How can we get more women interested in Spyderco knives?

Discuss Spyderco's products and history.
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SpyderEdgeForever
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How can we get more women interested in Spyderco knives?

#1

Post by SpyderEdgeForever »

What ideas do you all have on how we can convince more women to be interested in sporting and folding knives in general and Spyderco knives in particular? I think this is a great market for Spyderco and it would be good to see more women interested in and enjoying knives.
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Mini2white
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Re: How can we get more women interested in Spyderco knives?

#2

Post by Mini2white »

Give them one to use. I have come across reluctance in some against knives due to the constant media bantering over how bad they are but when they have one to use, even if i starts with a ladybug and graduates from there. One lady started with a swiss classic with a fancy pic on the handle and now has a delica on trial to see what the next will be. This has been a 2 year graduation. Patience is the key.

I loan knives out so they can try before they buy as well. Like a test drive see how it fits the hand and clips to clothing etc. Spyderco are wonderful and send me the catalogues so we can then go through to find what they want.

My wife owns alot of spyderco knives, and carries at least one and usually two daily so she is a great influencer The FRN cricket is always clipped to her bra and has been for over 10 years.
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Re: How can we get more women interested in Spyderco knives?

#3

Post by RustyIron »

After ten years, it's about time you bought that poor girl a new bra.
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Re: How can we get more women interested in Spyderco knives?

#4

Post by Tims »

You might find some ideas in this thread mate

viewtopic.php?t=82107#p1287078
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Re: How can we get more women interested in Spyderco knives?

#5

Post by cycleguy »

Cover them in diamonds!!!

CG
So many knives - so little funds!!!
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Re: How can we get more women interested in Spyderco knives?

#6

Post by Naperville »

I'd say, if you want to influence anyone and cost is no object, get them in to your hobby / interest by giving them a decent starter kit.

Buy them a knife in this case.
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Re: How can we get more women interested in Spyderco knives?

#7

Post by Doeswhateveraspidercan »

Raise your girl children to appreciate fine Spyderco cutlery. Other than that luck really that my girlfriend likes her PM2 in S110V was a real shock to me at first.

She saw my collection and her eyes got wide when I said pick one and it’s yours.

Who knew she liked blurple. I do know color counts.
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Re: How can we get more women interested in Spyderco knives?

#8

Post by Doc Dan »

There are several women on this forum...why not ask them?
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Re: How can we get more women interested in Spyderco knives?

#9

Post by bbturbodad »

cycleguy wrote:
Sat Jul 13, 2019 3:23 pm
Cover them in diamonds!!!

CG
My wife is a jeweler and that's been on her to do list for awhile now. Probably just a one off for herself and not directly on the knife but on the neck sheath for her ladybug.

When/if she gets around to it, I'll post a pic.
-Turbo
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Re: How can we get more women interested in Spyderco knives?

#10

Post by ZrowsN1s »

bbturbodad wrote:
Sat Jul 13, 2019 4:48 pm
cycleguy wrote:
Sat Jul 13, 2019 3:23 pm
Cover them in diamonds!!!

CG
My wife is a jeweler and that's been on her to do list for awhile now. Probably just a one off for herself and not directly on the knife but on the neck sheath for her ladybug.

When/if she gets around to it, I'll post a pic.
I swear I saw Bob Terzuola put a diamond or something like that in the backspacer of one of his customs.
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Re: How can we get more women interested in Spyderco knives?

#11

Post by JuPaul »

As a woman, I can add a couple quick thoughts and this, and also on why I love spyderco knives over all others (i.e. strengths that spyderco can play on):

1) I prefer lots of small to medium-sized options with scales that aren't so thick and tall that I can't fit my hands around them with a good strong grip. While I sometimes carry a larger folder or a fixed blade for specific jobs around our land, I don't generally need a big knife and I don't want to scare anyone when I pick up my kids from school. Furthermore, women's pants and jeans have much smaller pockets than men's. Most of my pants simply won't fit a folder that's more than 4" closed. Some will only hold my little Dragonflys. Some women might carry a knife in their purses, but I personally don't want to sift through my purse to find one when I need it. Maybe a purse clip design would be popular, though.

2) For me, color does matter. I rarely buy knives with black scales. I like a color. And for the record, I don't mean pink! I have no problem with pink, but I hate that it's often the only option other than blue, black, tan or OD green. I don't want a "girly" knife, I just think black scales are boring. ;-) Spyderco does a much better job of offering unique and attractive colors.

3) Knives are not marketed to women, and a lot of women don't know how useful they are, or when they might use one (even though they reach for a steak knife or their husband's pocket knife to do little jobs all day). So advertising might focus in that direction: "Ladies, why do you need a knife?" Also, where does spyderco advertise? Probably not in many women's magazines.

4) Nicer traditional and higher-end "gentlemen's" knives are usually really masculine (with bone, dark woods, black carbon fiber, etc.). But spyderco makes a few nicer options that women might like as well, such as the tattoo dragonfly. How many men bought those for their wives!

4) Last thought for now...if you want women to like knives, give one to your daughter and teach her how to use it! Lots of women don't grow up being encouraged to use and love knives. For Christmas, we gave my stepdaughter her first pocket knife: a purple-handled Opinel. She loves it, and looks for any excuse to use it. Why? Because my husband and I both encouraged her to, and because we found an option that would appeal to her.
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Re: How can we get more women interested in Spyderco knives?

#12

Post by SF Native »

Good points jupaul.
For sure about the size and color. My daughter is currently 14 and she confiscated my light grey(almost lavender) caly jr and my orange hap40 dragonfly. I’m encouraging her to use them so maybe I’m doing something right as a parent. She really does like them and checks all my new arrivals.
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Re: How can we get more women interested in Spyderco knives?

#13

Post by JuPaul »

SF Native wrote:
Sat Jul 13, 2019 7:14 pm
Good points jupaul.
For sure about the size and color. My daughter is currently 14 and she confiscated my light grey(almost lavender) caly jr and my orange hap40 dragonfly. I’m encouraging her to use them so maybe I’m doing something right as a parent. She really does like them and checks all my new arrivals.
Yes! Lots of girls would think knives are cool and fun to use if given the opportunity. And, btw, your daughter has great taste - I have the hap40 dragonfly, too. :p
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Re: How can we get more women interested in Spyderco knives?

#14

Post by David R »

JuPaul wrote:
Sat Jul 13, 2019 5:29 pm
As a woman, I can add a couple quick thoughts and this, and also on why I love spyderco knives over all others (i.e. strengths that spyderco can play on):

1) I prefer lots of small to medium-sized options with scales that aren't so thick and tall that I can't fit my hands around them with a good strong grip. While I sometimes carry a larger folder or a fixed blade for specific jobs around our land, I don't generally need a big knife and I don't want to scare anyone when I pick up my kids from school. Furthermore, women's pants and jeans have much smaller pockets than men's. Most of my pants simply won't fit a folder that's more than 4" closed. Some will only hold my little Dragonflys. Some women might carry a knife in their purses, but I personally don't want to sift through my purse to find one when I need it. Maybe a purse clip design would be popular, though.

2) For me, color does matter. I rarely buy knives with black scales. I like a color. And for the record, I don't mean pink! I have no problem with pink, but I hate that it's often the only option other than blue, black, tan or OD green. I don't want a "girly" knife, I just think black scales are boring. ;-) Spyderco does a much better job of offering unique and attractive colors.

3) Knives are not marketed to women, and a lot of women don't know how useful they are, or when they might use one (even though they reach for a steak knife or their husband's pocket knife to do little jobs all day). So advertising might focus in that direction: "Ladies, why do you need a knife?" Also, where does spyderco advertise? Probably not in many women's magazines.

4) Nicer traditional and higher-end "gentlemen's" knives are usually really masculine (with bone, dark woods, black carbon fiber, etc.). But spyderco makes a few nicer options that women might like as well, such as the tattoo dragonfly. How many men bought those for their wives!

4) Last thought for now...if you want women to like knives, give one to your daughter and teach her how to use it! Lots of women don't grow up being encouraged to use and love knives. For Christmas, we gave my stepdaughter her first pocket knife: a purple-handled Opinel. She loves it, and looks for any excuse to use it. Why? Because my husband and I both encouraged her to, and because we found an option that would appeal to her.
Thanks for commenting JuPaul. I cringe when guys recommend very small and/or pink knives for other guys' SOs. It's a kind of a forehead slap moment for me. I run most of the knives I buy past my wife just to see what she likes. She's not a big Spydie fan - she prefers thumb studs and just doesn't get the hole. I've tired explaining it - not her thing. For some reason she gravitates toward nice Ti Frame locks. She's a first responder and carries a mid-tech as her duty knife. Something about the feel and simplicity work for her. The one Spydie she loved immediately was the Spydie Chef. She's consistent.
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Re: How can we get more women interested in Spyderco knives?

#15

Post by zhyla »

JuPaul
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Re: How can we get more women interested in Spyderco knives?

#16

Post by JuPaul »

[/quote]
Thanks for commenting JuPaul. I cringe when guys recommend very small and/or pink knives for other guys' SOs. It's a kind of a forehead slap moment for me. I run most of the knives I buy past my wife just to see what she likes. She's not a big Spydie fan - she prefers thumb studs and just doesn't get the hole. I've tired explaining it - not her thing. For some reason she gravitates toward nice Ti Frame locks. She's a first responder and carries a mid-tech as her duty knife. Something about the feel and simplicity work for her. The one Spydie she loved immediately was the Spydie Chef. She's consistent.
[/quote]

I get that. Most of my pre-spydie folders were liner or frame lock flippers. They're easy to use regardless of your hand size. I wasn't sure I'd like spydercos because of the back locks on many and the lack of flippers on most. But the back lock was actually what ended up selling me on them once I got the hang of closing it one-handed. The liner locks may be easy to use, but they really tear up my thumb nail. No such problem with the back locks! Love for the spydie hole came later, but I still miss a flipper sometimes. I got a Mantra a while back to scratch that itch.
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Re: How can we get more women interested in Spyderco knives?

#17

Post by JuPaul »

zhyla wrote:
Sat Jul 13, 2019 8:45 pm
viewtopic.php?t=82107
Interesting thread, and I agree with comments there that most people - women and men - just aren't gonna be really into knives. And maybe most women will never have a knife collection, but I think a lot more would at least carry a pocket knife if they'd been encouraged to do so at a young age. As for owning multiple expensive knives and geeking out on new knife steels, well, even my husband thinks I'm nuts. He's been carrying the same Kershaw flipper for the last 5 years at least. But he leaves me to my "wierd" hobby, and knows I won't say a word when he buys his next $2500 racing quad. :p
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Re: How can we get more women interested in Spyderco knives?

#18

Post by apollo »

My girlfriend loves a manix and even has a mamba but here eyes are still set on a pink native :)
But she says covering spydies with something that sparkles will be a very good thought. :)
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Re: How can we get more women interested in Spyderco knives?

#19

Post by C99c »

SpyderEdgeForever wrote:
Sat Jul 13, 2019 10:51 am
What ideas do you all have on how we can convince more women to be interested in sporting and folding knives in general and Spyderco knives in particular? I think this is a great market for Spyderco and it would be good to see more women interested in and enjoying knives.
What makes you think that there aren't a significant amount of females that both carry and use knives daily and that many of those don't already use Spydercos?

If you're basing it on not seeing Spyderco clips in female pockets that may largely be because women's clothes don't physically alow for a lot of objects to fit and many women I know choose to carry IWB or some other method instead of in a pocket.

If you're basing it on not a lot of women participating in online forums such as this one then that's just because women tend to be in the very small majority of forum users for most gear specific forums. This could be for any number of reasons but I choose to believe that overall they're just smarter than us and make better use of their time.

Short version: I know lots of females that carry knives. A large portion of those prefer Spyderco lockbacks.
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Re: How can we get more women interested in Spyderco knives?

#20

Post by Doc Dan »

A good Spyderco lockback and intentional advertising in women’s magazines and on women’s forums would eventually bring an increase in sales to women.
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