Rant - Suppliers Selling Finished Goods, It's Competition?

[jeeperaz]

A few weeks ago I went to a feed & tack store and noticed a whole wall of finished leather goods with Weaver's brand name on them. Today, I went to Petsmart and noticed a whole section of dog collars from Weaver.

I have a huge problem with this. I cannot support my 'competition. Weaver has seen their last penny from me.

Even if they do not sell the same product as you, one has to wonder if it's only a matter of time. Would you still buy parts and supplies from them if they sold retail finished holsters, belts, boots, saddles?

Am I missing something here... why shouldn't we as leatherworkers have a serious issue with suppliers selling finished goods? Especially this one who does it at a retail level.

[dbusarow]

I knew about (and even bought) Weaver tack long before I ever bought any leather, buckles, finishes etc.. from them.

Not a problem for me. An awful lot of what I need under one roof. I'm pretty sure they started out selling tack and the supply side of the business came about later.

Dan

[NoahL]

Make your product better than them. Problem solved.

[jeeperaz]

Make your product better than them. Problem solved.

The question isn't how to compete against them. It's a little more philosophical than that.

For what it's worth, I make custom hiking boots. I doubt there will be a day where I walk into REI and see a sale on Weaver 'Super Hikers'.

What I'm trying to convey is that I see their offerings as competition to that of our community... as a whole. In the same vain as I wouldn't buy a Galco Holster or Fossil Ipad cover, I don't feel right about buying supplies from Weaver.

[Ferg]

The question isn't how to compete against them. It's a little more philosophical than that.

For what it's worth, I make custom hiking boots. I doubt there will be a day where I walk into REI and see a sale on Weaver 'Super Hikers'.

What I'm trying to convey is that I see their offerings as competition to that of our community... as a whole. In the same vain as I wouldn't buy a Galco Holster or Fossil Ipad cover, I don't feel right about buying supplies from Weaver.

Competition perhaps but what is wrong with that? They do make some mighty nice looking product.

I think you are making too much of this.

ferg

[jeeperaz]

Competition perhaps but what is wrong with that? They do make some mighty nice looking product.

I think you are making too much of this.

ferg

Yes, I'm probably making way too much of this but I do believe there is some ultimate truth in my thinking. Of course competition is good, but financially supporting your competition might possibly be insane.

I've let go of this... rant mode off

[bruce johnson]

It has kind of been a natural progression in both directions for some of our suppliers. They go or have gone from manufacturing to a supply division or vice versa from supplies to manufacturing. Tandy owned a belt company in the 90s when I was making belts. I buy rope cans from suppliers who also sell custom leather covered rope cans. I buy from who gives me the best service and price, not necessarily them being competition or not. I buy some of my leather from a guy who is a great leather craftsman and has a business with both. None of these really bother me, we all have customers for our price and expertise market.

For this next part, I am not picking on nay one supplier or praising one for that matter (unless either recognises themselves). I can see both sides of things. They might be competition, but the reputable ones are buying materials and have a feel for lot to lot changes in what they are getting - good or bad. Hopefully they have the character to pass that experience on when they select for my order. I really appreciate it when a supplier tells me "the 7/8s are rough, but I've got some good 8/9s". I like it when they say "I've got some great 8/9 sides, you sure you only want one?". I love it even more when they say "It is all crap, but I've got a new shipment coming next week". I have sure had some businesses that weren't users of what they sell, and the some were good. One recently wasn't. That takes experience, and integrity. You either have to have knowledge of the product through use, or enough experience to know what they got in the last shipment and how it might work up.

[JLSleather]

From a "Weaver" point of view (or anybody else who sells hides AND finished goods), the hides they sell is only another of their "products".

On the other hand, the guy has a point. Your competition and your supplier is the same guy ... so ... you have retail price on materials, they're paying tannery price. You're paying WAY more in shipping a few hides at a time than they are for a rail car or truck load. And if they have a "cash flow" issue, they can get you to fix it for them (?????).

In the end, all you can do is decide if what you want is worth the price they're asking - and then buy it or don't.

[Kevin]

If you're truly in competition with them, just buy their stuff and resell it. I don't pay much attention to their finished product catalog, but I don't recall seeing anything all that impressive.

Kevin

[Russ]

The saddle shop I work in has a Weaver display of tack and such products, right next to the shop-made stuff. The percentage is 90% shop-made sales vs. 10% Weaver. I think people go to a saddle shop to buy non-manufactured items. If there isn't a saddle shop around, they'll hit Tractor Supply or wherever. That's what I do...or used to do before I started making my own.

I took a tour of Weaver's manufacturing area last time I was there. When I saw a batch of 500 dog collars being made or 2000 lead ropes completed in 10 minutes, or the assembly line of clicker/edge rubbing/staining/edge painting/hole punching for a 50 bridles per minute, I would look at my wife and say "that's why I can't compete with Weaver." But, I was only joking. I CAN'T compete with Weaver, I don't have millions of $ in machinery and 350 people working for me. Yet.

If you're truly in competition with them, just buy their stuff and resell it. I don't pay much attention to their finished product catalog, but I don't recall seeing anything all that impressive.

Kevin