JLSleather Report post Posted September 17, 2015 Got a link to over there. I'd seen it before, but guess I forgot. Some o you foks might wanna pick up some easy money over there. Leather pillow (approx cost $30) for $350? Puke brown belts for $100 (total time.. about half an hour). It goes on.... Check it out. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nuttish Report post Posted December 4, 2015 This site is genius. They should have a section called "Stuff Someone Made On a Laser Cutter". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TinkerTailor Report post Posted December 4, 2015 Nowadays handstitched means it is supposed to look crooked, uneven, with little rough edges and stray stitch holes everywhere. Punched with a round punch way too big for the thread. It is called character duh!! I show people, hipsters especially, my hand stitched stuff and 50% will not beleive it is by hand. They insist it is a machine, and i am lying cause it is too perfect. I do not think my hand stitching is anywhere near perfect but when competing against this: https://www.hatch.co/products/52667-personalized-flip-clip-leather-wallet-w-money-clip https://www.hatch.co/products/45733-mens-leather-bifold-wallet-slim-minimalist Wow... On the other hand, this guy is not bad and underpriced for this site: https://www.hatch.co/products/87604-double-eagle-bi-fold-wallet-all-leather-with-secret-pocket-and-money-divider-on-the-bill-compartment Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JLSleather Report post Posted December 4, 2015 Signs of the times. Instead of spending your time improving your skills, just spend that time convincing people that your poo isn't poo. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TinkerTailor Report post Posted December 4, 2015 Mythbusters proved you can polish a turd. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NVLeatherWorx Report post Posted December 4, 2015 I noticed that the first link takes you to the shop page of a couple who are also all over Etsy under the name of FatCatLeather; all of their leather articles are done from Tandy kits so that is why the stitching holes are round and too large. In fact, they don't really do anything to their leather items aside from use the simple stamped letters that are shown and a few of the 3-D stamps. I can tell you that they average approximately $2500 per week in sales on Etsy during non-Holiday time and their Holiday revenues go through the roof. Don't know what makes it so popular but their "stuff" sells and they do charge a hefty price when you take into consideration that they don't really do anything detailed or difficult. I also took a look at the other shops that were linked and agree about the stitching, not to mention the prices that are garnered. It appears that both of them are doing a decent business but again, I just don't see where they have the upper hand on the quality that I have seen from some of us. @TinkerTailor: I too have the same issue with getting people to believe that my stitching is done by hand so what I have done is I make it a point to take some items with me that need to be stitched together for final assembly and put right in the face of all those "you can't do that by hand" characters; amazing how the attitudes change when they see first hand that my hand-stitching is not only nicer looking than that of a machine but that the stitch itself is far superior to that of a machine. Unfortunately, the next response is always centered around the price attached to the item and the fact that if the stitching were done by machine it would take less time and cost less. I can tell you that my pricing is by no means where the "makers" that have been linked to here are at as the market is a tough place to find the comfort zone in but it sure makes me want to look at raising them to a more appropriate level if these people can sell multiple items daily. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aaronmcoleman Report post Posted January 9, 2016 I make guitar electronics and am heavily involved in that industry. It's not what's good that sells, it's what's "cool". My limited knowledge of leather seems like it's the same. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NVLeatherWorx Report post Posted March 10, 2016 Ran with Hatch.co for a few months and have say, it was not what they promote their system to be. I have closed my account with them as they are nowhere near the level of "expertise" and "uniqueness" that they claim. There were issues with my Maker Dashboard that were never corrected; their Maker Learning Center information promotes several options to help you market your products that actually no longer exist (got that from one of the founders), past couple weeks not even a single visit from anyone that they target or advertise to, and I also learned from a vast majority of those who are on Hatch.co that they have had little to no success so far but being as there are no fees associated with listing they are keeping the "Free Advertising". I have more important things to do than waste my time so I have moved on and left them in the dust. Besides, a large number of their Leather Goods Makers actually do some pretty shoddy work while trying to charge a price that you would associate with a designer fashion brand; the Hatch team is not as picky about the quality of work and craftsmanship as they would make you think. Maybe some day they will have it together but they have a long way to go right now. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Black Dogg Report post Posted March 12, 2016 TinkerTailor, I've had the same happen to me a few times in the past. I always have my travelling toolbox and clam with me and have amazed quite a few people that it can indeed be done that neatly by hand. One lady was not to be swayed, however, and actually threatened to report me for "false advertising" ! After she finally agreed to watch me do it, she turned around and walked away without another word after two stitches..... As the saying goes: "There's one in every crowd..." Black Dogg Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
