How Much Money Did You One Person Operations Spend Getting Started?

[DavidL]

1200 total for vergez blanchard tools, dixon pricking iron, die cutters, supplies and leathers. Planning to spend 2-4 grand on an apprenticeship and work for someone for a few months to work off my debt and earn enough to live on. I plan to make a small web business selling leather goods and maintain another job until it gets off the ground. Worst that can happen is I make a side business that makes a few bucks on the side.

[BondoBobCustomSaddles]

When I first started, I had about $600 tied up in materials and a couple of hundred in tools. every time I made something for someone, I just added a tool to the order sometimes it was $5 and sometimes it was a couple of hundred, and so on. Later I started buying the bigger stuff when I got paid for a saddle or set of chaps and so on. Now, I find I wouldn't even be able to guess how much I have invested, but; my experience is that you can never have too many tools, especially god ones. You can help stave off the cost some and get good used tools in good shape, by buying from Bruce Johnson. He will always be glad to give you some advice on what you need when looking for that special something to do that certain type of cut, stamp, etc. and his prices are good.

Hope that helps!

Bob

[Tallbald]

This has once again for me become a very helpful and interesting thread. I'll add this in to my situation. Leather crafting is not a business for me but rather a hobby that I need to turn into a self-supporting one. I did it in the 90's with wood sculpture turning and bought all my tools with sales proceeds at the time. Nowadays though I am unable to even attempt making leather crafting into a business because given physical limits, I cannot take volume orders much less turn out an item at wholesale rates. Some days I can produce and some days it's a chore just to move around in our own home. At this time, I have paid for my sewing machine, which as some have pointed out has resale value should it become necessary (comforting). I have also placed for sale a large wood turning lathe I am no longer able to use. I have a few other things I plan to place up for sale locally, to help fund what in essence is a mandatory change in hobby. I am not being forced by my loving wife to do this, but as a practical man made the choice myself and look at my hobby change as a change out of necessity.

I respect the admonitions to buy quality tools and materials. I'm a retired ER nurse, but in addition to that I'm also a Journeyman Tool and Die maker who knows the value of good tools. "Buy quality once, cry once" of course can be taken to an extreme and by some, be used inappropriately to rationalize over-buying, but it's been a good rule of thumb for me. But high quality materials and tools that work will I think remove one roadblock to any potential success.

My wife and I are currently networking with other craft show participants, two of which have many years of experience with shows in a 75 to 120 mile radius. Together she and I have "done" two shows in our town, and are learning what does and does not work for us. The advice of our networking friends has helped immensely, and our extended family has been very encouraging and emotionally supportive. I have had a sales tax number for many years, and since making the Leather Decision have used it to good effect setting up to wholesale accounts with a couple suppliers. Makes a BIG difference in purchase prices of tools and such. My wife and I are all above board and did turn in sale tax receipts for the few items we sold at the two shows last fall, and we both keep good and honest records (both of us are retired nurses used to detailed record keeping).

What I plan to do at this time is to get my machine, learn its use, and make several copies of items I want to try marketing. Handbags, snap style belt key holders, billfolds, book covers, phone cases, messenger bags, and generic folding knife cases. I think that given the economy, items with a price point of less than $20 would sell quicker than higher priced items. I will be experimenting.

The amounts I see others here having to spend seem right in line with what I have earmarked for my tools and supplies. I feel better folks. I truly appreciate the sharing of experience here. Thanks again, Don

[SeekingPerfection]

This has once again for me become a very helpful and interesting thread. I'll add this in to my situation. Leather crafting is not a business for me but rather a hobby that I need to turn into a self-supporting one. I did it in the 90's with wood sculpture turning and bought all my tools with sales proceeds at the time. Nowadays though I am unable to even attempt making leather crafting into a business because given physical limits, I cannot take volume orders much less turn out an item at wholesale rates. Some days I can produce and some days it's a chore just to move around in our own home. At this time, I have paid for my sewing machine, which as some have pointed out has resale value should it become necessary (comforting). I have also placed for sale a large wood turning lathe I am no longer able to use. I have a few other things I plan to place up for sale locally, to help fund what in essence is a mandatory change in hobby. I am not being forced by my loving wife to do this, but as a practical man made the choice myself and look at my hobby change as a change out of necessity.

I respect the admonitions to buy quality tools and materials. I'm a retired ER nurse, but in addition to that I'm also a Journeyman Tool and Die maker who knows the value of good tools. "Buy quality once, cry once" of course can be taken to an extreme and by some, be used inappropriately to rationalize over-buying, but it's been a good rule of thumb for me. But high quality materials and tools that work will I think remove one roadblock to any potential success.

My wife and I are currently networking with other craft show participants, two of which have many years of experience with shows in a 75 to 120 mile radius. Together she and I have "done" two shows in our town, and are learning what does and does not work for us. The advice of our networking friends has helped immensely, and our extended family has been very encouraging and emotionally supportive. I have had a sales tax number for many years, and since making the Leather Decision have used it to good effect setting up to wholesale accounts with a couple suppliers. Makes a BIG difference in purchase prices of tools and such. My wife and I are all above board and did turn in sale tax receipts for the few items we sold at the two shows last fall, and we both keep good and honest records (both of us are retired nurses used to detailed record keeping).

What I plan to do at this time is to get my machine, learn its use, and make several copies of items I want to try marketing. Handbags, snap style belt key holders, billfolds, book covers, phone cases, messenger bags, and generic folding knife cases. I think that given the economy, items with a price point of less than $20 would sell quicker than higher priced items. I will be experimenting.

The amounts I see others here having to spend seem right in line with what I have earmarked for my tools and supplies. I feel better folks. I truly appreciate the sharing of experience here. Thanks again, Don

Do you think you will be able to keep up on turning out enough product with those $20 price points? Dont get me wrong $20 is the perfect price for an impulse purchase at many shows. But if you want to average say $1,000 a day (to survive I have found this to be a good goal) over a 2 or 3 day show you're going to need to sell 100 to 150 pieces. And to sell a 100 pieces you're going to need at least 3 times that on the table.

Now I realize that my example might be crazy high for someone starting out (make it a goal), but divide that number out to whatever your goal is. Even if your goal is $300 a day you're still going to need to make a lot of product at those price points. Can your body hold up to that kind of labor? You need to be realistic with yourself and what you are capable of. Sitting out at a show takes a real toll on the body as well. Loading, unloading, standing in the sun for 12 hours, ect.

With all that said, I would suggest you have a variety of price points. you keep your low end stuff easy to turn out, and put some nicer pieces out where you can get more money for it. As long as the value is there people will buy whatever you put on the table. When I do shows I have things priced from $3 (not leather) up to $300 or $400 in the booth. Some people will buy the cheap $3 stuff, and others will buy the more expensive $400 stuff. I am a fairly young guy, but I will tell you selling at shows is not easy on the body. And when you're making the stuff it's even harder.

Like I said be realistic with your expectations. Figure out what you're going to do if your stuff sells too good. And figure out how often you want to work. Doing shows can provide a very lucrative lifestyle, but it doesn't come cheap.

Edited April 18, 2014 by SeekingPerfection

[immiketoo]

I have spent 10K in my first year and a half. A big portion of that is my Cobra 4, but the rest is hand tools, leather etc. It's hugely addicting, and I admit I have many things that I probably won't use for a while like spots, buckles etc. But, I don't care. I NEED to do leatherwork and in turn, I need quality tools. I found out quickly that poor quality tools irritate me, and so I graduated to better tools. Of course, that why my figure is so high. The quality of my work and the ease with which it is done makes that expanse worth it to me. Another plus is that you will always get your money out of quality tools should you decide to sell them, and, they eliminate any excuses that you might decide to blame on a crappy tool.