Where Does Your Business Come From?

[BondoBobCustomSaddles]

I do not have a web sight, nor do I advertise. I am lucky enough to have a few saddle/tack shops in our area that keep sending me business. Most of my work is by word of mouth and because they keep me as busy as I want to be, I am happy to stay satus-quo. I did work at the race track for 3 years, but; that kept me too busy and when they shut down, it simply gave me a little time to actually ride my own horses. First time in years!

Bob

[particle]

Early on, I built a couple holsters, then posted photos on a couple message boards. Pretty soon, I had people sending me PM's asking if I'd build them a holster. Once I sent a few out, those people showed their friends and also posted photos of their holsters on the message boards, and I'd get a few new orders. Fortunately, this happens nearly every time I send out a batch of holsters. I also try to monitor a few different message boards. Place a link to your website in your signature. Provide valuable input as often as you can to various threads. Interested in a certain type of handgun? Look for a dedicated forum and participate there. Like to camp? Look for an outdoors oriented forum. For example, if someone searches for "creekside cabin broken bow", you'll find my parent's vacation rental cabin in Broken Bow, Oklahoma. They'll also find this post on this message board, and see my links in my signature... I get a lot of traffic from a video I posted on YouTube a while back. I have a Facebook page, but it's still growing - not many 'friends' yet. I also have a Twitter account, but it's still pretty small too. Admittedly, I don't use either of them with much frequency, so that's part of the problem.

[TwoMikes]

If you were looking for low margin, high volume cookie cutter business, I can't think of a better place to go than a gun show (that is a dig against gun shows). The clientele at a gun show are looking for el-cheapo bargains with their beef jerky. The atmosphere is a combination of 1950's metal shop and aircraft hanger. Not the best place to show an ostrich leg holster.

Another non-gun show idea are craft shows. I'm sure there are husbands being dragged along to attended these shows. If you can set up a table for the men-folk to hang out/hide, you might get some sales that way. Bring your blue guns, nothing says man-hiding-spot than guns, even fake guns.

Edited August 31, 2011 by TwoMikes

[GrampaJoel]

All of my business has been word of mouth. I have given out cards with my name and phone number, but have no from replies there.

I am reluctant to put up a web site or advertise because I am afraid to take the step into becoming a business and have to pay all the fines and taxation and insurance that goes along with it. Plus my home is in a residential zoning, and not an industrial zone.

I started as a hobby builder of leather stuff with no direction at all. Just for fun, and to keep busy in my retirement. Along the way I have made everything from little simple pouches that hole coins and such, to guitar straps, holsters and knife sheaf's, spur straps, chaps to repairing boots and western saddles.

So I would say that my clientele is from word of mouth. I do go to a few local horse shows with my chaps and western horse items to sell. But all the while I am there, I am hopeful that a code enforcement officer wont pounce up on me and write me a fine for not playing by their government made up rules.

It's a sad way to do a hobby business, but oh well.

Joel

[DaltonMasterson]

If you were looking for low margin, high volume cookie cutter business, I can't think of a better place to go than a gun show (that is a dig against gun shows). The clientele at a gun show are looking for el-cheapo bargains with their beef jerky. The atmosphere is a combination of 1950's metal shop and aircraft hanger. Not the best place to show an ostrich leg holster.

I beg to differ on the clientele. SOME gun show attendees, at least here in Nebraska, are actually looking to spend good money on good quality items. Yes, there are some that just want the cheap junk, which they can find somewhere else than on my table. I have had lots of good orders and repeat customers from gun shows. I dont build ostrich leg holsters, and dont care to. Its not what the people in my area want.

And whats wrong with 1950s metal shop and aircraft hangars??? Seems to be an appropriate guy thing around here...

DM