This is 3Bits & Change, an email about building a service and retail business. This one was written to tunes curated by Raul Camps on KCRW.
Good day,
I attended the largest blade show in the world last weekend.
I took an Uber from the ATL terminal to the rental car facility - the train had a multi-hour wait line. What? It was an adventure, but I got there.
The Blade Show was held approx 30 mins to the north of the airport. Knife makers of all types and their suppliers (i.e. handles, steal, sharpeners) from all over the world crashed the conference center for three days.
It was fun to see a sea of people all interested in blades.
Atlanta’s traffic is still remarkable, the humidity was minimal and there was zero discernible wildfire smoke.
New Makers to Add to the Collection //no.1
I’m working to bring these makers to the shop:
In addition to the above, I was introduced to makers from the UK as well as Italy and Spain. Here’s to quality tools for kitchen joy from around the world.
Display //no.2
I’m regularly looking for display ideas and options and found a few at the show.
The three guys with backpack TV/ads on a loop caught my eye. Just wished there was a map to the booth.
These magnetic displays are super cool. The blades float.
The use of light was super evident throughout the show. The overheads in a convention center are meh. So anytime extra light was added to a booth it stuck out in very good ways.
Journeyman Smith Rating //no.3
The American Bladesmith Society has a number of certifications competitions and recognitions. The Journeyman rating comes just before a Masterblade Smith rating. The blade above passed! It belongs to the 19 year old Frenchman Camille Sennegon from an area around Chamonix (yes, he skis!).
Below a blade, made at the same time as the one above, is being tested before being brought to the US for certification. This bending step is the last of the tests. The goal is to bend it to 90 degrees and have it not snap.
Camille told me when he gets home he’ll relax for a bit after having been working for 14 hours a day for months. Then, he’ll get back to smithing. Maybe he’ll make some kitchen knives for Vivront down the line too. Maybe. He’s certainly happy he passed. Congrats Camille!
We chatted about the differences in smithing that passes tests vs the work he wants to do from a fit and finish standpoint. Interested? Check this one out! I saw it in person and woah.
Sum
There are quality blademakers and kitchen blades all over the world. We’re going to keep finding them and bring them to cooks in our kitchens in MN and beyond.
Change
Regarding school nutrition:
The state legislature in IL passed a law now awaiting the Governor’s signature to provide meals at no cost to all IL students.
A Federal appropriations bill is being worked on in the House includes adjustments for the child nutrition program. It currently calls for an approximate 10% increase in funding over 2023.
On Your Way
Here’s to a big happy start to a warm summer!
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Order kitchen knives sharpened or give the gift of sharp at Vivront.com.