Find your customer that wants the exact leathergoods that you make and build the leather business of your dreams.
Whether you’re currently selling your work or you have plans to start selling your work, the fear and frustration behind product pricing is real.
A lot of leatherworkers don’t know where to start when pricing their products so they guess or they ask people in a Facebook group what they would pay for a certain product.
These are BIG mistakes for a few reasons.
Read MoreIt can be really overwhelming for the beginner leather worker to know where they should purchase leather from for a number of reasons. Budget is usually the biggest concern.
I reached out to a few of my favorite leather suppliers and asked them all the same question...
What do you think is the most important thing that a beginner leatherworker should keep in mind when purchasing leather?
Check out their responses in no specific order in the post.
Read MoreThis is one of the most frequently asked questions and luckily the answer is pretty easy.
You need to know what type of leatherwork that you're interested in and then we can talk about tools and materials that you'll need.
So if you're not sure what tools you need, what the different types are of leatherwork are or how best to choose your leather as a beginner, then keep reading.
Read MoreIf you've been reading along with the last few blogposts, you've already determined who your audience is, what they need or want and now it's time to find out where they are so you can get to know them better and interact with them.
Once you know where your ideal customer hangs out, you will also be able to create a marketing promotional strategy using that information.
This can be challenging for creative people who are trying to start a side hustle. Sometimes they make the mistake of waiting for their audience to find them.
Read MoreNow that you know who your ideal customer is and what they're like, you can begin to answer the next question which is, “What is it that my ideal audience needs or wants”?
By developing something with the needs and desires of your audience in mind, you will set yourself up to be able to create something that you know your audience will respond to and ultimate be interested in purchasing.
If you really want to set yourself up for the best chance of selling your products, try and solve a problem or satisfy a desire that they have.
Read MoreIn order to develop a product based on your ideal customer’s needs or wants, you need to know who your customer is, what they look like and what types of things that they’re interested in.
One of the first things that you should ask yourself is, "Who am I targeting with this product that I either plan to make or have already made?"
Once you have an idea of who it is that will want your product, you will have a much greater chance at developing a marketing strategy geared towards attracting that person.
Read MoreHave you ever considered starting a side business but you just were not and still are not sure how to get started?
Some people can get really stuck on how to get started especially if they have zero experience with starting their own business but there is no need to get stuck here. I want to share with you how I practically stumbled my way in a side hustle business a few years ago and how you should stride into yours.
Read MoreHave you ever been shopping for leather and come across the myriad of terms used to describe the type of tannage, or leather grade, finish, etc that is involved in processing it? This was one of the most confusing things (and still can be confusing!) when I first started to work with leather.
Leather manufacture from it's earliest processes involving urine, feces and brains (still used today in smaller operations!) to the now majorly chemical and scientific processes is, well, complex.
Read MoreWhen I first started learning traditional leatherwork I knew absolutely nothing but was eager to learn! I was taught by a French master leatherworker who only used the best French tools. Go figure!
She taught me the basics of traditional leatherwork which included how to use a tool called a pricking iron. But as I started experimenting with the other tools options months and years later I came across a tool called a stitching chisel and also a lot of viewpoints on which of these two tools is the best choice.
Read MoreI recently I had the pleasure of catching up with Nicolas Hollows of Hollows Leather, about his process and philosophy behind his leatherwork. If you aren't familiar with Nicolas' work, you're missing out and should stop what you're doing right now and go check it out. His work is clean, stitching is beautiful and styling rings true to his personal brand. Read the Q&A below to find out how Nicolas went from finding a box of leather tools to becoming a successful leatherworker. And at the end he also give his insiders tip on design inspiration where he manages to reference permaculture, airplanes and Bob Ross in the same sentence.
Read MoreI hear hear a lot of questions about leather edge finishing these days like, "what IS the best method for finishing?" I also hear a lot of people asking, "why should I finish my leather edges at all?"
Both are great questions!
It's just wrong.
Finishing your edges is what seals the deal on your project. What takes it to the next level. What makes it look better and also what makes it look like it was made by a pro.
Incase you're not sure, let's talk about what I mean by "edge finishing".
There is no magic here. It can be tedious but it really does elevate your work.
I am always seeking that perfectly crafted slanted saddlestitch. The stitch that screams skill, precision and attention! Maybe we're all searching for the same thing?
I've explored many reasons for why my stitching, though it's not bad, was certainly far from perfect and i've found a few contributing factors relating to thread.
There are of course, so many other factors that you have to get just right too, but today I want to focus on threads, because it can make a huge difference in the quality of your work.
