Thread: Shows?

Are straight razors represented at the major national knife shows? The Blade Show in Atlanta each June, for example. Is there such thing as a str8 show? Get togethers? I mean aside from us. There MUST be a bigger audience than us handful of guys, I know it can't be this small section of society pissing me off daily on eBay. Where is the "SHOW"? Where and when is the ultimate GTG?

I haven't been able to make the Blade show in Atlanta yet, but of the major shows I have attended to sell my knives, I do not remember very many straights being there. I don't think there would be enough interest to have a show dedicated to straights alone. You need hundreds of potential customers coming through the gate to make a show appearance in any city successful to the promoter. They are not too happy with less than 2,000 customers because of their costs. Of that, maybe 200+ buy something. When I sell my knives, the table costs me from $175 to $450 for a three-day show. I have to sell $1,500 in knives to make it worth my while to even consider going.

At a big knife show, there are about a hundred knifemakers. One like Atlanta is several hundred. A small one attracts around 35 - 40. The most interested guys in straight razors here or the other forums, balk at custom scales for $45 because they have seen plastic ones for $12. I don't see them showing up at a straight razor show where the cheapest razor would probably be $150. Remember, every one of the table holders needs to sell several to make their trip worth while.

Vendors or custom makers won't attend just to have everyone look at the cool razors and then walk off. Used razors at these shows would have to sell for more than we can find them on eBay for the above reasons, so I don't know what the answer is. I'll do my part. I've got 8 scheduled for production when I catch up on some other stuff. If I don't sell them on the forums, I'll take them to my next knife show to let you know if there is a favorable customer response...

That sucks becuase I would love to go to a show...probably be broke for weeks!