Thread: New razor company - good bet?

Tony made mention of it and I also remember reading something about Dovo having a hard time finding people interested in acquiring the skills (apprentices, etc.) needed to make quality razors. Labor would be a problem.

Jordan

Originally Posted by blueprinciple

maybe initial limited runs for the collector/high end market.

(So - any UK knifemakers out there who want to test the wicket?)

Are you saying the initially, if your plan comes to fruition (and I for one hope it does) that only initially would limited high end razors be offered with the idea that eventually, a wider variety and more moderately priced razors would be available?

I ask because I see Livi & Zowada synonymous with "collector/high end market".

Chris L

Tony Miller makes the best point, IMO-One can pay people to do a job but you cannot pay people to care.


With the cost of running ANY small or large business-making a price point is practically IMPOSSIBLE on a hand made item. Few of today's youth would NEVER consider spending time as an apprentice-learning a craft. BUT with the availability of CNC machining centers, prototyping equipment etc.-why not a 100% machine made product. Provided the set-up is correct, machines rarely have a bad day.

Originally Posted by Lt.Arclight

Tony Miller makes the best point, IMO-One can pay people to do a job but you cannot pay people to care.

I agree as well. I would see this as a small artisan cooperative; that way each worker would have a vested interest in the success or failure of the business.

Chris L

Originally Posted by Bruce

Here's a question for the group: if there were to be a new manufacturer or tang stamped seller of razors, would the demand be great enough for the seller/maker to profit enough to want to continue selling the razors?

This sounds much like a new auto manufacturer trying to break into the market. Niche makers such as Lexus have well known parents such as Toyota and have a fighting chance. Other upstarts such as Hyundai and Kia had to duke it out in the bargain basement, price wise, and work their way up the food chain proving they could provide a suitable product. I'm pretty sure the small custom makers like Joe, Bob etc. had to settle for less $$$ per razor when they started out than they do now. However, an artisan will have a better chance than a faceless new company that mass produces products as word of mouth will quickly bring them up to speed if the product deserves attention and they have quite low startup costs as they are a one man show. For a mass producer of unknown quality to jump in and offer Rolls Royce grade products *first* to fund the manufacturing of Beetles down the road might not fare so well.

Zeepk is currently in the startup Hyundai/Kia mode and they're not making the best of the situation! Other marketers, starting up will face the same skepticism by the majority of users and it would require some serious backing to weather the first few years while bringing the labor force up to a competent level where the product could stand on it's own merits.

Please keep in mind though.... I don't know squat about manufacturing or the ins and outs of making it work, but I do how I feel about products *I* buy and the manufacturers who make them.

Regards

Christian

I only think it is possible if you already have an experience in other cutlery, like e.g. Spyderco.
Imo a company like psyderco should be able to make razor with a limited amount of investment.
I don't know if it would be profitable for them, but the risk and investment would be minimal since they have all the required knowlegde and experience of pocketknives (jump to razor is not too bad) and large volume manufacturing.

Lots of good points - I love it! Re Zeepk - I think the only reputation they are forging for themselves is a bad one (and look how long it took Skoda to climb out of that pit!) and by flooding the market with cheap items they merely devalue the good stuff - after all, look at an old Skoda and an old Merc or Jag and the difference is obvious - compare a Zeepk with a Dovo VISUALLY and many a newb - and that's the Zeepk market - will think 'hey - no difference!' and buy the cheaper item - it's just human nature. As to the niche to aim at, I didn't mean come in on quality too much below the Livi/Zowada pieces - they are top craftsmen after all - but to make good quality razors in greater numbers than they do. This doesn't hurt the top artisans - they have again a different market - but it maybe does give guys willing to spend the price of perhaps a top-end Dovo an alternative to the 'Dovo or TI or nothing' scenario!

What are the problems with these Zeepk razor?
I've never seen one.

Originally Posted by littlesilverbladefromwale

What are the problems with these Zeepk razor?
I've never seen one.

Never looked for straight razors in ebay?

Originally Posted by littlesilverbladefromwale

What are the problems with these Zeepk razor?
I've never seen one.

Marcus - apparently they are made from old bean tins. Never seen one, never want to.