This Art Form Is Going Straight To Hell

[Sheilajeanne]

Alaisiage, very true!

I was lucky that I got Bill as my sales person right off the bat. He did exactly as you suggested!

Oleskiver, yes, they seem to be 'dumbing down' their kits, making everything so simple even an idiot could do it. It's discouraging people who want something more complex and beautiful. And you are SO right about them eliminating tools needed for the more complex projects.

However, I am not sure I'd qualify Stohlman's work as 'easy' or 'simple' to do! He was a master craftsman and artist, and a lot of his designs need tools Tandy no longer sells.   

Edited August 23, 2020 by Sheilajeanne

[Johanna]

I used to manage a Tandy store in the 90s. We were open 54 hours a week and expected to run the store, teach classes and ship orders. I discovered it could take me an hour to sell a bag of rivets and a setter, and then I had to teach the customer how to do it. This was necessary retail service, but didn't help my numbers and made me look bad to corporate. So I made sure the coffee was fresh, and I let my regulars sit at the cutting table and work on their projects and tell fish tales. When I was busy, I could yell "Hey, Mike, will you show this gentlemen how to set a rivet?" My guys were great. Sometimes when I'd get back to the table they had convinced the customer to max out his credit card on shiny new tools. That was possible because the customers had confidence they were getting what they needed, and that people would help them learn as they went along. So, inadvertently, that's how this forum was born. I wanted it to be friendly like the back table, and give people the confidence to try the project, or a place to show off just how awesome their project turned out. If some rivets are swapped or hides are traded, all the better. If friendships are made, mentorships happen or we establish world peace through coordinated hammer taps, I will not have lived in vain. 

~J

[Sheilajeanne]

Awesome post, Johanna!  

[Alaisiagae]

I didn't know that, Johanna, thank you for sharing. :-)

Oleskiver, technically most of the tools are made in Taiwan, and any Taiwanese will tell you they are NOT China (despite China's claims). I agree that the tool quality is not super duper fantastic, but it's affordable enough for a beginner like me, and having a physical store I can walk into, ask questions, see and touch the tools, try them out - that's an experience I really enjoy. I do agree that it is frustrating when a craftaid or pattern calls for a tool/product that is no longer offered. I wish there was a way to just interchange the heads of the stamps on a single handle.

 

[DJole]

4 hours ago, Johanna said:

 If friendships are made, mentorships happen or we establish world peace through coordinated hammer taps, I will not have lived in vain. 

~J

World peace? That's a tall order, ma'am! I'd better get that mallet out and start working on it right away!
The other things -- you've got an excellent start on that here.  

[fredk]

Right, I'm off . . . 

1. Johanna's way in her Tandy shop is the way Warhammer shops work now. From 0 table top wargaming players in N.I. in the late 1990s to about 20 groups (estimated at 1200 - 1500 players) now, not all using Warhammer products.

2. Tandy never had a presence in  N.I. / Ireland. Nearest was in England and until just a few years before they closed down they refused to do postal delivery to N.I. One branch changed staff a lot and whilst I found one set decent the others were only interested in chalking up sales, they had no knowledge of the products they sold.

3. the OP opening is a rant against Tandy not specifically about the 'art' of leatherwork. Tandy is not the only leather goods supplier out there, as we all know already. Other companies are doing what they do, afair Le Prevo (England) attends 'medieval' fairs to sell leather goods. They go to sell but by having a presence they promote interest in leather working

4. Its naive to believe only one country can produce quality tools. eg Snap-on mechanics tools are all made in USA but they have a poor reputation in N.I.. I spoke to a professional mechanic about Snap-on tools and their life-time guarantee and instant replacement. He told me and showed me tools which were twisted and broken, he said the tools were 'soft' and not fit to use, they broke so often that Snap-on has to replace them. This mechanic now uses a top name of tool, also with the life-time guarantee and replacement, they are made in Taiwan. He's not had a breakage due to poor materials

5. This 'art form going to hell' is because despite our efforts the general public people out there no longer recognise it as such. They are happy to buy a cheap handbag of plasticky 'leather' from Tesco/ASDA/Walmart at £10/$10 than pay £30 for a true leather one.

So what are we going to do about it?

As we are from all over the world so our markets are so very different

I read and look at the most excellent holsters on here, but thats not my market. Only two groups here use firearms; the police and terrorists. The police have to use the government issue holster and the terrorists don't bother using one. I haven't sold a belt in years. People would rather pay £3 for a PVC one from the local Tesco/ASDA/Walmart

I'm in a special group which promotes Crafters of N.I. within and without N.I. Despite my approaches they won't recognise leather work as a 'craft'.   Its far too long to explain here. Its the same with both certain bodies which promote and set up craft/farmers markets and the insurance companies

6. This 'art form. . . .' ~~ whilst in certain countries the Sheridan or Western style of carving is still wanted, outside of 'medieval' groups no-one wants viking or Celtic lace stamping. My society is very divided.; whilst some will buy Celtic lace others won't touch it with the proverbial barge pole. The 'art work' of stamping and tooling needs brought into the 21st century

7. Its up to leather workers everywhere to advance the qualities of leather and leather work. Its up to us. No one is going to do it for us. Just because a Tandy branch closes we cannot cry,. 'oh they're not promoting leatherwork in my area'   

What are you and I going to do about it.? With Covid 19 restricting and altering my plans for 2020 I have the rest of this year to formulate my plans of attack for the 2021 season, and those plans are being worked out

Are there groups out there you can do some demo or teaching classes to? I tried it a few years ago, it didn't work out, but maybe a different type of demo might. I used to get lots of people standing watching when I made a small purse at 'medieval' events. At fairs I had two Oppos who minded the stall whilst I sat and sewed or made something, that drew a small crowd. Maybe the same in your area, get an Oppo to help out on the stall, do a 'demo' make at that farmers market next Saturday. Whilst show casing your work it also leads to interest of doing from others, especially if you put together some easy to make kits

 

*waffle mode off*

Edited August 23, 2020 by fredk

[Memphis514]

On 2/14/2020 at 4:53 PM, terrymac said:

I am going to take a different track on this one.  I am noticing improvements in Tandy sin e the new CEO has taken over. I think she is really trying to improve product selection and especially in their pricing.  I can now go into the local store and pick up a quart of Barges for the same price as on Amazon.  With my business discount, it is actually cheaper than Amazon.  I saw where they are bringing Angelus paint into the store and have greatly expanded their Fiebings inventory. It appears their push toward their Eco Flo products is backing off. Now if they would just bring Neatlac and their top of the line leather, I would be a happy camper. I am lucky in that I can go down to the store and dig thru a pile of leather and usually find something that will work.  They aren't Barry King or Herman Oak, but at least are trying.  You can go down to the local store on a Saturday morning and see quite a few people seated around tables taking lessons.

 

I am with you on this.  While i usually buy my leather from actual tanneries, it is nice to be able to go into my local Tandy (90 miles away) and the girls that work there actually know their stuff.  They are always very helpful and since the transition within the company, have tried to always accommodate me.  They do in a pinch for the small things I need and occasionally have some pretty nice clean shoulders and double shoulders for a decent price.  Plus when i run out of pro dye, they always have it in stock.  I needed some pro black the other day and I ordered it on Thursday and they immediately UPS'd it to me and I got it the next day.  I like that.  It was awesome that they actually take pride in servicing their customers.  Now, these guys might be the exception to the rule as I have had a lot of conversations with them in the store.  They come from leather working backgrounds and their fathers and uncles are in the craft back in Mexico.  So maybe I am just lucky to have some good ones here.

[Handstitched]

I'll only be repeating what I said earlier on this topic :

https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/88893-this-art-form-is-going-straight-to-hell/

If only Tandy tried opening in the west and not the east of Oz , they might have had a chance. My leather supplier has a some tools supplies etc. but thats just one supplier of leather supplies....thats it.. just one  in all of  Perth WA !!! Without them, everything would come from the east.   I know there are leather crafters in Perth because I've seen their work  when I've Judged at  shows , one being  the Royal Show ( huge event here in WA) 

10 hours ago, fredk said:

Are there groups out there you can do some demo or teaching classes to? I tried it a few years ago, it didn't work out,

Same here, I have tried, but never worked out 

That'll be 10 cents now.....thank you .....COVID  surcharge   

HS

[Retswerb]

12 hours ago, fredk said:

Are there groups out there you can do some demo or teaching classes to? I tried it a few years ago, it didn't work out, but maybe a different type of demo might. I used to get lots of people standing watching when I made a small purse at 'medieval' events. At fairs I had two Oppos who minded the stall whilst I sat and sewed or made something, that drew a small crowd. Maybe the same in your area, get an Oppo to help out on the stall, do a 'demo' make at that farmers market next Saturday. Whilst show casing your work it also leads to interest of doing from others, especially if you put together some easy to make kits

I’m personally not of the opinion that our art form is going away anytime soon, but this is a great approach anyway. I’ve been to a couple of the Maker Faire events and they are fantastic for all ages. Something like this would fit right in.

What’s with your crafters’ group not recognizing leatherwork though?? That’s nuts.

[Handstitched]

28 minutes ago, Retswerb said:

I’m personally not of the opinion that our art form is going away anytime soon

I do have many people that  still do appreciate the hand made item and/or custom made  to their specs   , but I still have those that say" I can get that online for xxxx$$ "   ( cheap cheap in other words)   . Perhaps its not going "Going Straight To Hell " , but it certainly has diminished somewhat ( here in west Oz), and I do believe online shopping as attributed to that . Apart from seeing others work Judging at shows, I never see any other leather workers or their work. 

O'h well, I'll just carry on as usual, educating & promoting the craft   

HS