[TheForge] Future of blacksmithing

Fri Apr 21 16:16:11 EDT 2006

Jeff, just remember the blacksmith's two cardinal sins....

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Jeffrey Polaski
Sent: Friday, April 21, 2006 4:04 PM
To: Sponsored by ABANA
Subject: RE: [TheForge] Future of blacksmithing

Just to add my $0.02...

Please keep in mind that I have no experience with this, but I'd like to
share my thoughts on making this smithing thing a business. I've been
looking into making this a full-time thing, working into it over a few
years. 

I think one of the keys to making a successful go at this is to offer
something that's customized to the buyer. For example, if someone wants
a fence for their house, try adding elements that reflect the owner's
life. Maybe kids playing, or their favorite pet, or their car... you get
the idea. You need to make something they can't get elsewhere. The
people I've talked to have all emphasized that you can't skimp on
quality or creativity. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that it's an
easy way to go or anything. Just that it's important to do your best and
produce a quality product. Otherwise you're competing with cheap
imports, and I just don't see how you can win that battle.

Still, you need to get your name out. I was thinking of going to
swap-meets, SCA events and such. I figure if I can make three $20 items
an hour, and sell them, then that's $60 an hour. So I'd like to try
making bottle openers, railroad spike knives, that kind of thing. The
goal for the swap-meet isn't to make a lot of money, but advertising.
The only problem is I doubt the swap-meet crowd would be willing to fork
over a lot of money for custom smithing. But I figure it's worth a try.

Jeff Polaski
Research and Graduate Studies Webmaster
University of California, Irvine
http://www.rgs.uci.edu/
949.824.6363

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Demon Buddha
Sent: Friday, April 21, 2006 10:48 AM
To: Sponsored by ABANA
Cc: The_Anvil at yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Future of blacksmithing

Dan Tull wrote:
> We have always had the problem of explaining to prospective customers
what we do and can do.
> We don't shoe horses(most of us), and we do better work than pier one
imports stuff.

	I'd say a baby crapping spinach in his diapers is better than
that, but 
what do I know?

> If you can draw it, we can make it, if you have enough money.

	And if you are willing to part with that money.  I've worked
with a few 
very wealthy clients (hundreds of millions in personal net worth) and 
most of them were nickel/dime bastards whose buttholes I wanted to 
introduce to a high velocity porcupine.  It's very frustrating when 
someone comes ot you with an attitude, telling you that they don't want 
to pay more than $150 for a $2500 table.  That gets old very quickly. 
Some can be edumacated, but just as many don't care to hear just how 
much work goes into iron.  They either find some dufus willing to do it 
for what they are willing to pay, or they end up at Pier 1 buying crap 
from south of the border.  This was the big thing in Phoenix.  People 
thought it was "rustic", when all it was was pure crap.  Tough business.
> 
> Our local guild( read blacksmithing club) would like to, once a
quarter, have a meeting in the public eye.
> Get the public into our auctions so blacksmiths aren't buying
blacksmithing. It's hard to pay a lot for something we could make.
> Not to mention the new members we could get with that exposure.

	You might see better success if you made it some sort of more 
accessible event. Accessible in the minds of the public in order to get 
better longevity.  Perhaps a metal arts exhibit?  All manner of 
smithing?  And 4 times a year might be too much... I don't know this for

certain, but I get that gut impression... unless you have something 
really special in mind.  The only thing I will warn you against is 
setting expectations too high.  I spent a few years watching the people 
at Saturday market in Portland doing their thing.  They work like the 
devil, many of them, and for very little return.  People love to shop, 
but these days they don't like to part with the cashola.  I had a friend

there, superb silver and gold smith.  He couldn't make it.
> 
> We are trying to get corner samples onto the desk of architects, so
they would try to incorporate more ironwork into their designs.
> When we can we GIVE pieces to civic groups,  fund raisers, and silent
auctions.

	Great idea.  nearly free advertising.  Excellent approach... has
it worked?
> 
> We are also trying to have more "open forge" so people w/o shops can
get in the fire, and those that want to practice what the demonstrator
just showed them.
> To keep from re-inventing the wheel, What are you other groups doing
to promote blacksmithing.

	NJBA - open forges, seminars, workshops (forge building, anvil
repair, 
etc.)
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