orders as received. Lots of customers like to refer to this as "custom" work, but it really is nothing more than serial production with variations based upon a menu of options.

This works well for me so I will keep doing it.

Best regards.

[TwinOaks]

Wow, this has been a good thread...

I think I can best describe my ideas through an example: My friend Robert, who manages (and will own, once his FFL shows up) the indoor range and gun shop, has decided that he's going to have me do ALL the leather for the shop. He's already got a target market, and will be adjusting the store's inventory to fit it. I'll simply be making 'cookie cutter' holsters that fit the different items in inventory. There will be a holster pattern for Glocks, S&W/Taurus snubbies, Ruger/Keltec pocket pistols, Springfield XD, Bersa, etc. They'll be available in three colors, and will be stitched to fit the shape of the weapon and probably have a thumb break strap for retention. Simple belt attachment method. These are standard pattern items, and will be priced accordingly, there will be a little "break in period" for the leather to get stretched just right.

Then there's the custom leather available. Got a weapon that isn't on the 'standard' list? Fill out this form and see the guy at the end of the counter. These holsters (and other items) are made to specific details to give the customer exactly what they want, and are molded to the specific weapon they'll carry. This area is where most of my current work is- I just finished a left handed paddle holster for a Highway Patrolman, paired with a shotgun stock wrap with padded cheek rest and loop cartridge holders for a 16 gauge. Not the most common order

And yes, the price is adjusted accordingly.

So I guess the short answer is production line items fit 'most', and a custom item fits one- whether you talking guns or people.

[horsewreck]

As I read Monica's last post here I said to myself what about semi-custom work, Then I got down to Denise's post and thought great minds do think alike. The term semi-custom is used more I think in saddlery and often denotes a product that is hand made and has workmanship and features not found in most mass produced products. In my shop we use the word custom to denote a product that is designed and built based on the customer imput, while we only tell the buyer what we can't do for safety or functional reasons. If a customer asks for let's say a holster model that we build alot and only adds his initials to the front, I might call that a semi-custom product. While I am making that semi-custom holster I might cut out two or three of the same model and finish them just to have in the store for walkins, I would call them stock or production holsters. For me being in the position of being able to make all levels of product helps us stay in buisness and prosper, though I will admit that the custom-er can be trying at times I still love the custom business.

[vahillbilly]

You can also make a "batch" of holsters in the same manner as you would a production run of holsters. Even if they are different patterns for different weapons, you can cut out a batch of say 20, of whatever you have orders for or want to stock. Then assemble them all with a pretty specific list of steps which are common to most pieces. For example, cut, glue, sew, mold, dye, etc. This is a lot faster, at least for me, than the one at a time approach, yet each holster can be considered custom. I also think it is a very good idea to have partially completed popular designs put together when time allows.

As to the custom vs. semi-custom vs. production holsters, I think there is a market for all, but they do have to be priced to match each catagory. You will have to decide whether you want to accept market prices for "less custom" pieces.

Sam