Sorry I didn't get a chance to meet more KD guys..
I can assure you that Josh Dabney represented tho...
The show was as big as it ever was and then some. I've been going for 7 years and after a few years of decline in booths/tables this year it was packed.
The show is changing. It's turning from a pure knife show to a lifestyle show. There were more survival/prepper lifestyle vendors than ever. They appear to be growing in number and assortment. Why buy just a knife when you can get a bag, flashlight, paracord bracelet, emergency kit, etc, etc.
It had to change or continue to wither away so no complaints on that from me.
I would have liked to seen better grouping of interests in tables and booths. I was bouncing from one vendor to another but they were across the hall from each other. Offer to have the attendees self classify themselves and then put their booth or table in a group. The wood resellers were all over the place and it was hard to even begin to see them all. Blade, get the custom makers together, the purveyors together, the suppliers together to make the show easier to take it all in.
There were a lot (a lot) of tactical folder guys. A lot. Many of the them sold several knives. Some sold just a few. I'm not sure when this is going to get maxed out but it seems we might be getting close. The military/tactical fixed blades were also highly represented with several new guys buying into the show with a booth and lot's of marketing finesse.
If the USA continues to draw down troops overseas will it help or hurt military fixed blades? I think it won't help as a lot of blades get sent over to see action. If there isn't action, there isn't sales. Maybe this isn't the time to build up a whole mid tech company around fixed tacticals. I'm entitled to be wrong.
There seemed to be more interest/sales in high end collectable slip joint and other folders. Quite a few makers reported good sales on these. Even new makers to this niche reported some good sales.
If you have never been to Blade, there is a large contingent of Japanese vendors that tend to buy tables together. Most show goers walked by with out even glancing at their knives. I'm not sure why there seems to be little interest in Japanese cutlery.
Tips for guys gearing up for your first show.
- Have plenty of business cards out across your table so people can easily grab one with out even slowing down.
- Consider getting rack cards printed with your best selling models.
- Have a table banner made so people can see at a glance who you are. They cost about a hundred bucks.
- Have an email sign up list.
- Have a nice printed sign on your table about who you are and where you are. A lot of conversations start with a comment about where you live.
- Jesus loves Mary, wear clean clothes. Seriously. It's shocking how many people wear dirty jeans and tshirts and then try to conduct business.
- A few pieces of hard candy on the table is nice.
- Stand up and talk to people walking by. I saw several tables attended by people reading books or playing on their ipad or phone. They didn't do so well.
- If you are selling your own shirts, wear one.
- If you are selling your own knives, carry one of yours. It's amazing to me the number of guys that carry someone else's knife. I get they are your friends but at least carry your own knife when you are at a show.
- Encourage people to pick up the knives. Consider putting a sign on the table that says "Pick me up!". If you can get a knife into someone's hand, you have a much better chance of selling one.
- Put the prices on the knives so people walking by can see them. Showing a price isn't a deal breaker. Not showing a price and forcing a customer to work at getting a price is not good business.
- If you are bringing your own chair, make it a high sitting chair so you are at eye level with people.
- Folders should be open. The blade profile, finish and grind matter and help sell the blade.
- Blade tips should point sideways for folders and towards you for fixed blades. You want people to pick up the knives, not be held at knife point.
- If you have magazine articles, awards, etc. Put them on the table. I see a lot of customers looking at these.
- If you have magazine articles, awards, etc, that are 10 years old, ratty, torn and dirty. Don't put them on the table.
- Guys that share tables (even though you aren't supposed to) always have more fun and seem to do better than guys that are alone.
- If your wife hates knife shows, leave her at home or send her shopping. If your wife is friendly and enjoys people, bring her.
- Don't eat at your table. I never stop at a table or booth when I see the guy eating. It takes 5 minutes to eat your sammich. Eat it in the back and have a neighbor cover your table.
