How To Be A Successful Leather Entrepreneur
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- Опубликовано: 19 сен 2024
- Looking to start your own leather business? Well, you’ve come to the right place! Kevin, Rusty, and Denny from SLC share their secrets to starting and running a successful leather business. They’ll talk about the importance of attitude, humility, balance, judgment, and adaptability, how to identify your market and price your work, ways to recognize problems and establish priorities, and tips for good management skills. We’re talking from experience, here! So, let us impart our wisdom to you, and maybe you’ll find it helpful and even avoid a few mistakes we made. (Don’t forget…don’t do stupid stuff and try to do smart stuff!) Thanks for watching! :)
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Hello all, thank you for this video.
Listening to this video reminds me of what I learned in my youth and makes me miss my home.
I grew up in New York City and all businesses that sprang up in the 1700's began with developing trust and relationships in the community, being humble, treating people like they wanted to be treated, quality over quantity, face to face customer service, etc. Some of these businesses have survived to remain a staple in New York City.
Unfortunately too many people do not understand the value of those principles today on both ends as a business and a customer.
I decided to learn about leather craftsmanship for 3 reasons, I enjoy making things, it's very therapeutic, and I find the design aspect to be very challenging. If it turns into a business, I would be grateful.
The closer I am to creating items from scratch, the happier I am. So no special heavy duty machines just yet, no renting spaces, and I plan to be very diverse in what I can do.
If i can get paid to do what I love, then that is truly a dream come true. 😊
I was a customer of yours before I knew you had a RUclips channel.
After watching this video, I know that I will continue to be a customer of yours
Please keep making videos like this. I HAD TO shop at SLC last June when coming home from Branson. Didn't meet any of you three, but the rest of your staff operate your business with your shared values. Competent, informed and customer-centric. I'm just starting out myself, and your videos here on RUclips provide crucial information for folks like me. Just received my SLC order earlier this week, and as usual, your descriptions for the products are spot-on. The formula your company has for interfacing and engaging your customers is head and shoulders above what your competitors are doing. Like the business pro told you, you're doing things right.
Hello! Thank you for stopping to see us on your visit! We're so happy that you had a positive experience. We appreciate your business and are glad to hear that the products met your expectations. Also, thanks for your video feedback! It's great to know that the video was helpful, and feel free to give us a call anytime you have a question. Happy leather crafting! :)
Great video. Excellent point about hobby vs. business. They ARE 2 different things. Some may find out that the hobby they really enjoy is no where near as enjoyable as a business. When thinking about taking a hobby to the business level, you really need to think hard about "how many of these to I have to make and sell to make XXX dollars per month". Most of the time you'll realize that today, a business means either mass production and sale or your own manufactured goods, or mass sales of someone else's finished goods. In either case you need to pump out VOLUME to make a living. If you only "enjoy" making 2 widgets a day, but would need to make (and sell) 100 widgets a day to make a living, then you may not want to quit your day job just yet.
@6:48 I really like that you are pointing out how important Humility truly is because someone who embraces humility is able to face and address mistakes as well as character flaws enabling a very valuable learning curve which will help someone improve their business as well as evolve as an artist/craftsmen
Zig Ziglar said "You can get everything you want if you just help others get what they want". Treat others right.
My advice to those who want to start a business doing whatever it may be is to tell them to go to work for someone already in that business. For at least 6-12 months. Then you'll know better if you really want to proceed, if you really like it, if you're willing to work that hard, etc
You guys are fantastic. Your outlook and candid nature on how to go about running a business is highly respectable. Very glad to have found this.
Thanks for the info. I'm a professional firefighter and right now I'm starting this as a hobby (and hopefully I'll make a little money as a result), but I have 4 years until retirement and I'm going to try and develop this into something more in that 4 years. So there's no rush to 'make it' on my end, but this info certainly will help and guide me developing this hobby into a business over the next 4 years.
Hey guys, I love this video in all its wisdom. I'm a young buck entering the business at 23 years old. I've owned a fabric sewing machine since I was 14 years old and have been crafting since that day. Be it canvas sails, 7 ft plus wooden boats, bags, purses, tables, shoes, holsters, sheaths, and trunks amongst others. And I recently decided to incorporate because of the encouragement of those around me. I've always ever created and crafted for the love of it and for that beautiful gorgeous moment when you give someone something you have custom handmade for them, and the sincerity of appreciation is radiant among them. With that I just want to say thank you guys. I consider this video an asset to myself.
Happy to hear that the next generation is keeping the craft alive! Welcome to leather crafting! We're thrilled that you're starting this journey and that you learned something from this video. Sounds like you've got the creative knack ;) Thanks for watching! Good luck :)
thank you for your input. I have run a small telecom business for over 13 years and everything you touched on was right on!
Lether business is right on. One thing else to think about is being established, known by customers, who you are and what you do. How do you want your customers to view you as quality or cheap, that's another item to work on in the beginning. In the beginning when you are learning your prices are going to be different than when you get 7 years under your belt as well. Just something to add. thanks again guys, great job!!!
I'm just starting to get into the world of leather craft, and I just wanted to say thank you gentlemen.
Hello from Wichita Kansas guys, I truly appreciate this video. It applies to so much more than just wanting to wanting to or owning your own business. I believe that it's truly our purpose in life. If we want to make things better in our lives and our country, it's got to start with me and the way I approach each and every day and the people who come into it. This just a great life lesson that we all need to adhere to in order to make everyone happy and be the best country in the world again. Together along with God's help we can all do this, but it starts with me and you working together to make it happen! Bless you guys for trying to pave the way so that we all can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you!
Respectfully Yours :
Shawn W. Bell
A 52 minute MBA course. Thank you.
Thank you for the simple exceptional advice! Very nice to listen to 3 very humble men!
Many thanks i m a manufacturer of leather . Thanks for saying a businees is a problem solver. I like your positiveness in leather business. All u say is true.
Thank you for putting this together. Even things I already knew are still a great refresher or reminder. Best advice out there, not just for Leather crafters.
What you say at 19:15 is huge! I really appreciate this attitude. This makes me lean heavy toward SLC as I try to set up a small side hustle.
You guys are amazing! I always love shopping with you because your staff is helpful, and I kind, very and courteous. I never feel like I can't ask a question when starting a new project. And this video is one I think everyone should watch. If people would take your advice given here in life in general we all would be people! Thank you for all of your videos, great products, and help! It is greatly appreciated! Jennifer
Hi, Jennifer! Thanks so much for the feedback! We're ecstatic to hear that you've had a happy experience with us. We sincerely enjoy assisting and supporting our customers, as well as taking a break from walking our silly dogs so that we can make videos like this ;) We've definitely learned some things along our leather journey, and we're always learning from and inspired by our customers. Thanks again for watching our videos and for your support. Keep crafting! :)
This is great! I love your "point on" and honestness. Also your talent to talk about stuff people dont wont to talk about! Balance and humbleness is so important. Its just a shame that so many tend to miss use it. Like the word "good service". Tnx for making all your vids. Im about to open shop here in Norway, and its alot of work. We dont have the leather heritage as in USA, but more and more people want craftmanship and great quality! That lasts.
Greetings from the USA! Thanks for watching, and congrats on opening a shop! Wishing you lots of luck in starting your business. :)
I have to say, we have received so much from a local leather store that helped us learn, and set us up with the right equipment. We started producing good work, so they'd send customers our way, and all the money we make, we give it right back to the local leather store! Haha. No, but we have benefited so much from that relationship, and we didn't set
out to create that relationship from a business perspective, we're just nice people, they're just nice people, and we hit it off. So I whole heartedly agree guys.
Let me ask you this though, when do you have to start paying yourself? My wife started this business... well coming up on a year now, slow at first, and now it is just insane with work. But we refuse to really do the books, and really look at where and how much is coming in and going out. Being a business is not really her goal right now, being good is.
At what point do you need, though, to transition and be a "business" to write yourself that check.
Let me tell you, there is not an actual whole lot of information on RUclips for the leather craft. You knuckleheads have done some, other people have done some, here and there, but not as much as I'd like. If you'd like to learn how to do your makeup, there are probably a billion, literally, channels willing to help out! With all that said, you guys have made such an important video here. I've not seen another like it, and some of the younger people, or to some of the people new to this craft/trade need to hear this stuff, so thanks.
And one last question, should we pick up a used Landis 5 in 1 machine? We're hoping to make shoes, though this machine seems geared towards shoe repair. We're just joking about asking if we should buy this machine, but if you have heard anything about it, we'd love to hear. A lot of information and the tools of leather seem to have disappeared over the years, with just whispers of the old knowledge hanging around.
Thanks again.
Hello,
Actually, you should start writing that check now. If you have to miss one now and then, so be it. It will only make you smarter and more business savvy along the way. The world won’t end if you miss a few. And you really should find a way to do those books. They are so stupidly enlightening that it’s not funny. I HATE books!!!!! It’s a good thing that I had a wife that was willing to do them for me, because otherwise, I’m not sure that I’d be where I am today! Now we have a regular accountant, and I can’t imagine living without one. But you can grow into that. You really need at some point to have a good relationship with an accountant, and also a good relationship with a banker.
And yes, buy that 5 in 1! If it’s in ok shape, you’ll never regret it, and you probably could sell it for more than you’ll pay for it.
Thanks, and take care,
Kevin
Thanks Kevin!
@ Bushcraft -- Use QuickBooks. It's the Number 1 small business system and cheap -- $300 to buy or $30/mo for the cloud version. It's easy enough to learn......sorta. If you already know accounting it's a breeze. If you don't.....well, that's the reason you haven't been doing bookkeeping, isn't it? It's not necessary to understand accounting to run a business. Anybody can understand a Profit and Loss Statement (aka Income Statement). Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Statements are trickier, but rather than driving yourself crazy trying to figure it on your own, save yourself the aggravation and hire a bookkeeping contractor instead.
For the size of your operation, it will probably cost you about $200 per month for this service, maybe even less. If you want them to go back and get all your financial data into QuickBooks from when you started, then you're probably looking at a $500 one time fee to get you all caught up to the present. Then it's just maintenance mode at a couple hundred a month. Maybe even less. Check out this website Upwork.com. It's a marketplace for contractors of all sorts and there are a bunch of QuickBooks contractors from all over the world that can keep your books for you completely online. US contractors are going to be more expensive than international contractors by a factor of 2-3X. Up to you, but you can get a bookkeeper for $15/hr in India, Brazil, or Croatia or spend $50/hr for the same service with an American or Canadian.
Whomever you use, your bookkeeper will post all your transactions as they occur and will show you how to create financial reports from your books on the fly. That person will also teach you how to interpret the data and what all the terms mean and the basics of accrual accounting -- for example, depreciation, accounts receivable, accounts payable. etc. But the really cool thing is that you'll find out what you've been wondering about: "Am I making money or am I losing money?" Also, come tax time all your financial information is already there and up to date making doing your taxes, for this endeavor, a piece of cake.
Btw, if you're not keeping bookkeeping records, that strongly suggests to me and everyone else who read your post that you are not filing taxes on this hobby business and that's not something you want to be sharing with anyone, let alone in a public forum like this. Do yourself a favor and delete your post. It doesn't matter if it's a little dinky hobby business or a multimillion dollar leather goods operation, you have to report the income you've earned and pay taxes on those earnings. It's against the law not to and there's this big bad mean as hell government organization called the IRS that make your life hell if they find out you're not reporting income. If you sell goods you de facto have a business. A Sole Proprietorship business doesn't require registering as a business or creating a legal entity like an LLC. The point is, you already have a business, so you might as well start thinking of it and operating as a business.
This gents, are good, excellent advice, honest , humble, and very clear with the explanation hoping all young people starting listen to their advice . WELL DONE BOYS
Thanks so much!
I called Springfield a couple of months ago asking questions. Stumbling through what I thought I needed but not sure. A lovely young lady was on the phone with me, answered all my questions, took my leather order and made me a customer who will purchase from them as long as I can. Great company to deal with.
Hi John! Thank you for the kind words! We're so glad you found what you needed, and we are always happy to help. 😊
Just wanted to say thanks for making this video. I am just a hobbyist and don't plan on making a full-time business out of leatherworking, but I still struggle with things like time management and pricing my work appropriately.
It's important sometimes as a hobbyist to realize that I'm not really in it to make much money, since the time it takes me to make a piece might be double or triple the time it takes for someone with more machinery or experience. If it takes me 8hrs of labor to make something that's usually valued at one or two hundred dollars, that doesn't leave much meat on the bone for hourly profit. Working out of an 8x12 shed is a lot different than a huge workshop, haha.
Thanks so much for watching! We're glad you found something useful in there. :) Sounds like you're enjoying your ventures in leather working! Good luck and happy making :)
Absolutely wonderful. Loved it! I am not a business-type person, but I totally enjoyed these gentlemen talking about the leather business.
Great advice on all points. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this. Because of y’all and your videos I have purchased my first Herman Oak side from y’all. I can’t wait to get to using it.... but then I’ll probably kick myself for not getting it sooner.... I am thinking of taking a leap and doing leatherwork full time because like a few people here I have customers and friends who think I’m awesome, but in all fairness they don’t have anyone to compare too. I have seen awesome work and I am getting there but not yet. I need way more education on the business side of this first. This video definitely helps.
Hi, Choya! Wow, thanks so much for the feedback! So happy we could help. We love to empower people to learn leather craft and make some money from it! I think you'll really like the Hermann Oak side, and if you have any questions, you can always give us a call at 1-800-668-8518 or message us. Thanks again, and happy crafting! :)
A man named Andrew Murray wrote a really good book on humility.
The soul sucking that is happening under COVID-19... I’m just keeping on keeping on.. and leather is central to my happiness. I’m not sure if it’s a business on its own. But it sure is a conversation starter.
Yall guys are great. Keep up the good work. Springfield Leather Co has been my go to leather shop for the past 2 years. Always a pleasure even though it's all been online. Thanks for sharing your experiences and knowledge.
Thanks for choosing us and for watching! :)
If you ever in Springfield Mo they are located on one on the Main roads Glenstone. You will be lost in the store. I have only been there once but I love the attitudes. The workers have and I live fairly close to them.
I have been in business for many years over in the UK and there is so much good advice in this video on many different topics.
Dear Kavin, Rusty and Denny, I just want to thank you for your wise and friendly advise :)
Kind regards,
Nathan from Holland
Hi Nathan,
Thanks for watching! We're so glad that you found the video helpful. Greetings from the USA! :)
Absolutely outstanding information! Thank you guys so much, and God Bless you all.
I gained a lot of good advice from this video. Thank you for your time spent in making it. Good customer service is so hard to find these days.
Happy days! So thrilled we could help. :) Thanks so much for watching!
Wow...fantastic video! Kevin if I did not live in central Texas I would love to work for yall...sounds like ya'll are on the right track. God Bless You
Thanks so much! We definitely try to make this a fun place to work. Thanks for watching and hope it was helpful! Happy leather crafting :)
This is really great advice especially for the people like me who is just starting my business. Thank you for having the humility of sharing your wonderful business knowledge, much appreciated.
Greetings from San Diego!
Jorge.
Thank you for this video! Very useful tips, wise advice. Good stuff from good people. Good luck to you on everything.
Thanks very much!
I just started in the leather craft world and i (FYI) found yall on Ebay. Good friendly service and fast shipment. A+ rating. Thanks SLC
We're thrilled that you were happy with out service! Thanks for choosing us, and happy leather crafting! :)
Not at all the video I was expecting but way better!
Thank you guys for your tips and wisdom I would like to try some Hermann Oak leather. Right now getting it from Tandy maybe I will switch over to you guys or just be another resource what kind of prices do you have for double shoulder 7 to 8 Oz as I build holsters and knife sheaths alittle bit of everything leather I do not have a business just Word of Mouth although I do have business cards but it still fun right now LOL thanks for your time
Kevin, Rusty and Denny, thank you so much for this wonderful video ... the sentiments are so so true ...
Hey, there! Thanks so much for watching! :)
Great Info
Great value, very informative! Thank you for the video.
You helped me a lot. I got many new ideas on how to run my leather supplying business.
I respect you guys, thank you.
I really wish I could help you guys with your sound and video. You guys are really jelling as a youtube force. Keep it up guys, something is happening here! Thanks!
You are ALL appreciated!
Well, I just finished watching your video, and I gotta say I feel smarter than before. I have been doing smart stuff,
and dumb stuff, but the smart stuff is winning, thanks in part to all ya'lls advice. Mostly your have assured me of some of the moves I've made are the right ones. Thank you!
Uncle John
Hello, I haven't watch the video yet. I'm sorry for commenting without informing myself with the video first but I will I'm just a little excited. I have the opportunity to bring full hides from another country in the Americas. Now my question is... I'm I able to sell this material to local stores without the need of permits etc? Is it as easy as to buy and re-sell ? Please correct me if I'm wrong. I'm only 22 and I feel i found a good opportunity to work with.
I do now have a person to look up to and ask questions like many other people have mentors... So please be mine at this time. I'll really appreciate it
You'd need to look into the local government sanctions, and there would be paperwork. If you'd like to chat about this, please give us a call at: 1-800-668-8518.
@@SpringfieldLeather thanks so much. I will call you soon!!! Really appreciate it your help!!!!!!!!!!!
you guys nailed it!!! i"m going to be working on my humility.
When I saw the length of the video, I knew i'd need a beer. Gentlemen, I watched the whole video and it takes a bit to make me chuckle and I did. Thank you for a detailed discussion. I enjoyed and learned. That's a winner!
Very nice and helpful video. Thanks for putting it out.
Happy you found it helpful! Thanks for watching! :)
This is an amazing resource thank you so much for the honest advise and sharing your valuable experience.
Happy days! Thanks for watching :)
HUMILITY is to see themselves as no better than a person that is just starting out in the leather trade so the person you interview you see them as equal to your self or maybe even better than your self do not judge them until you see what they can do, do not talk down to them.
These guys have been there, done it, and got the T-shirt to prove it. If you have ever asked yourself "how you should do it" or 'why you should do it" in your business or hobby, you can probably hear the answer in this video. Grab yourself a couple cups of coffee and spend 50 minutes that you won't regret. Good job, Springfield!
Thanks, Bob! We're happy you found the video worth the 50 minutes and advice! :)
Excellent point about hobby vs. business.
I wish we have people and companies like you here. The store here overcharged me by per unit and then gave me a smaller quantity. When I call them out on it, they act as if I should have been happy they are providing a service for me at all. Saying that he already put it through, started to ask every other clerk on what can he do about that! I bought a piece of leather that's pricier than what I would like to pay, but it's a veg tan so I thought it would be worth it. Once I spent weeks making my project, I notice the leather becoming puckered. When I gone back to the store to shop for more things, I mentioned it to them. The clerk said, he remembers me buying it, the reason for it puckering that is because I picked out a very old leather , it is all dried out and the grain in loose... that's 100 dollar down the drain. What a disgrace! I asked all the questions I needed to ask before buying it, I felt really cheated. He said it with such a straight face, like that is what I deserve. But we don't really have any choice to go that place, as there isn't another shop.
Thanks. That was interesting
Well this is one hell of an advice video, I am glad that I made a choice to click on the thumbnail and watch this video. Keep rocking.
Thanks for watching, Hamid! Glad you enjoyed it :)
Great video! Lessons not taught to many these days.
Interesting - thanks
My word I'm half way through this video and you guys are solid! What a great business you have. I would love to work for you guys. I might have a problem convincing my wife to move to MO.
Hello! Happy you enjoyed the video :) We would love to see you sometime...Missouri is a pretty fun place! Thanks for watching!
Good stuff! Thanks guys!
I agree with y'alls points on sustaining/growing an existing business, but what is the key thing on whether the business idea is a viable opportunity to begin with?
*NO MARKET = NO CUSTOMERS.*
*NO CUSTOMERS = NO BUSINESS*
It's that simple, which means it's that hard. You have to first carefully evaluate if the market even exists for what is being proposed. If it does exist, how are you going to redirect customers to you? What are you offering that isn't already being offered? How are you going to get in front of these prospective customers? Most people think that if they just make "good" or "superior" products then the product will sell itself. "Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door." It doesn't work that way and you'll find out soon enough if that's your big business idea and plan.
First off, what's good and superior isn't decided by you or your family and friends who agree with you. Second, friends and family are not a market test and they will tell you that you're ideas are brilliant when they wouldn't know a brilliant idea if they tripped over it. Third, even if it is superior, that doesn't mean it's merchantable. Build a $million nuclear powered mousetrap with megawatt laser beam that vaporizes mice and see how many of these superior mousetraps you will sell. The only real test is whether strangers would buy it, then maybe you have merchantable product or service. Maybe.
It's an obvious point yet is rarely addressed or properly evaluated. Instead what do people do? They just assume there's a market and that their stuff is better than everyone else's because their friends and family say so. If you were to ask them, they would dismiss the question and think you were an idiot for asking. Customers aren't going to be a problem, they'll say. But shop space is and they go out and rent some space, buy some equipment, file for an LLC, come up with some cool designs, get social media buzz going, keep believing your friends and family that you're products are marvelous and you are a genuis. Oh, and come up with a killer business name, create a logo, print up some t-shirts, create a web site, get an Etsy account, print up some bidness cards, and just wait for the tidal wave of success to wash over you. The classic small business failure story.
Classsic misconceptions about business. Build it and they will come. The secret is to find a need and fill it. Do it faster and cheaper and supply it to them more quickly. Then hopefully, You will make enough to pay yourself and the overhead bills.
great advise for any business.
Well done gentlemen!
So much to learn, it's a bit scary and a lot interesting and I'm up for the journey of leather crafting and selling the occasional product.
I'm kicking myself for not buying the herman oak when it was on special and will definitely buy some when I next can get my hands on it
Just to check out the quality differences. Thanks for such great info, I really love to hear people share their passion and knowledge in any craftmanship product but especially leather working. Regards
Hello! Thanks so much for watching! We're happy to share, and it sounds like you've already started your own leather journey. It's going to be fun! Thanks again and good luck :)
thanks guys
Great video on helping us to fulfill our potential an you all are great an love your store. An yes I'll be the guy on day make the trip an walk around your shop in awl.......
Thank you, gentlemen!!! Great help.
Glad you found it helpful! Thanks for watching! :)
You guys are awesome. Make me laugh while learning! :D
How long did you work for Tandy before you left and started that bussiness?
24 yrs
@@SpringfieldLeather that long ?
thank you from morocco
Greetings from USA! Thanks for watching! :)
Hi can i buy Leather from you
thank you for the video i do need to call ypur store and talk to someone about somethings
Thanks for watching! We would be happy to help if you give us a call at 1-800-668-8518. :)
this is like car salesmen talking about philosophy
Denny I would love to talk to you bout saddle making.
Hey, Phillip! Denny's definitely a fantastic resource! You can check out our saddle making demo video with Denny here: ruclips.net/video/dNDX9mYosgA/видео.html . If you have some specific questions, you can also give us a call at 1-800-668-8518.
I thought humility was when you were not above punching somebody in the nose.
Kumbaya
"No such thing as a non-refundable deposit"??? BS... you are 100% entitled to get paid for your time and material. A deal is a deal. You may stop a project at a certain point, BUT you ARE entitled to what YOU have invested. And as for the "pay yourself first" rule... you're playing semantics. ALL bills will need paid. You contradicted yourself more than once regarding that subject. You have rent, heat, electric and other costs associated, INCLUDING your paycheck. Well, don't pay ANY one of them and the business fails. Any one thing is no more important than the other. It's basic common sense and fundamental economics.
with very few exceptions, the only people making a repeatable, long term, sustainable income in leatherwork are the folks selling the tools and supplies. (and two other groups: the folks who employ cheap labor, highly mechanized operations in foreign countries and the high end fashion market with the usual names who appeal to the one percenters)
most of this video, if not all, is just a BS session.
why not be honest and truthful with folks?
sure leatherworking is a great hobby but to project it as a viable means of "making a living" is just being disingenuous.
these gentlemen work for a leather supplier and suspect the majority of their living is not from making items from leathercraft.
What a bunch of crap