Members CollinsMS Posted September 30, 2008 Members Report Posted September 30, 2008 (edited) I have been thinking about this for some time now. Maybe this idea is not even an original but I will pitch it anyway. There are many talented leather producers that post on this site. Some of you already have businesses both on the net and in a store front. Some of you produce leather goods for friends and family and some just because you like it. Any way you look at it there is a lot of leather goods produced by many talented people. The people with a business I am sure have items that for whatever reason have not sold or maybe have what could be considered as seconds, still a nice product but not up to your normal standards. Others may have items that they have made and the item is sitting on a shelf or your not sure what to do with it, it was fun making it but now what. Any way you look at it an individual can not establish a name or a popularity of a Hunter or Oklahoma Leather. Yes I know that as a craftsman you don't want to be compared to a mass producer. You do have goods and services you want to sell and getting yourself in the top Google search list is a job all it's own. I live in two distinct worlds. I love leather working, the art and usability of the products produced. I do some leather work myself but everything I do is for myself due to my actual job. My job is Information Systems for a 4 billion dollar distribution company. I have a good understanding of the Internet, web sites construction and SEO (Search Engine Optimization). SEO is how your customer finds you, it is what put's you on page one of a Goggle search. I constantly work on my web site to increase the number of times it makes page one of a Google search (the page started as a hobby). In doing so I now have people asking for products and I have none to offer. People have asked for everything from typical cowboy gun rigs and saddles to saddle bags for a bicycle. I would like to gather a group talented people that I can advertise your product and charge nothing unless a sale is made. If you have extra stock your trying to move those items could be listed as a BUY IT NOW. Times are hard in todays world and I fear they will get worse before they get better. Why not use outlets other than your own to sell your product especially if it costs nothing unless a sale is made. Please respond to this post and let me know your thoughts. This is only a rough outline of an idea. Details would have to be worked out. Thanks Mark The Leathercraftsman web site Edited September 30, 2008 by CollinsMS Quote
Ambassador Luke Hatley Posted September 30, 2008 Ambassador Report Posted September 30, 2008 Link is not working......... i'm instrested.......... Quote Luke
BearMan Posted September 30, 2008 Report Posted September 30, 2008 Hi Mark, Sounds interesting to me also. Let me know, hoow things would work. Ed Quote Ed the"BearMan" polarb1717@aol.com Beary: BearMauls@yahoo.com http://tinyurl.com/BearMauls "The Best tooling mauls available today!"
Members CollinsMS Posted September 30, 2008 Author Members Report Posted September 30, 2008 Sorry not sure what happened to the link. It works now. I would like to find out who and how many are interested and then as a group we can work out the details. I don't mind doing the organizing, web work and search engine optimization and I am not looking for some big percentage. I am looking for a way to get quality products to the consumer with the dream that some day Cabelas is nocking on our door. Ok so I dream big, my wife has to remind me all the time to start with a smaller dream. Thanks Mark The Leathercraftsman Quote
Moderator Johanna Posted September 30, 2008 Moderator Report Posted September 30, 2008 Mark, that is what I've been trying to do with LW- bring customers and sellers together. Maybe you and I should pool our resorces and come up with some plans to help all leatherworkers and their related vendors. I think we'll do more working together, you have the expertise, I have the contacts and webspace. This site is all about keeping people from having to get day jobs. It's why I encourage them to fill out their profile- Google really does love this site. Would it help you to see site stats? tell me what email you prefer in a PM. Johanna Quote You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. - Mark Twain
Members ptanks56 Posted September 30, 2008 Members Report Posted September 30, 2008 Mark, A very exciting idea. I am in process of producing gun leather in sets and have no idea how to get these items out to the public I am a mounted shooter and I'm not even sure i can display my items at shoots due to some others marketing their items. As a new comer to retail I don't even know how to price my rigs as far as quality and style. This might be a great way for others like me to ease into the retail environment. I have attached a sample of a holster I have finished but the pic shows the carving detail. Tank Quote
Ambassador Luke Hatley Posted September 30, 2008 Ambassador Report Posted September 30, 2008 way to go.. i want to make the items and let someone else do the paper work. Quote Luke
Members Ladybug Posted October 1, 2008 Members Report Posted October 1, 2008 I also have been looking for something like this. I mostly make knife sheaths for knifemakers.. I've been in the annual Knife Book four times including the new 2009 issue. I have also been featured in Blade Magazine. I do make gun holsters and shell holders for cowboy action shooters (I shoot SASS) Most of the work I do at this time is custom, but I do go to knife and gun shows and lay my product on a table for sale. Ladybug Quote
Members Davy Posted October 1, 2008 Members Report Posted October 1, 2008 Sounds like virtual consignment without having goods sitting somewhere gathering dust . Great idea hope it goes well . Cheers , Dave . Quote I'd be more apathetic if I wasn't so lethargic !!!!
Members Andy Posted October 1, 2008 Members Report Posted October 1, 2008 Collins, Sounds interesting, email me please! ( andy@shottist.com ) Andy Quote Andy Langlois Slings: www.andysleather.com My other biz is for sale: http://leathershopforsale.com/
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