Thoughts On Purchased Interiors

[rawcustom]

Not expecting a right or wrong answer, just wanted to know the opinions out there for using or not using purchased interiors for wallets. My opinion makes me feel like I can't claim I made an item if I didn't make 100% of it, so I sludge through my version of an interior. They also look to add to your material cost since they do have some considerable expense versus the raw material to make them. I understand I'm probably out financially making my own once I consider time, just noting another difference.

For those that use them are you happy with them, do you let your customers know they aren't yours??

For those stubborn like me what advantages do you see to making them yourselves?

I obviously have a few more of my own opinions but interested what others think on this.

[Ferg]

I use the ready mades occasionally. They are useful even at some being high priced for a wallet etc. that does not meet my criteria for completely handmade by me.

I believe you should make note to your potential customer when the interiors are not made by you.

ferg

[MonicaJacobson]

Interesting question. The criteria for "made by you" can also be "repurposed by you", I think. After all, that interior wouldn't be a wallet if you didn't finish it. If I ever ran into a market for wallets (and I haven't found one yet unless it has a fox on it), and needed lots of them, I would definitely buy, but I would probably note it in the info about the wallet.

[Pounder]

For my 2 cents, all of my customers are told the interior is not made by me and they do not care, they are more interested in the design I place on the exterior which is generally their idea. I do let them choose which interior they like and tell them up front the cost which is included into the cost of the designed wallet.

[rawcustom]

For my 2 cents, all of my customers are told the interior is not made by me and they do not care, they are more interested in the design I place on the exterior which is generally their idea. I do let them choose which interior they like and tell them up front the cost which is included into the cost of the designed wallet.

I like the idea if using them to be upfront from the start and let them have a choice in style. Not sure I will use them or not, but I think if I did this is how I would go about it.

[billybopp]

It may work or not .. but you might sell the pre-made interiors as a feature, particularly if the name brand on them has a known reputation or just sounds exotic. I don't know if you have your own brand name, nor which interiors you are using, but by way of example: "Rawcustom wallets, featuring Chaylor-Fenneli® interiors".

Bill

[JLSleather]

I prefer to use them pre-fabbed where I can, simply because in the time it takes to make them, I could have made considerably more $ doing something else.. Or, the same $, for less time, which is as good.

Still, I sometimes make 'em when I want one off the beaten path. Or, if all that's available is that cheap pigskin crap. Here's a couple I did not too far back, specifically requested done this way. This is actually quite a bit more work than it looks like, and you can bet that those who "fabricate" them for sale have a set up just for this - only way to make it pay is MASS produce. Any rate, one for a "billfold", one for a "long wallet" (or whatever the kids are calling them these days).

OH, and I have used the Chaylor interiors, which are okay usually (not git-on-a-soap-box-wonderful, but okay).

Edited January 19, 2015 by JLSleather

[rawcustom]

After making up 2 this weekend, I agree that the only way it would be cost effective for your time is to have a fabrication setup and mass produce. And I don't think there is anything I'm making that's going to be any better than what I could source premade. I guess for me personally I am on more of a quest to make something entirely on my own and in itself is unique. I do feel like if I were to start selling in much of any capacity I would be looking for a quality interior. Bill, that's a great way to spin "I don't want to make an interior" into a very positive marketing light, I like it. After all it seems many people spending money are looking for names as much as they are anything.