New product research questionaire

[ARMOURER ERIC]

Quite some time ago another archiver was making wook armour boxes and selling them on ebay under the sell name treeweasel! something that he has not been selling for quite some time. I purchased 2 of them and they are a great addition to my camp. IIRC, they went for $45 on ebay, a price that unfortunately I cannot match.

If I made a similar product with some enhancements such as a quater rounded routered lid with commercially available but period looking hinges
would I be able to get $70 for these, would there be any interest here? How about a bench only version in the $50 range?

Since I have gone full time, I am aware that I need to diversify my products to gain wider interest and to mitigate the wear on my body, I am also looking to start making ECW bandolier apostles as well, since I do ECW in SoCal and already know there is a demand.

Eric

[DAVID01]

Some pics of these would be good.

[InsaneIrish]

IIRC Willing Pell was selling 6 board chest kits (all the materials pre-cut and drilled- you assemble) for about $50 on Ebay.

I think for you to get $70 or so out of a simple 6 board chest you will need 2 things:
1. using deminsional lumber not plywood
2. using period appropriate hardware - clinch nails, strap hinges etc.

Although right now the lumber industry is in a huge boom because of the war in Iraq and now all the hurricane damage. Lumber prices have gone through the roof! Items that used to cost $30 in materials to make now cost $60 in materials alone.

I think in the end it will all come down to finish work and your target audience. Most SCA people have a different idea of what a nice "period" looking box is as opposed to what a LH or ECW person might think.

Point in fact. Most people in the SCA think a nicely made box with clean routered edges, subtle intricately pierced strap hinges and a nice polyurethane stain is indicative of a period box. However, In reality, a box would probably have been painted if not covered in fabric and/or painted and depending on its use no strap hinges or maybe just basic utility "link" hinges with no handles.

[William Freskyn Murray]

I think treeweasel was Iain Ruadh. I haven't seen him selling on ebay lately and when he sells them here it's usually making a bunch and selling them for delivery at Pennsic so he has crazy money to throw away at war. Don't know of anyone making a good period style box and selling them commercially for this little. I've seen some web pages where period boxes go for over $300.

I don't think you would have a huge demand but you should be able to sell them as part of the mix for $70. Benches seem to be more popular then boxes for some reason, I think it's weight - people would rather "lug" a bench to an event then a box full of stuff, 'cause if you have a box you are GOING to fill it with stuff!!!!

hope that helps, I'm one of those stubborn people who refuses to buy something I can make even though I know how long my list of hopeful projects is and how little free time I have.... which means I never get any of the cool spiffy stuff I want 'cause I won't buy it and I don't have time to make it!!! Drives my wife a little crazy

Will