Where is the money in leatherwork?

[Daggrim]

Pete, I have to say that is exactly how I've been running my small business making reenactment stuff. Now, THAT'S a niche market.

It's very important to keep your eyes and ears open for opportunities, and to always, always yak it up with people. Shmoozing is an honorable, and smart way to conduct business. I'd like to give an example that led to my alltime best day for sales. I was a merchant at a small show...tiny show...organized by a local college drama dept. I did it just for the fun of supporting the efforts of some college students, without much hope of turning a profit.

While there, I saw a flier for another event commemorating Hermann the German's victory over the Roman legions in the year 9. It was a very long shot, as there would be few reenactors there, but a lot of middle aged Germans. Well, I sold SEVEN helmets at the one day event, and even more sales later! My previous best was 3 in a weekend.

Many of my sales have come from taking the time to just talk with people. Y'gotta listen and ask questions more than you talk. There are a lotta talkers at these shows...my wife and I call 'em "monologuers". Don't be one.

I've added some cool items to my list of products over the last 5 years, mostly in the $25 to $65 range, and some of them are very popular. They're in a good niche that was vacant.

One item, though, I spent untold nimbers of hours perfecting, and I've only sold a half dozen of them in 2 years. Well, I'm saving the other dozen, just waiting for the right event to come along.

I'm rambling.

Doug

I'm way too much of a beginner myself to have any really useful insights, but part of what I'm doing is looking within a niche market for gaps that are not being adequately filled. If I can step into the gaps, I've got a chance to pull some money without having to compete as hard as if I step up with products that are already being commonly produced.

From that base, I hope to bootstrap into somewhat larger markets, while continuing to build my skills and watching for product opportunities.

[99centtaco]

I have been doing it for 3 years....

I have orders come in everyday.. I do mostly costume stuff for people all over the world. No advertising. I feel very lucky. Last year I did over $30,000 for the year, which was my 3rd year of leather crafting. It gets higher every year by a few thousand.

[gunter]

Hey guys,

I don't wanna be the party pooper, or the spoilsport or whatever, but the ones I know who made a living or better said tried to make a living out of making leather stuff, had to go back to their old jobs because they couldn't bear the costs anymore after a while. For that even a good bizzplan can't always tell ....

But you can always try ;-). Good luck anyways!

Gunter

[Daggrim]

So, Mr. 99 cent taco, You make $30,000 a year doing this, after only 3 years? Got a website someone can look at? Hmm, pardon me while I roll up my pants cuff.

Doug

Hey guys,

I don't wanna be the party pooper, or the spoilsport or whatever, but the ones I know who made a living or better said tried to make a living out of making leather stuff, had to go back to their old jobs because they couldn't bear the costs anymore after a while. For that even a good bizzplan can't always tell ....

But you can always try ;-). Good luck anyways!

Gunter

Edited November 10, 2009 by Daggrim

[gunter]

doug,

I had no meaning to be mean, but where I live, in europe, there is no real market for just leatherwork. I know the thing in some countries is different.

Sorry if I madeyou mad.

Gunter

[Daggrim]

Gunter, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to reply to your post. It was meant for the person just above your post. And it was an unnecessarily harsh post, anyway. If I'm wrong to be skeptical of 99centtaco's post, I can eat crow...I know how to do that.

Doug

Doug

doug,

I had no meaning to be mean, but where I live, in europe, there is no real market for just leatherwork. I know the thing in some countries is different.

Sorry if I madeyou mad.

Gunter

[99centtaco]

Doug, its ok. I know it does seem crazy that I would make that much in a year after only 3 years of doing this.

I started out doing costumes for guys that dress up as Star Wars characters. I belong to several forums and each forum has 1000's of members. I noticed alot of members doing half-@ss jobs in leather working. I'm not a pro but I knew I could do better.

Once people started to see my work I got orders pouring in. Not just Star Wars but other movie and gaming costumes as well.

Not sure what kind of proof you would have liked to see.... Wanna see my tax returns? hehe

Don't worry I didn't take it personally. When someone doubts my income like that, it makes me feel pretty good.

[Denise]

Doug and Gunter,

I think the answer here is "niche market", one that doesn't have a lot of competition from other high quality makers (you have to compete on quality, not price. That war you will always lose.) and one where you have the knowledge to make things to the level of quality and function expected by the people who are part of that niche. I think of Suze and her dollhouse items, or HorseHairBraider with her model horse gear and Bruce Johnson with his rope cans. For us, Rod built his first saddle tree in early 1996. By the end of 1998 I quit working out and got to stay home and work in the business with him. Less than three years and this business has fully supported us ever since. It IS possible. The custom saddle making world is a small one and people talk to each other. I assume the same is true of Star Was reenactors, doll house and model horse collectors, ropers, and probably people who want authentic leather helmets. Your Hermann the German show obviously hit the niche. The helmets you sold there are probably still getting your name known in around that circle. Now to find others shows of that nature.

Many of my sales have come from taking the time to just talk with people. Y'gotta listen and ask questions more than you talk.

Good statement. Finding out what people want, ideas they have and even things they don't like or would change in your product is invaluable. Some people just want to make what they want to make the way they want to make it and then complain when it doesn't sell. Customers have lots of good suggestions and ideas, and barring compromise on function or safety, incorporating their input into a specific item or even your whole line if the idea is good enough will often increase your sales and even the quality of your items.

[8thsinner]

Struck another deal today.

Walking past a local craft shop, I decided to stop in and ask if I can offer them cheaper lace supplies.

I went in because I know the stuff they get they charge too much for, so I assumed they were either greedy with their own mark up or didn't have a good supplier.

They said they would be interested if I could beat a certain price.

Well I went home and did some rough minimum calculations and worked out I could provide for 50% (charging them 90% of what they stated) of what they told me they were buying in for, So I took in a sample of stuff, that was cut, dampened stretched by hand as i ran it through my hands whilst saddle soaping and briefly burnished to remove excess soap, which actually polished it very very well.

And Although I took the stuff from a rather expensive hide that required thinning could still make a profit on using plates of lace.

Taking a whole lace with a solid 4foot circle I should be able to increase productivity by 30%.

Anyway, Compared to the stuff they had in stock, the boss took one look at it and said order a few rolls.

Yay.

If they like it so much and want it so bad, it's encouraged me also to go round local show shops and other craft shops asking the same.

Enough regular orders will cover my costs in this and constantly provide me with lace to use for my own projects. And also benefits me as being a customer that leather hide providers will perhaps look more favourably towards.

Another thing, I am only using a lace maker and a hand made leather thinner cutter.

Ah, yes that S word for cutting the back of leather I have for weeks been forgeting the terminology, Anyone else get this???

[99centtaco]

Just an example,

I have three runs going on right now in 3 different forums..

One is called The dented Helmet. Where we like to recreate the costume for Boba Fett. A Star Wars character.

A boba fett costume done right with the best makers can have a total cost of around $5000 and up.

I know because my own came near that cost.

I do leather belts and and slings, others have tried to come in and be makers as well but everyone seems to wait for me to do more.

I started this run about mid Oct this past month. Here is a screen cap of the thread.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm183/99centtaco/Untitled-2copy.jpg

My list shows 16 members paid. I try to keep a low cost for these guys so I charged $100 this round. Normally I do them for $150 but I was feeling good....hehe

At 16 orders that equals $1600.00

On my other two forums I am doing pouches and harnesses.. Those are around the same. So if you add up all three forums I have pulled in around $4600 since October. Its not always that big every month but thats how I get up to doing about $30,000 a year. I also do craftshows in my city.

If your trying to make some money, I would hit costume forums such as Lord of the Rings, or Indian Jones. Costumes where leather is huge. I have not even tapped into those forums yet. I have only browsed around. I thought about getting in there but don't have the time. I'm only one guy. Just an FYI.

Edited November 11, 2009 by 99centtaco