My First Tooled Belt On Etsy - Comments?

[Spindrift57]

Good looking belt GMK but sadly there are loads of good looking, mass produced belts out there. For what it's worth I'd encourage you to think of early pieces as 'lost leaders' and move them on in order to make more almost regardless of price. As you make more develop your 'point of difference' what makes your pieces stand out from the crowd? Have a look at Monica's work, her violin bags are original and stunning.

Market places are great if you have a steady output but friends and family are a far more accessible market and is where most of my early pieces have gone. Once word gets out you'll get commissions and then you can start thinking about racking up your price per hour.

I'd agree with the earlier comment about lining your belts. I'd also stitch the buckles and keepers rather than using rivets which, please don't be offended, make it look like a mass produced item.

As has been said before, it takes time to get known. Keep plugging away, as with your obvious talent it will be sooner rather than later!

[Harrybodger]

Thats a great belt. Others here have given some great advice on ETSY, I echo that I found I needed at least 20 items to get interest. Ideally you get some good feedback on a couple of items to get confidence, and you should ship around the world. I am using other social media channels now and my own website....though I may restart Etsy at Christmas. Good luck. Harry

[TexasLady]

I love the belt, too. And as already mentioned, the photo looks artsy and professional.

I'm not wanting to derail our "pretty belt" topic, but, on shipping internationally, I do know that certain places (like the Australian outback near Norseman) has laws against bringing in/sending in leather. They are terrified - probably with good cause - of receiving our hoof and mouth decease, etc. So any leather goods shipped there could feasibly be confiscated and destroyed. Or, yes, it might be returned to sender. But this is something to keep in mind and to check into before shipping internationally. The buyer might not even be aware, especially if he is not a native.

[Gov website]

"Why cant I bring or send goods into Australia that are already available in Australia?

The items you buy in Australia have been commercially produced and imported under strict biosecurity conditions. Similar items that are home-made, traditionally produced or purchased overseas could carry biosecurity pest or disease risks and cannot be imported."

http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/faqs

Edited April 29, 2015 by TexasLady

[Halitech]

I didn't know about that TexasLady but I have shipped things in that I've made with no problems so far.

[TexasLady]

... and I hope you'll continue to be able to do so. Sometimes there's no rhyme or reason to import laws. They can be relaxed for a while, then suddenly there's a clampdown.

In the movie Roadgames, Stacy Keach plays an American truck-driving in Australia. He's wearing old beat up leather boots, which the movie makes a point of saying is illegal. I tried to find the spot in the movie, but couldn't. Anyway, here's a link to the whole thing on YouTube:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=W32HPqf741E

Edited April 30, 2015 by TexasLady

[Halitech]

I hope it lasts a bit longer, got a wallet I have to ship back there after I get the shipment of roo leather from him

[jmkjmk2]

Great job!

[TexasLady]

Halitech-I wish I could get to make things out of kangaroo hide like you are. Must be nice. Maybe later, when I've improved my skills. I found somebody's site with a nice description of why 'roo' hide us so special. Stronger and lighter weight than cowhide, for starters.

[Excerpt]

"Kangaroo leather is lighter and stronger than the hide of a Cow or Goat. It has 10 times the tensile strength of Cowhide and is 50% stronger than the skin of a goat."

http://www.waynesplaitedleads.com/why-choose-kangaroo.asp

[Halitech]

I know roo is highly prized by those making whips and this will be my first time using it. He's also sending me the card and contact info of a reseller so I'm hoping we can make some kind of deal to have him ship me more.

[Grey Drakkon]

Looks like it's not quite that bad, according to the Australiangovernment website: http://www.agriculture.gov.au/travelling/mail/cant-mail if you look in the animals/animal by-products, it's RAW leather that's not allowed, which makes sense because cured leather (the stuff we work with) can't possibly infect anything with the chemical bath it sits in. If it's say, just salted hides though, that would be forbidden.