Sideways selling means extra cash everytime you sell something

[UKRay]

Does anyone have a free information sheet or handout they give away with their leathergoods telling the new owner about leather and how to look after the product?

The reason I ask is that I have occasionally had a complaint from a purchaser that a piece of leather is 'damaged' or 'flawed' - yes, you've guessed it, they are invariably talking about a scar or a bit of grain. They also ask how they are supposed to look after the item they have just purchased. I would be fairly certain almost everyone on this forum has had the same sort of conversations from time to time and I wondered if anyone else has felt the need to produce a guide to leather and leather care.

I re-wrote mine today to take into account that I now sell those neat little jars of Skidmores Leather Cream alongside my work. My free 'Leather Guide', which accompanies every purchase, tells how leather is a natural material and needs to be looked after properly and I suggest Skidmores would do the job very nicely.

Now, everytime I sell a bag or a belt I also tend to sell a cute little jar of leather cream and make a few extra pennies. The question is: what else could I be selling alongside my existing leathergoods to increase my profits? Anyone got any ideas?

[TwinOaks]

Ray, ....what accessories should one sell along side BDSM leather? And would you include an instruction sheet?

[BradB]

I read Mikes response to my wife...

she suggests lube...

[UKRay]

Droll, very droll...

Having given your question an inappropriate amount of thought, I suggest we pass that particular curve ball to Drac?

[UKRay]

Partially answering my own question, I have just ordered (wholesale) some good quality polishing cloths, one of which I will reserve for wiping silly grins off those with a mucky sense of humor! <grin!> The rest will go on sale with the leather cream.

I have also commissioned some screen printed soft cotton bags to put my own leather bags in. I figured that if the big guys were getting premium prices by offering customers a little bit more 'class' then I ought to do it as well - we shall see if it works. The bags add slightly less than two dollars to my costs and, hopefully, about twenty dollars to my retail price...

What else can I do to add value and make more money?

[tat2]

Does anyone have a free information sheet or handout they give away with their leathergoods telling the new owner about leather and how to look after the product?

The reason I ask is that I have occasionally had a complaint from a purchaser that a piece of leather is 'damaged' or 'flawed' - yes, you've guessed it, they are invariably talking about a scar or a bit of grain. They also ask how they are supposed to look after the item they have just purchased. I would be fairly certain almost everyone on this forum has had the same sort of conversations from time to time and I wondered if anyone else has felt the need to produce a guide to leather and leather care.

I re-wrote mine today to take into account that I now sell those neat little jars of Skidmores Leather Cream alongside my work. My free 'Leather Guide', which accompanies every purchase, tells how leather is a natural material and needs to be looked after properly and I suggest Skidmores would do the job very nicely.

Now, everytime I sell a bag or a belt I also tend to sell a cute little jar of leather cream and make a few extra pennies. The question is: what else could I be selling alongside my existing leathergoods to increase my profits? Anyone got any ideas?

As for as the scarring and blemishes on th leather. On my website every plase has a notice stating , slight scars and blemishes are indcators of true leather products.

[MADMAX22]

Yeah go with a disclaimer since most poeple are use to the plastic coated leather junk they normally buy.

I would say from my limited experience that I would include a card with a few leather cleaning/condtitioning hints. Like say after hard use (lol sorry) or every 6months clean with saddle soap and rewax with sno seal (just some examples). Then maybe provide those items on your website/store so poeple can purchase them with there leather.

[Shorts]

Interesting idea about side items. I imagine that the type of leather item would mostly dictate what type of side items to include.

Up to this point I send a FAQ for each item on how to wear & care/maintenance. I suppose a disclaimer on marks/scars would be a good addition.

[JLD]

Ray, ....what accessories should one sell along side BDSM leather? And would you include an instruction sheet?

Oil and pictures

[Saddlebag]

Do you include an applicator with the cream? How about a nice little cloth bag to keep them together?

[8thsinner]

I have always thought with BDSM gear that beezwax should be the standard line of protection, even on whips which I am leaning towards a coat of shellac these days then wax to seal it from the emelents it will be exposed to in clubs and private use. It can scratch easily but that shows you where the product needs attention.

The products I have sold most of recently is notebooks, simple designs but good leather. And I always put an insert in the first page stating the name and care instructions and a few other details. I will soon be adding contact details to this paper though.

But the instruction certainly should be catered for the item in use. and cater also for the type of finish used. As some leatherworkers use different finshes, the customer should understand that waxed finishes will resist alcohol more than pure shellac...etc etc

I like the idea of selling little pouches with saddle soap and cloths inside.

[RunningRoan]

I think providing some leather care tips is a wonderful service. And definitely carry some of the products you suggest! Add-on sales are a great way to make a little extra money. I haven't found my sales of leather care products to be very swift as of yet, but I do think there is a lack of knowledge about proper leather care. If I strive to educate, the sales will come.

I need to add some information to my website...it's been on my list for a while. I'd like to add leather care tips, information about leather (scars, blemishes, etc) and some disclaimers (horses are strong and can break even the best leather, inspect leather regularly and check/tighten chicago screws regularly). Disclaimers won't eliminate all customer complaints due to misuse/abuse of the products I sell, but it's a nice reminder.