daydreamer Report post Posted May 31, 2008 Hi gang ...............I am a newbie to this site and look forward to reading all the helpful and informative post. Whenever I don't know much (or anythng) about something I'm interested in I always look to the forums for a crash course I live on the coast and I am thinking about creating a little side business to make custom made flip flops using exotic hides. It seems to me that the smart thing to do would be to order the flip flops from a chinese manufacturer or exporter and then cover the upper straps with hide from an exotic skins dealer. Does this sound reasonable/feasible to you? What are the inherent problems I am not considering? What would be the best way to attach the hide to the existing upper? stitch? glue? As you have guessed by now I really don't what the hell I'm doing at this point other than daydreaming! I do think there is a market out there for this kind of thing because I spent about an hour this morning online trying to find a pair of crocodile flip flops and the only thing I could find was a Ralph Lauren product for $1600.00!!!! Holy Sh_t! or maybe I could'nt find something because there is NO market for it..............Anyway, I would like to hear everyones opinion on the subject as someone who has experience to fall back on. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated Thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TwinOaks Report post Posted May 31, 2008 Hi Daydreamer, and welcome to Leatherworker.net. re: your flipflop idea... You definitely have an interesting idea. I suggest a little further market analysis on the demand for such an item. Another consideration is going to be the quantity you need to buy from the cheap Chinese manufacturer. You may be looking at an order of several thousand pairs of flip flops before you realize the discount you envision. If you can't get a small enough order at wholesale, you're almost at the same point as if you bought them retail then marked up the price. As far as the covering, instead of disassembling, covering, and reassembling, see if you can get the soles only. Then you can cut out one of the steps in your labor. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ian Report post Posted May 31, 2008 Ouch - you just said that painfull word (Chinese) But, anyway there are meny wholesalers who sell imported flipflops here - check the website "Wholesale Central'. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rickeyfro Report post Posted May 31, 2008 Im thinking flip flops go hand in hand with water, something that leathers do not necessarily do, especially salt water and you living on the coast, you may want to give some more thought to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jordan Report post Posted May 31, 2008 Buy sheet rubber get yourself a clicker and some dies and make your own bottoms. Then you have complete control and artistic license to do what you want. That is what I will most likley do with my sandal idea. You would have to buy a boatload from offshore to make it worthwile plus as a selling point they will be handmade by you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Leather Bum Report post Posted June 1, 2008 Buy sheet rubber get yourself a clicker and some dies and make your own bottoms. Then you have complete control and artistic license to do what you want. That is what I will most likley do with my sandal idea. You would have to buy a boatload from offshore to make it worthwile plus as a selling point they will be handmade by you. IMO, Jordan's is a much better idea. They would actually be handmade in the USA. There are already far too many Chinese imports here. . . L'Bum Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tonyc1 Report post Posted June 1, 2008 IMO, Jordan's is a much better idea. They would actually be handmade in the USA. There are already far too many Chinese imports here. . .L'Bum But where is the rubber manufactured??? Tony. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jordan Report post Posted June 1, 2008 Probably overseas. LOL. I don't know of any rubber plantations in the U.S. most likely India or some south asian country. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daydreamer Report post Posted June 1, 2008 Thanks for the feedback guys................ TwinOaks............I live in Mobile too! Damn it's a small world. As to your suggestion to buy soles only and make my own uppers, I thought about that but didn't know if say snakeskin for instance would be strong enough to not break......... Ian..............yes, I know the Chinese have a monopoly these days on trade but there is vietnam, indonesia ect. Rickyfro..............These would be "designer Flops" @ $100.00 plus a pop. Don't think they will be anywhere near water Jordon..........What is a clicker? Is it something that stamps out soles? Anyway I'm thinking leather bottoms are the way to go or maybe a combo of leather and rubber. Leatherbum..........yes, "Made in America" definately has marketing cache, especially if it is "handmade" Anyway keep the ideas coming. TwinOaks, maybe we should get together since I have no experience in leatherworking and you obviously do. I am a business guy though and if the idea proves feasible I know how to get it off the ground. email me at chuck@athelstanclub.org Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daydreamer Report post Posted June 1, 2008 (edited) I almost forgot.............Tonyc1, I was in Tasmania in 1977 aboard the USS Enterprise. What a fantastic lovely place. We spent four days in port there at Hobart and I had a blast. Toured the entire island. Met a guy named Peter Blood who claimed to be a direct desendant of Captain Blood (probably BS) Would like to go back someday......... Edited June 1, 2008 by daydreamer Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HarrisBoot Report post Posted June 1, 2008 I have sandal or flip-flop sole dies in four sizes. I would use birkenstock soling. We built them in the past to use up scrap. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jordan Report post Posted June 1, 2008 Yes basically it is a press, hydraulic or air that you use a metal die shaped to what you want, apply pressure and CLICK you have a sole. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sharpshooter Report post Posted June 2, 2008 ... CLICK you have a sole. That can come in quite handy since I traded mine to the devil a few years back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
esantoro Report post Posted June 2, 2008 Buy sheet rubber get yourself a clicker and some dies and make your own bottoms. Then you have complete control and artistic license to do what you want. That is what I will most likley do with my sandal idea. You would have to buy a boatload from offshore to make it worthwile plus as a selling point they will be handmade by you. Jordan, Would you say the sheet rubber you're referring to, is the same as that used in the Tandy poundo boards, or is the rubber sheeting that goes on the bed of clicker presses different? Ed Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David Report post Posted June 2, 2008 MMM......High End Flip Flops..... You could call yourself.... Phillipe Phillop...... Dave Theobald Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shirleyz Report post Posted June 2, 2008 MMM......High End Flip Flops.....You could call yourself.... Phillipe Phillop...... Dave Theobald Groan!!!!!!!!!!! ShirleyZ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jordan Report post Posted June 2, 2008 You could use that poundo for soles but there are better materials out there. There are some other threads about clicker and moulding presses on this forum I am waiting for some of youz to post some measurements or pictures so I can plagerize(Haha) them in my minds eye and build my own, I am getting tired of scissors for that thick stuff. Here is a photo I found of some high end philipe phlops. Herrington catalog very classy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
