This is 3Bits & Change, an email about building a service and retail business. This one was written to the silence of my airpods and the dog chewing on a toy.
Reflections on two years at Blade Show in Atlanta.
//no.1 - Sessions
Last year, my first year attending Blade, I planned to walk around and bump into things. I had three days. This year I hit the sessions track hard and planned a full day.
In the intro to blade grinding session I was struck by a few things:
Blade grinders and microphones don’t mix well - too noisy
This is an apprentice skill. Like video cameras need to be close to capture detail so also do your eyes when in person
Minor adjustments make for huge impacts in quality of results
From the intro to running a successful knife business I continue to think about:
The kitchen knife world being saturated with makers
The importance of diligent work AND luck in scaled business success
The power of brand
Regarding the power hammers session:
Panels talks need be physically arranged as panels to support conversation and audience value
There is a substantial number of concepts in forging that I have yet to learn
The whole thing would have been better (10-100x better) with pictures and video
On making unique designs:
Even simple things can be deeply complex
Even small things can be outlandishly meaningful businesses
Even silly things can have scaled impact
//no.2 - Build Relationships
You can build a treehouse and stand alone in it - with no ladders. Or, you can build relationships. The tricky parts of this industry (I’m new) is to figure out which cliques are present, how they function and what relationships in one group impacts the other groups. I’m getting highschool vibes at times.
It’s safe to say everyone knows of each other. It’s a small group of players. It’s harder to see who has made whom mad enough to not want to talk to or work with them anymore. It’s a little like moving to another town in 10th grade.
For now, and I hope ongoing, I can keep talking to everyone. I’m new. However, the more I learn the more I’m aware of invisible territories.
//no.3 - More Time
Last year I went for three days and discovered the context. This year I went for a day and over planned it. Next year, I’ll aim for a day and a half and spend time differently.
I’m hopeful the 3rd time I dial it in even better.
Sum
A good conference attendee is not something I sought to be until I started doing it professionally. The tricks of the marketing conferences don’t work the same way in the knife conferences.
One things stands… keep making friends.
Change
We’ve had some very interesting conversations with local makers of recent. Standby for more on what develops there
We’ve had some killer conversations with quality makers around the country - more collaborations coming
Deeper relationships are building with local chefs
A large jump forward to logged in the shipping label adventure. #win
On Your Way
Enjoy the holiday weekend. Paint a bunting in your windows!
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