WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE GIVE ME A DIRECT ANSWER TO MY QUESTIONS

[bryan4christ]

I won't name any names but I've asked some of the "best" here on this site some simple questions and all I've gotten is crap in response

Can somebody please tell me....

.....what leatherwork will bring in the highest rate of return?   I Live in Northern California.....

.....does handmade leatherwork sell for more or does it just take too much time?

.....what outlets do you use to sell your leather goods?

....I just need some honest straight forward answers

[LatigoAmigo]

10 minutes ago, bryan4christ said:

....I just need some honest straight forward answers

Leather working is a tough business, and very few make it, so most of us on this site are hobbyists and happy.

[480volt]

I’m going to be a little more direct than LatigoAmigo. Maybe the “best” contributors (whatever that means) are busy, or haven’t logged in for a while, or didn’t want to answer questions that you could answer yourself with diligent searching. 

It astounds me that professionals, and I don’t mean people making side money selling holsters and stuff to their buddies, who are willing to share their time and techniques and talk openly about their businesses and marketing. If you just google “leatherworker marketing” you will find a thread that stretched over years discussing people’s approach to leatherwork as a business. 

So do your own legwork. If you can’t at least put that much effort into it, you surely aren’t going to make any money at this. I know I don’t, but I never intended to, so maybe my opinion is just more “crap”.

 

[chrisash]

There is no one answer to your questions

Most leather workers who make money have chosen a niche product range and spent money marketing their goods , just like any other business

Some will make well made items for others to sell, Brian in Australia appears to make goods especially for a well known outlet selling high value goods with gator leather among other things and produce the same item in quite large numbers gaining the advantage of small mass production

Others may concentrate on Holsters or tooling, but whatever you do you need to identify your market and investigate how you will get sales from that market. Hermes does not sell in small town shops as a rule but concentrates on high value stores where their customers are, alternatively your split leather cheap belts will be found in every low cost clothing store

Tiny one man bands often find it hard to identify their market and dont have the money to advertise, but just put up a very basic website and hope for the best. 

Customers got to shows or country fairs for many reasons not necessary to buy goods, but depending on the audience impulse buys can be high or low value goods, but high value are normally thought about products rather than impulse buy

Some leather workers don't want to keep making the same product day in day out others find it rewarding, the only rule is Time must be spent efficiently

[LumpenDoodle2]

2 hours ago, chrisash said:

There is no one answer to your questions

Most leather workers who make money have chosen a niche product range and spent money marketing their goods , just like any other business

Some will make well made items for others to sell, Brian in Australia appears to make goods especially for a well known outlet selling high value goods with gator leather among other things and produce the same item in quite large numbers gaining the advantage of small mass production

Others may concentrate on Holsters or tooling, but whatever you do you need to identify your market and investigate how you will get sales from that market. Hermes does not sell in small town shops as a rule but concentrates on high value stores where their customers are, alternatively your split leather cheap belts will be found in every low cost clothing store

Tiny one man bands often find it hard to identify their market and dont have the money to advertise, but just put up a very basic website and hope for the best. 

Customers got to shows or country fairs for many reasons not necessary to buy goods, but depending on the audience impulse buys can be high or low value goods, but high value are normally thought about products rather than impulse buy

Some leather workers don't want to keep making the same product day in day out others find it rewarding, the only rule is Time must be spent efficiently

Chrisash, you’ve  hit the nail on the head on all points.    

None of the questions can be really be answered in anything but a general way.    Outlets, prices, best thing to make, are all too variable, and with todays market, a one man/woman band selling around the world is almost the norm.

In most leatherwork, it’s the niche market which provides a reasonable income, small scale mass production gives a consistent income, one off customer personalised items (IMHO) provides most fun.

Building your market/customer base takes time, and a shortcut can’t really be provided by answering a few questions.    

I don’t want to discourage you, but also consider that if someone in your area is making a living selling a leather product, with the best will in the world, would they honestly be inclined to want to openly hand over their market to someone else.   If you discover that product/market through your own research, and start getting business from that, then more power to your elbow.

 

 

[Frodo]

8 hours ago, bryan4christ said:

I won't name any names but I've asked some of the "best" here on this site some simple questions and all I've gotten is crap   in response

Can somebody please tell me....

.....what leatherwork will bring in the highest rate of return?   I Live in Northern California.....

I have no idea what sells in your area,  That is a subject that you must figure out on your own

.....does handmade leatherwork sell for more or does it just take too much time?

Depends on your clientele,  Some ONLY want cheap,sweat shop $25.00 bags.  Others want quality,  AGAIN.  I have no idea about your area 

.....what outlets do you use to sell your leather goods?

I sell on the internet and locally via word of mouth

....I just need some honest straight forward answers

No one can tell you anything about the market in your area except people from your area. As far as what people want?  That also depends on your clients. are they lumberjacks?  who want chaps and ax covers?   gun owners who want holsters?  Find a swap meet and rent a booth. 

That is all the ""CRAP""  I have to offer

 

[Rhale]

Not only does it depend on what sells in your area the quality of your work will decide if your product will sell and for how much!  As everyone else has said what sells in my area probably won’t sell in California and visa versa.  Find out what sells where you are, make the highest quality product you can using the highest quality materials, price accordingly and if you have everything right it will sell, if it doesn’t then something you are doing isn’t right!  Product? Area? Quality? Price?

[Bert51]

I think you have received some very good advice from the posts above, the bottom line is there is no short cuts to your question, you need to work out what will work for you, for your customers in your area and the type of product you need to make will be dictated by the above advice.

Please don't feel no one wants to help you, but you need to help your self by making some things and seeing how they sell and how they are received by your customers, they will tell you real quick if it's not what they want. Put feelers out and talk to them.

Bert..

[chrisash]

One other thing, you have to be able to sell, but that does not mean it must be to the end customer

If say you enjoy making holsters (which seem to be the american thing) then work with your local gun shops, they tell you whats popular and buy what you make for them to sell on. this can be you give them a discounted price, so they can still make a good profit, or you supply them with a number of products which they sell and you give them a commission (no risk to the shop owner)

Washing and repairing Horse blankets may be a good way into repairing tack or selling your own tack if you have the skills required

Edited May 10, 2020 by chrisash

[Constabulary]

You seem to be a religious person so why not going this way? Figure what people like you (religious people) could use - like bible covers, bookmarks, belts, bracelets with religious symbols... Not really my world but I´m sure your community / church my be interested in certain leather products with religious symbols or psalms,  portrayals or what ever... You know better than I....

Just to give you an idea - check etsy:

https://www.etsy.com/market/christian_leather

https://www.etsy.com/market/religious_leather

But be careful with plain copying other peoples products... Develop your own distinctive products - maybe even interfaith leather goods. I´m sure in the US you have a more religious "streams" than we do but again you know better than I. So why not some Jewish influenced leather goods (decorated tefflins, kippa or so)

https://www.etsy.com/de/search?q=jewish leather

or maybe even something for the other religions (if your religion allows this).

 

EDIT:

BTW - you probably have chosen the wrong forum section for this question. The Member Gallery is not where I would expect a question like yours but maybe a moderator can put it in the right section (maybe The Business > Getting Started)

 

Edited May 10, 2020 by Constabulary