Today's Belt & Strap Production

[IndianaLeatherWorker]

at the state fair last year i bought a cranked belt for around $15. What really surprised me was I just bought a plain 10-12oz belt from wal-mart for $19.

I hope this helps.

But you could also offer Custom Created Belts for $$$. Maybe some other Handcrafted, Personalized items, specialties, etc..

[TomSwede]

rbd - A marketing trick I learned from my Grandma when setting up for a craft/street fair was take the tools of your trade. If you just set up the product, that is what people see, if they see your tools and see you working on a piece it makes it more personel and raises the prices. People see this as more special and one of a kind. Sell it to them that is hand made by showing them.

tjg

Gotta tell you a funny one here. Sorry if a bit off topic.

At a local quite big street fair I saw a guy sitting and carving (or looked to be) the most amazing woodenboxes, really nice with advanced carvings on them and the cost is next to nothing so I just turned one of them boxes around.

Made in Estonia and factorylabels aswell.

I just asked him if he sold his own handmade ones aswell, he gave me a short -No, on that one.

This was a few years ago and I always regret I didn't ask how the business was going but I haven't seen him around so maybe people saw through it.

Tom

[rdb]

Thanks for all the advice everyone...all good points.

I'm no rookie to the fairs. I used to do quite well 35 years ago with the leather, and have since done the circuits as a potter, and again with my hypertufa container gardens and fountains. mostly good days, with a few "why did I bothers". Something outside the arts always brought things to an end. This time is going to be lasting one..full circle don't you know. And now I've invested...my Artisan 3000 will be here in two weeks (This is worse than being a kid waiting for Christmas).

Today was dye day. I'll probably finish all the stuff tomorrow, and post a pic.

[rdb]

Hate to keep a thread going like this, but, well, I finally got around to finishing these damn belts up, and I promised a picture.

For the most part they turned out okay, not sure the pic will show, but there's some rich colors.

I got my GG Makers stamp. I think I'll get another one with the rdb a tad smaller, and the Rocky River Leather Co., a tad bigger.

If by any chance you like any of these, Steal any of the designs you want...

Edited March 2, 2008 by Johanna
reduced pic sizes

[Art]

Hi rdb,

What is the size distribution on belts you sell?

Art

Hate to keep a thread going like this, but, well, I finally got around to finishing these damn belts up, and I promised a picture.

For the most part they turned out okay, not sure the pic will show, but there's some rich colors.

I got my GG Makers stamp. I think I'll get another one with the rdb a tad smaller, and the Rocky River Leather Co., a tad bigger.

If by any chance you like any of these, Steal any of the designs you want...

[rdb]

Not sure exactly what you mean Art.

I haven't sold any belts for a very long time, so I'm not sure what widths, and what lengths will move.

Normally I used to make a bunch to size, 32s, 34s, etc. I hate cut belts, but I just don't know what's out there, so I'm just going to cut this first bunch out on the streets.

I've got about 30 other design belts, and I've got a slew of bridle leather belts I made up, brown, and black. I just edged them, bordered them, made them look rich.

The first show will only have about a hundred belts, just to see, don't you know.

[indypbear]

rdb,

Belts look good. I like the finish you've used. Thst's not my favorite part of leather work. Wish you success at the fair. You mentioned that you were having to more makers stamps made. We make Delrin™ and mag. stamps. Who re you having make yours and what material?

Glad you're back in the madness of leathercraft!

Indy

[Hidemechanic]

RDB, they turned out great.

Let me re-ask Art's question. For street fairs how do you determine sizes when you make up this many at a time?

Do you just do whatever sizes and hope to have enough people in those sizes buy them.

You don't mean you're going to 'cut them to length on street

as in lop off the long end do you? GH

[rdb]

This will be an "old school" street fair, yup, lop off the not needed part. I always hated that, but there's no way I can ramp up like I used to, in such a short time.

Back in the crustacean period, I would make up about 20 in each size, from 26 for women up to 48 for men. They would be about half of the same design, the rest would be separate designs. This worked well back then. I would have some three/four hundred belts, 20 or so of each size. On a good day, I could sell a hundred. I was getting $10/12 when others were getting $5-8.

A good weeks pay, when most were making 200 or 300 working for someone else.

Time enough to be fussy,later. I'm going to have to pay for that Artisan somehow..

[abn]

Ummm... What's wrong with sizing/cutting belts on the street? Seems pretty simple... Just punch a few holes, trim the excess strap, bevel and then edge dye. I've seen leatherworkers do this at craft fairs, and customers don't seem to mind...