Is a new leather sewing machine economically feasable or are sales to few in the leather business?

[DonInReno]

Sales has been and always will be like fishing - if big fish are thought of like big profit margins you can’t catch big fish in streams that only have small ones.  If big fish in your creek only bite a certain bait or lure it doesn’t matter how good YOUR bait is it isn’t going to change the fish’s preferences.  Fish are not evenly distributed in any lake or stream, and every body of water is slightly different - successful trophy fishermen look for pockets and in any industry there are pockets of money.  And just like fishing the best pockets of money require work and skills to tap into and not everyone is cut out for every niche - if it were easy everyone would be there.

[Lobo]

It is always interesting to learn from the experiences of people of other countries. I appreciate all those who have taken the time to add their comments to this post.

I have travelled much of western Europe, spent a little time in Australia, saw a lot of Vietnam (during the war), much of Mexico, Belize, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, and a few other places. There are huge differences in the economies, governments, cultures, traditions, and every other aspect of life. I feel very fortunate to be a US citizen, and to have been successful enough to retire comfortably with few worries.

Unlike some forum members, leather work was never a hobby for me. As a young police officer with children to feed and bills to pay there were things I needed, so I learned to make them. Others I worked with noticed, and I started receiving requests to make holsters, belts, and accessories for others. Leather work remained only a small business sideline for years until my retirement. All that time I did everything by hand, including stitching. A relatively simple holster required most of an hour to lay out the stitching pattern, punch all the holes, and hand-stitch using harness needles.

When I entered the business full-time, using the Internet as a marketing tool, I quickly had to adapt to a much larger volume of orders. I tried a stitching machine, which was minimal at best and not capable of standing up to the demands I required. I studied and sought advice from others, then ordered a Cobra Class 4 (Leather Machine Company). Stitching chores that used to require 45 minutes to an hour started getting done in 5 or 6 minutes; I could complete 10 items in the time I used to spend on one, and that does not even take into account how much easier the work is on the hands and forearms!

I strongly recommend a power stitching machine for anyone planning to do production work in leather. The increase in production capacity makes it possible to earn far more in much less time, and the work becomes much less tedious or strenuous.

I also recommend investing in a machine that exceeds your expected needs. A machine that is minimally suitable will be constantly worked at its capacity, accelerating wear and tear, and causing more maintenance issues. A heavy duty professional machine will do the required tasks without stress or strain, and will usually outlive the owner.

Contacting Cobra Steve and Leather Machine Company could be one of the smartest things a leather craftsman ever does.

Best regards, from an old retired hide pounder!

Edited August 22, 2018 by Lobo

[Yetibelle]

I didn't read all the comments, since I'm tired and lazy (and honest), so forgive me is this was mentioned...

As startup cost go I think a leather craft business is very reasonable, the 441 clone while it appears expensive is a great investment.  It will last almost forever, unlike a most other modern day tools and equipment, and thus it will pay for itself very quickly.  The learning curve isn't that complicated; now I can make 2-3 items a day that use to take me 2-3 days to make 1 item.  The product design, marketing and order fulfillment, just like any other business, would be a struggle to master.