As the old saying goes....

[quivira kid]

"It's not what you know, it's who you know...."

I sent a guy a couple dozen crappie jigs last spring. He put a whuppin on the fish and loves the jigs. He is very well networked in the outdoors industry on Facebook. So he posts up last week and gives me some props....

I hadn't tied a jig in at least 2 months, if not 3. Now I've got 3 orders, one of which is pretty decent size! Not bad at all! If this keeps up, I might be able to finally spring for that kayak.

 

[Bucho]

Facebook is a very inexpensive way to do marketing and networking on. There`s a number of FB groups with thousands of members worldwide that will tolerate -or even welcome- small biz advertising as long as it is interesting and unique. (homeshop stuff always is). More than that, there`s exchange of ideas and techniques. Just fly your flag and see who salutes, you will be surprised.

 

[Bucko]

word of quality work travels fast. word of mouth is how I sell mine. people only call me, I don't go calling other people. congratulations!

 

[LedHed]

It's important to impress the right person - opens many doors. Your work is deserving - see a Cadillac kayak in the near future.

 

[Kdog]

word of quality work travels fast. word of mouth is how I sell mine. people only call me, I don't go calling other people. congratulations!

Like it! Unfortunately, it puts you in a feast or famine situation. Fishermen are about the worst, they can't understand why you dont have a couple dozen sitting on the shelf. Also, they wait until prime fishing time to talk about an order. They guys I supply at least understand and hit me up in January and February getting ready for March, April and May this year because of the ice and cold there have been some delays in guys thinking about fishing. Thus far, I have been lucky basing overstock on the orders of a couple very active fishermen size and color. It was pretty easy with 2 sizes and 5 colors.

Since I have started tying there is an entirely new dynamic and the few who have picked up look at my rack of tied jigs and oooh and aaah and want to try 2 or 3 of each which is great but once the season starts it is gonna be a nitemare trying to keep up.

One of my favorite customers is a couple and the Mrs only fishes with pink. I am talking clothes, pole, lures etc. I think If she could find pink line, she would use that as well. She even has a pink boat seat. When I knew they were gonna be stopping by, I put a little care package together for her of all the variations of pink that I have tied 3 jigs each combo put them in a little organizer to which I glued in a whole bunch of dividers. End result there were 40 different jigs all with a pink head. Options were eye color, body color, tail color and flash. She was ecstatic when she saw the pink eyes. Made my day!

I think its time to figure out 4-5 patterns and hide everything else.

I still do not know how some of y'all can do it. For me, trying to tie to order would be terrible, Some days I can zip thru a couple hundred jigs and still feel like tying and other days, doing a dozen is a nightmare.

Keep smiling and have some fun.

 

[quivira kid]

I still do not know how some of y'all can do it. For me, trying to tie to order would be terrible, Some days I can zip thru a couple hundred jigs and still feel like tying and other days, doing a dozen is a nightmare.

You get into a rhythm. 4 dozen of these are the same color combination, so it saves time in picking out different colors. I lay a pack of hackle out that is all the appropriate length/quality and a few feet of chenille, get the heads I am working on on the base of my vise, and turn on some tunes.

It's important to impress the right person - opens many doors. Your work is deserving - see a Cadillac kayak in the near future.

So, so right.... and that's why some folks just get some free jigs to try out! Thanks for the compliment, Sonny. That means a lot.

 

[Jig Man]

pichers..... of the yak.

 

[JUNGLEJIM1]

Keep the customer's happy and you'll get the yak and then some. Problem is once they tell their friends you might be tying so many that you won't have time for the yak.

 

[quivira kid]

pichers..... of the yak.

Here is the one I've got my sights set on....
https://m.basspro.com/Ascend-FS10-SitIn-Angler-Kayak-Camo/product/11081905012223/

My friend has one and it is slick, and should accommodate my big self a little better than some with a smaller cockpit. Add a few accessories (fly rod holder, anchor system, milk crate, rack to hold ice flasher, removable marker lights for fishing at dawn/dusk) and I will have a small water machine.

 

[quivira kid]

Got two orders done.... one in bags, one loose still in the pic.

Last order is all 1/32..... should be quick and easy! I love turning on a movie and zoning in on the work. Painting and curing tomorrow night!

 

[Bucho]

....I still do not know how some of y'all can do it. For me, trying to tie to order would be terrible, Some days I can zip thru a couple hundred jigs and still feel like tying and other days, doing a dozen is a nightmare.

Keep smiling and have some fun.

Those are nice ties! :icon14: Never sold more than 5 specimen of any of mine in one order, what are people doing to them??

I´m up to a hundred products now and keep coming up with new stuff every week. Trying to make standardized of-the-shelf- use of not more than 2 kinds of hooks and, say, 6 different colors for the heads. A combination of tying to order and having the bestsellers on stock has worked for me so far. With every order, its usually only a few jigs I have to tie to heads that are already painted and sealed. With the materials on the table, I tie a few more spares untill I get bored and that somewhat balances it. Compared to my parent`s butcher shop, where they had to produce and provide a weekly pensum of fresh merchandize, I find that very comforting. Still remembering my fathers´s words: "No matter what you do, don´t do foodstuff!!"

Right now I´m getting ready for a littel Tupper-ware-style- sales party in my yard this saturday. Inflatable presentation pool, BBQ, box of pils, guys stuff. We´ll see how that will go

@ Junglejim: Way to go with that Yak, would´n trade mine for a 30`boat!

 

[quivira kid]

Bucho, I tend to lose a bunch of mine. Always get hung up in trees and rocks! Especially spring when I'm fishing with a bobber around shallow thick vegetation where the fish are. Good luck with your party/yard sale!

 

[StumpHunter]

Nice work and congrats on receiving the orders.

 

[Bucko]

I've got orders coming in now and don't know how I'm going to get them filled. been working 60 - 75 hours a week at my regular job.... ugh.... only have like 500 left over so time to start pouring! nice looking jigs by the way.