(OT) Gamer's Bag...Thoughts on expansion

[Paladinwife]

Well, everyone here knows that Paladin and I are the hard working owners of The Gamer's Bag, and even though I'm truely swamped, I wanted to take a minute to get some help from our ENWorld family. We have been offered the opportunity to expand our business by mass producing our bags to be distributed by a high speed distributor. While we are working out the kinks in this, I'd like to know what we should expect that we might be unaware of going in to this and what people would like to see size- wise and material wise. We will be limited, you see, to maybe 10 fabrics for our regular line and probably 2 sizes on KoDT and 3 or 4 solid colors for those. Any help would be most appreciated. And remember, it's not official yet, we're still working out some financial details.

 

[Tsyr]

Will this effect the production of leather/decorated with chainmail dicebags?

And how are leather book covers comming?

 

[Paladinwife]

We will be running the equivalent of two businesses in one. One that does custom and one that does bags for FLGS. So, you should be able to get all of your custom work done...it might actually be a little faster.

 

[Tsyr]

I dunno... Definetly use the fabrics in "Polished Gem 1"... They rock

Do you still offer completely custom embroidery patterns? You used to when you first started, but now you seem to have a pre-set catalog...

 

[jgbrowning]

Well, everyone here knows that Paladin and I are the hard working owners of The Gamer's Bag, and even though I'm truely swamped, I wanted to take a minute to get some help from our ENWorld family. We have been offered the opportunity to expand our business by mass producing our bags to be distributed by a high speed distributor. While we are working out the kinks in this, I'd like to know what we should expect that we might be unaware of going in to this and what people would like to see size- wise and material wise. We will be limited, you see, to maybe 10 fabrics for our regular line and probably 2 sizes on KoDT and 3 or 4 solid colors for those. Any help would be most appreciated. And remember, it's not official yet, we're still working out some financial details.

Good to hear! Although its tough making decisions like this, they're the best kind of tough choices to make.

joe b.

 

[haiiro]

I think the various colored dragon scale fabrics would be a good choice for mass production -- sharp, distinctive, nicely tied in with fantasy, etc. (I've also got one in red, which I love. )

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

Yes, I'm a fan of the dragonscale ones, as well as some of the fire patterns. I'd say yay to those for mass production.

 

[Shadowdancer]

If you can do both -- the mass produced and the custom jobs -- then I say do both.

I'm also interested in the possibility of leather bookcovers. What's the word?

 

[BrooklynKnight]

Hrm...

Here is my opinion.

It looked to me that you made most of your bags by hand and sewing machine (which to me is still by hand cause you got one person moving it around etc etc.)

I feel that the quality of the bags would degrade if they were mass produced. One reason I like you guys is the care you put into each and every bag.

When I bought mine at gencon you were EXTREMLY nice to me, and offered to try and get something done in the span of a single night, what would normally take you a week to do.

Thats why I introduced you to Mr Valterra and Sent emails to my FLGS.

I want to see you succeed. You deserve it.
If you want to "ADD" the mass production line in addition to your current custom line, then go right ahead if its gonna make you successfull. So long as it doesnt detract from what you're already doing now.

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

As long as you don't forgo the handmade custom bags, then I think that mass producing some of your bestselling bags isn't a bad idea. It will certainly help you reach a larger audience, and a larger audience means more $, which is the whole point of going into business in the first place. Just make sure that you use the scented wax on the mass produced bags as well.

Personally, if I need another dice bag, I'll be coming to you for a custom one. Knowing that you guys hand made the bag, and that you really like what you are doing, means something to me. You provided me with wonderful customer service-online, on the phone, and in person. I know I'll be back again.

If given the choice between 2 items that will both serve the same purpose, and one is handcrafted and one is mass produced, I'll go with the handcrafted (assuming the price is still reasonable).