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Business idea - would this work? - 8/31/2006 2:41:01 PM

mugwump

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Hi all

I'm after an opinion on an idea that we've been tossing about at home for some time now about moving our current line in high-end armouring sideways and going for high-end custom fetish wear instead. All our work at the moment is custom stuff so that won't be a problem and we work in whatever type of metal the customer requests so it's basically a shift in direction rather than an 'ooo, I've got a cool idea but no skills to back it up'
Any thoughts that spring to mind would be really gratefully received - whether that's links to other sites that provide that kind of service or places to contact to discuss the idea as a serious proposition. I'm happy to show anyone who'd like to see a few pics of the kind of stuff we're able to produce in terms of armour and I'm confident we have the skills to pull it off IF it's a viable idea.....
Over to you guys.
And thanks in advance for any input.
mug x

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RE: Business idea - would this work? - 8/31/2006 2:59:46 PM

BlueHnS

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Any idea is viable, the more important question is ... do you have the right audience? If you do then go for it!

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RE: Business idea - would this work? - 8/31/2006 3:18:22 PM

CrappyDom

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mug,

Fetish stuff isn't a big business in the US, at least high end stuff like you envision. Pick up a copy of Skin Two at a large magazine stand and browse through there, it is mostly European as that is where the money is.

Since the cost of a website is pretty minimal, I would throw one up with some cool name, donate some small items to some of the larger charity events, get some high profile people like Midori to play with your stuff and see what happens.

Don't quit your dayjob though, as odd as it sounds, I think there is a bigger market for armour than kink.

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RE: Business idea - would this work? - 8/31/2006 3:35:47 PM

Chaingang

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CD, it would appear Mug is in the UK.

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RE: Business idea - would this work? - 8/31/2006 4:54:46 PM

porcelaine

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I can't see why you can't serve both markets. Since the items you would like to sell are high end and custom oriented, you are targeting a specific clientele. It is my belief that you are better served by having varying streams of income to cover your bases when things slow down in one or more areas. You also could cosnider offering mid range items as an introduction of sorts to your product line. Many people are inclined to spend more if they find a quality product that didn't break the bank. They enjoy it but always long for the pricey piece in the window. Best of luck!

porcelaine

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RE: Business idea - would this work? - 8/31/2006 10:10:41 PM

roughleather

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Trying to run a high-end custom fetish wear business out of North Wales will be tough. You're a long way from your target market.

Are you showing at the Skin Two Expo in October? That's at the Barbican in London, and you should probably have a booth there. That's a good chance to meet the retailers in the trade.

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RE: Business idea - would this work? - 8/31/2006 11:15:44 PM

mugwump

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At the moment it's still at the stage of being a fledgling idea that just seems to keep cropping up (especially as there seems to be an evident too-significant-to-be-just-a-coincidence crossover between kink and re-enactment) so to get the 'knee jerk' reaction of people on here is really valuable. So often it's people's firsts reactions that are bang on.
We're not yet in a position to exhibit at Skin Two - although might try to make it down there as pun'ahs just to see what kind of stuff is well received and also just to have a nose as the yummy kit

And I think I'm kind of with Porcelaine on this one - I think it might be possible to run the armour making and fetish stuff in tandem as the essence of each business is the same as are the tools, expertise etc.
Being in N Wales we're well out of the loop (on soooo many levels lol!) but -all praise the internet- it shouldn't be an impossible obsatcle to overcome if the other factors can be sorted.

Cool guys - this is making me think it through through other peoples eyes which is exactly what i was after so HUGE thanks to everyone who's replied so far.

mug x

ps CrappyDom - since you suggested it - any cool ideas for a name? : )

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RE: Business idea - would this work? - 9/1/2006 2:21:11 AM

Wolfie648

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quote:

ORIGINAL: mugwump

Hi all
I'm after an opinion on our current line in high-end "armouring" *sideways* and going for high-end custom fetish wear instead. All our work at the moment is custom stuff so that won't be a problem and we work in whatever type of "metal" the customer requests so it's basically a *shift in direction* rather than an 'ooo, I've got a cool idea but no skills to back it up'

Any thoughts that spring to mind would be really gratefully received - whether that's links to other sites that provide that kind of service or places to contact to discuss the idea as a serious proposition. I'm happy to show anyone who'd like to see a few pics of the kind of stuff we're able to produce in terms of "armour" and I'm confident we have the skills to pull %%it%% off IF it's a viable idea.....

Define %%it%%.

Viable? Only the market can tell.

High end custom fetish wear of what kind? Not specified.

D (owner of j).

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RE: Business idea - would this work? - 9/1/2006 6:11:05 AM

Homestead

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I'm an armorer as well,and tried the fetish market a while back.

What you will find is that it simply won't pay to do custom,and for mass runs,the bigger places,like extreme restraints and jt's stockroom are having thier stuff made overseas in sweatshops. There's no way to compete with labor that cheap.

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RE: Business idea - would this work? - 9/1/2006 6:19:25 AM

darkinshadows

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What you need to do is attend a couple of the fetish fairs and book a stall - that way you can start networking.

I do not know about wales, but there is a fetish market in exeter (I think) plus LAM and the LFF in London and the folks at both of those are really helpful if you contact them to arrange.

Yes there is a definate cross over in the re-enactment/fetish wear arena - but people in the UK are very choosey about where they purchase their items - there is a definate fetwear snobbery - but once you make a name, and if you are reliable, you will find things soon take off as people work by word of mouth.

Peace and Rapture

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RE: Business idea - would this work? - 9/1/2006 6:55:20 AM

sophia37

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Do you have access to Ren Faires? Thats where you'll find your audience at a market level. But yes, Homestead is correct, Chnia has rreally killed the market for us artisans. My business has declined to the point of desperation. And Ive been at it 20 years.

I make childrens wooden weapons which are ignored in favor of plastic swords. And the amount of money I can make on plasitc 5 dollar items is so slim as to be worthless.

Youre coming into the world of arts at a very bad time I fear. Plus its the small items that keep me going. Not high end. Even worse, average sales have gone from 20 to 15 dollars.

But keep at it if thats what drives you. The only way to really learn is trial and error with these things sometimes. Good luck

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RE: Business idea - would this work? - 9/1/2006 7:03:34 AM

Homestead

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I also have found that custom one offs are generally losers as well-unless you charge extremely high for them. Making up the patterns, and time spent in communication with customers tends to eat up profits to the point of making it impractical.

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RE: Business idea - would this work? - 9/1/2006 7:45:23 AM

Domnumberone

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Hi Mugwump,

I wish you good luck if you decide to go for it, There have been some good coments made here for you by other members. i used to work in BDSM shop in Europe.
The fact is that once you have a name for yourself and people are talking about your costumes you could be very sucsesful. I would advise you to contact the most popular magazines like Skin two or Marquis and tell them they can use your costumes for photo shoots if they want, even speak to Marquis or Karreza about letting them use one of your costumes for a small scene in on of their films. all publicity is good. even try contacting fetish photographers with the same offer,

North Wales is a beautiful place by the way, ive visited many places but im not gona embarass myself by trying to spell them:)

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RE: Business idea - would this work? - 9/1/2006 8:31:54 AM

MasterRobert1

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Ideas are a dime a dozen. What makes an idea go is the hard work people put in to make the ideas work. The idea is a good one. Now, put the work into it and you've got a winner.

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