[TheForge] need help on a project

[Jerry Frost]

Exactly Andy and it seems the market anywhere near Anchorage is controlled 
by one outlet willing to pay discounted minimum wage. Most bladesmiths I've 
known here either don't charge more than maybe 10% or 200+% what they 
should. Either one's a road to hell for a smith, not just the one.

Jer
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Andrew Vida" <osan at netlabs.net>
To: "Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2011 2:45 AM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] need help on a project


>
>
> On 8/2/2011 6:07 PM, Jerry Frost wrote:
>
>> I agree though, there is virtually no market for blades here unless you 
>> can
>> sell at quantity factory discount rates. Unless you're willing to work 
>> for a
>> few bucks an hour (if you're fast) you might as well flip burgers.
>
> As with blacksmithing, a lot of one's success is heavily related to
> one's marketing strategy.  Like most blacksmiths, most knife smiths are
> woefully lacking in proper marketing ability, which is sad.  Knives are
> a tough row to hoe under even the best circumstances.  Couple that with
> less than top drawer marketing and you end up working for pennies per
> hour in many cases.
>
> We have discussed the whole business training thing here before, but it
> really does bear repeating.