Holster makers, and really makers of anything, are sometimes asked to explain the price of their product. Consumers often try to apply a simple materials-plus-labor equation to justify every item they purchase. Sometimes, that makes sense. But almost every product you buy has other stressors that affect the final price of that product. The fluctuating price of materials and commodities, availability of materials, shipping costs, interruption to the market, PANDEMICS and any other out-of-our-control factor may affect cost and price of products.
Holsters and other leather gear have fewer variable factors, although 2020 has given us quite a ride. One unseen factor that isn’t variable, but is always present is the need to design products that never make it to market. Sometimes that “wasted time and material” is by design… literally. Every new holster or product I make is made at least once with no intention of being sold. I call them “sketch” holsters. It’s the part of the process where I use cheaper leather to get a look at the design that, until then, was only in my head and on paper, but not yet on a gun. If all goes well, I only have to do that once. All does not always go well. Sometimes I think it will work and I make a final version. Sometimes I scrap that “final” version as well. Here at Work-A-Day I say “I make it ‘til you like it.” In addition, I don’t deliver it until I like it. So in the pile it goes.
That’s my unseen expense. Gas suppliers have to spend billions looking for new oil reserves. Professional athletes spend years training and beating their bodies to maybe play a short career. Crab fishermen burn a lot of fuel looking for fish they don’t find. I started out buying a lot of leather that still sits in boxes in my shop. I have hundreds of never-to-be-sold products so I can make you a one-of-a-kind holster that you’ll love and use for years to come.
It’s part of the process. I enjoy it. I hope you enjoy the part you see!
Mark
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