Why not an "Annual" ?

[VictorLouis]

I'm talking about a magazine format catalog, or 'mag-a-log'. While the compact shirt-pocket catalog is great, it's format is hard on the eyes. :eek:

These issues have been hugely successful for Glock, and even S&W and CZ have come out with their own the past few years. Besides showcasing the products in a larger format, there's plenty of opportunities for articles.

"The Advantages of a Hawkbill"
"Edge-U-Cation 101"
"Collecting Spyderco"

The possibilites are almost endless, eh?

If we badger long enough and loud enough, maybe we can get one for the 2011? :D

[unit]

I have a larger format of the catalog (I think these were made in more limited quantities for dealers to supplement their displays). It lacks the articles you seek, but is much easier on the eyes than the pocket catalog. Not sure if these are available for sale or not, but a phone call the the SFO might answer that question.

[The Deacon]

Cost would be the major reason, they cost more to make and more to ship and the articles you desire take time and energy to write. Spyderco is much smaller than any of the companies you cite as examples and sells products which are less expensive. Between the consumer catalog, which I personally consider to be of reasonable size, and the PDF version, I'm content.

[VictorLouis]

Deacon, you do have a point. But, I want to make sure I'm clear. I'm not talking about a 'free' item here, as ostensibly the current catalog is. I'm talking about a pay-to-play mag available on the newstands. I'm sure the cover price would be workable at somewhere from $6.95-$9.95, as a SWAG.

Since 'Blade', and 'Tactical Knives' seem to do well as a monthly{?}, I'm sure that such an item from Spyderco would pay for itself. It would give the brand a HUGE exposure to perhaps thousands of novices, as well as fans of cutlery in-general. I would imagine that several thousand issues would be purchased by the enthusiasts, alone.

[chipped]

It'd be cool if they could reprint excerpts or reviews from other magazines in there somehow.

A stories section would be great!

[dbcad]

The idea is initially appealing, but I'd much prefer Spyderco continue it's focus on producing superior quality knives at an affordable cost. I started a thread a while ago about the "Spyderco Brand". Can't find it now, but what I got out of it is that the folks here want the company to continue it's vision of producing fine quality knives with superior materials at a reasonable price.

The forum here serves as a mag without a lot of the marketing downsides. That's what any magazine would be, marketing.

I'd love to see the larger sized competition companies offer steels like H1, CPM M4 and ZDP 189, but I don't see them doing that at an affordable price.

Maybe if a mag was done done right it would be a good thing, but I wouldn't want to distract the attention away from what Spyderco does best, making great production knives with the finest stuff available.

Charlie

[Michael Janich]

I love the idea, but the practicalities of making that happen are challenging.

When I was with Blackhawk, we did a "magalog" with Harris Publications. The basic concept was to get a bunch of writers to do "insightful" stories about different types of gear, establishing the advantages of certain attributes and ultimately pimping Blackhawk's products. I wrote two articles that provided the "inside story" on the development of specific knife designs (Brent Beshara's XSF-1 dagger and Kelly McCann's Crucible knives). Much of the rest of the content was "uninspired" and ultimately Blackhawk ended up giving away or trashing thousands of magalogs.

Newsstand magazines make their money on advertising--period. A manufacturer wanting to do a magalog basically pays for the publication as a sole advertiser. Although some other vendors may choose to place ads as well, the logic of doing so is debatable since the manufacturer "owns" the content.

The exceptions to this rule are things like the Glock annual. The reason is that there are so many accessories for Glocks that it makes good sense for the accessory companies to place ads in an otherwise Glock-centric mag.

I like the concept a lot, but the economics of it are, again, challenging.

Stay safe,

Mike

[The Mastiff]

Another thing to consider is the employees usually wear more than one hat. ie: they have several jobs or areas of responsibilities they take care of. They tend to be very versatile. Kristi is a perfect example) and if you just add another project into the schedule the time for it needs to come from somewhere.

As good as it sounds, and it does, I'd rather they concentrated on making the deadlines on their knife orders. That's what pays the bills.

Regards, Joe/Raleigh

[sarguy]

Years ago I purchased a book by "Jim Grover"/Kelly McCann that was comprised of articles from Guns and Ammo (I think) over several years. Some people weren't a fan of "recycling" material, but I like the completeness of having all the articles in one volume. (Given the number of Mr. Janich writes, I've wondered if we'd ever see something similar from his camp.)

IMHO, to obtain a "Publication Vitae" of previously published Spyderco articles and have time contained in one (or more) volumes would awesome. There might be some I've read, but to be able to read all of the others I missed would be worth the purchase. Getting permission from each publication/author for the compilation sounds like it'd be a hassle, tho.

[PureSeventyNine]

Victor, I tried to share a similar idea before.

http://www.spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42671

But alas, as you have seen, your wings will be clipped and your ideas shot down due to the "But you have to take into consideration...."

I'm with you on this one. It is a great idea, it would not cost too much and it would not distract from knifemaking. Spyderco can afford to send us a nice glossy catalog for free and people think that even if we pay it would cost them too much. Please calculate that for me.

For now we will have to sit and wait to see what Spyderco decides to do.

[dbcad]

Hey SeventyNine. At least Spyderco is considering a calender, I'd be up for that too.

I have to maintain the point that the forum itself is a virtual magazine. I have learned so much from my reading here, from sharpening to steel properties, handle designs and knife reviews. Is a mag designed to do anything else??

Spyderco seems to be a very lean Co. It's by the grace of TazKristi we have this forum at all. From what I gather all important decision making at Spyderco is very slow and deliberate. They'll make their own decision over time about an annual.

You're enjoying your Spyderco's though..... :D

Charlie

[Toad310]

No way, I wish I could take down my mail box forever!

What do I need catalogs for? I Don't! No paper catalogs in the mail.

We have the most prolific communications system ever created in history, and the last thing that was as important that we can compare to the Internet, was our Railroad system that built America, and started the industrial revolution, by moving people, and materials, and even the mail that was needed in that era.

The Internet in the 21st century is equal to the Railroad system of the 19th century.

I have been told by engineers in the computer industry, and people who look ahead to what may come next, and they all agree that it will be around 300 years minimum, before we see anything new and on the level of the World Wide Web. This is on record at one of Intel's annual software architecture engineer forums.

If I never saw another piece of mail, again, I would love it.

Packages are different.

Parcels moving by companies like FedEx, who was the pioneering company that invented the entire overnight package delivery industry is one of the most amazing things to also ever be invented.

We still need the Rail Road to move things too, and large items. It is still a very useful system to the country.

We need packages, and overnight formal documents. But all the rest of the mail is a complete waste. I have set things up so that 99% of the mail that comes to our box never makes it in the house, or office and goes right to the trash.

To end with the topic of this thread...we can have every catalog from every company in the world in the palm of our hand, on a phone at every place we go 24/7, and we can order products from any where to be sent overnight to us, send mail that is instant! Photos that are instant.

As a photographer, the digital age and Internet was a miracle of technology. First, it put the less business type of photographers out of business, while people like me who could see the coming age, and what it could do, and the unlimited possibilities ahead, we stayed.

The photographers like me and my wife, that saw the potential were the pioneers in a new medium. I started with film, and made the switch.

I am a true American Pioneer in a new age, with the most remarkable medium mankind ever has seen in history.

Yet many, many labs and photographers stuck with film and failed. They thought film would always be better. I listened to there BS for a few years, and they were WRONG! And now gone.

I became wealthy beyond my wildest dreams. So did many other companies. I wager Spyderco had sales increase to levels they never thought of before the Internet.

And for my colleagues, the photographers who I knew across the country, well most lost everything they worked, and went to school for, they have been reduced to awful jobs or none at all.

In the future there will be something that will replace what we have, and something very prolific will be created, however we will never live to see it as it most likely be a few centuries away.

So who still wants a bigger catalog?

Hope you guy's like this, I taught advanced photography and digital communications and, this was part of my teachings. Please do not think I am boasting, but that is the way things went down.

Great times!

[Toad310]

Hey SeventyNine. At least Spyderco is considering a calender, I'd be up for that too.

I have to maintain the point that the forum itself is a virtual magazine. I have learned so much from my reading here, from sharpening to steel properties, handle designs and knife reviews. Is a mag designed to do anything else??

Spyderco seems to be a very lean Co. It's by the grace of TazKristi we have this forum at all. From what I gather all important decision making at Spyderco is very slow and deliberate. They'll make their own decision over time about an annual.

You're enjoying your Spyderco's though..... :D

Charlie

Sorry Charlie...you are not up with the times.

Do not feel sorry for any Spyderco employee in regard to this forum...They take in millions of gross income from it yearly. This forum is a major force in their marketing, and it is a priority with the company.

Forums, and web sites are cheap, and help companies make fortunes. Example...Before the Internet, people like me could only work locally, or regionally at best. I live in the desert, but now work all around the world. Before the Internet, I was restricted to the market forces here, now, people call and bring us in, and do not care what the cost is.

After the web went up I made way more money, and I had much more free time, as I did not have to do every little job, and kiss up to the foolish business people that are in every area in the country. I could eliminate the marginal, hassle local jobs, and bill twenty times the money, all thanks to my web site.

Any company that's street is named after them is a major player Spyderco could close today, and still take in millions a year for decades, on their IP, and petents alone. They are just fine. And that is great!

No offence to TazKristi

To learn all of this...well just find some business forums!!

[dbcad]

Not quite sure how to respond Toad31 :confused: My point was probably missed. I'll simplify. Please excuse that I'm not a "business" oriented individual.

Spyderco makes wonderful products that I like to own. I think it's great they profit from their products because the profit is well deserved. In my mind :spyder: outshines the competition :D

I really appreciate this forum. It's a source of so much wonderful information inhabited by very knowledgeable folks with a wide range of experience and expertise. I've recieved a lot of wonderful knife education here at no cost to me. If it also serves as a marketing tool for the :spyder: , good for them. I like not not seeing ads tho...lol.

Bottom line: To me, this forum is much more than any annual would be. Much deeper and richer in information and shared experience where it applies to the wonderful products that :spyder: makes than any annual could be. I don't desire or need a paper copy to put on my coffee table.

Just my own personal preference. We can agree to disagree on this. I do my best not to presume anything.

Now, waiting on a Micro Dyad, Urban, Poliwog and a Swick with scales :D :D (I've been going smaller).... :D

Charlie

[The Deacon]

Spyderco seems to be a very lean Co. It's by the grace of TazKristi we have this forum at all. From what I gather all important decision making at Spyderco is very slow and deliberate. They'll make their own decision over time about an annual.

You're enjoying your Spyderco's though..... :D

Charlie

That's what's great about this forum, we can all share our ideas with the sure and certain knowledge that Sal will give them the consideration he feels they deserve, even if our fellow forumites don't see any merit in them.

[Toad310]

Not quite sure how to respond Toad31 :confused: My point was probably missed. I'll simplify. Please excuse that I'm not a "business" oriented individual.

Spyderco makes wonderful products that I like to own. I think it's great they profit from their products because the profit is well deserved. In my mind :spyder: outshines the competition :D

I really appreciate this forum. It's a source of so much wonderful information inhabited by very knowledgeable folks with a wide range of experience and expertise. I've recieved a lot of wonderful knife education here at no cost to me. If it also serves as a marketing tool for the :spyder: , good for them. I like not not seeing ads tho...lol.

Bottom line: To me, this forum is much more than any annual would be. Much deeper and richer in information and shared experience where it applies to the wonderful products that :spyder: makes than any annual could be. I don't desire or need a paper copy to put on my coffee table.

Just my own personal preference. We can agree to disagree on this. I do my best not to presume anything.

Now, waiting on a Micro Dyad, Urban, Poliwog and a Swick with scales :D :D (I've been going smaller).... :D

Charlie

Dear Charlie,

First let me say I did not mean to hit you with a bomb, and I want to make some of my points a little more clear.

To start, when I stated that Spyderco's employees take in millions of dollars, in gross income, I should have said the company, and it's owners, not the staff. I have for years felt Spyderco is a well run company with good products, staff, R & D and typical to us here in America inovative. Very inovative.

What I do not like to hear is outside people feeling sorry that the staffers are overworked, have too much on their plate, this kind of thing. Well, if they need or want help, then they can get it or ask for is thru their superiors.

I will use myself as an example: On some projects, it is easier for me to do my own lighting and be my own grip, and gaffer (Grips/Gaffers are people who help set things up, do the heavy lifting, but possess good technical skills) than to have extra help. Sometimes, it is easier to just do it, than having to manage others.

So it could be easier for TazKristie to have more on her plate than get help, or not. We do not know, however, the human resources issues of Spyderco, and false sympathy kind of get to me. She is in the upper management, of the company, and I wager, if she needs help, she will get it.

Look at it this way: Stating any employee of Spyderco is overworked, and has too many projects, too much on her plateor by the grace of Tazkristi we even have a fouum, is a complete and direct shot the owner of the company. So by stating these things people insult Sal Glesser. By making comments like that you are stating The Glesser's are slave drivers.

The other thing is while it may be hard work managing any forum, they make companies millions, even now, in the recession. Example: A guy (maybe me) sees an orange knife, CC comes out, a few mouse clicks, and less than 24 hours, there is a very nice person running up to the door with a box with the orange knife included.

So a forum is a good thing to exchange ideas, meet others with the same interests, and companies do very well income wise, hire people, design new orange knives, so the process can repeat over and over.

Hope this makes sense.

Sorry, I did not mean put you off in any way.

Best,

Toad

PS...Do you think they will get the sublime shot an making more orange knives?

[Toad310]

I love the idea, but the practicalities of making that happen are challenging.

When I was with Blackhawk, we did a "magalog" with Harris Publications. The basic concept was to get a bunch of writers to do "insightful" stories about different types of gear, establishing the advantages of certain attributes and ultimately pimping Blackhawk's products. I wrote two articles that provided the "inside story" on the development of specific knife designs (Brent Beshara's XSF-1 dagger and Kelly McCann's Crucible knives). Much of the rest of the content was "uninspired" and ultimately Blackhawk ended up giving away or trashing thousands of magalogs.

Newsstand magazines make their money on advertising--period. A manufacturer wanting to do a magalog basically pays for the publication as a sole advertiser. Although some other vendors may choose to place ads as well, the logic of doing so is debatable since the manufacturer "owns" the content.

The exceptions to this rule are things like the Glock annual. The reason is that there are so many accessories for Glocks that it makes good sense for the accessory companies to place ads in an otherwise Glock-centric mag.

I like the concept a lot, but the economics of it are, again, challenging.

Stay safe,

Mike

Hey, what you wrote sounds just like the J.Peterman catalog Elaine edited on "Seinfeld."

I would beg and beseech you not to stick us with sulfurous dribble like that!

Thanking you in advance, and with all best wishes,

Toad

[Michael Janich]

Hey, what you wrote sounds just like the J.Peterman catalog Elaine edited on "Seinfeld."

I would beg and beseech you not to stick us with sulfurous dribble like that!

Thanking you in advance, and with all best wishes,

Toad

I guess I missed that episode of Seinfeld, so the reference is lost on me.

The articles I wrote for the BlackHawk magalog were detailed histories of the development of specific knife designs. They provided solid information that you can't find anywhere else and they were consistent with the quality of everything else I write. The other articles were, in my opinion, pretty superficial.

As a new guy on the block at Spyderco, I am still learning about the workings of the company. I am also continuously amazed at the speculations that outsiders make about the organization and operation of the company and how far off-base they are.

Unless you've actually worked for Spyderco (or any other company), any comments about how we're run and why we do things are, at best, speculation.

Like any company, we do as much as we can with the resources we have. We also prioritize tasks and focus on what makes the most sense. Obviously, the forums are a powerful means of promoting our products; but to casually dismiss them as a marketing venue is very wrong. If you look at the vast majority of the information shared by Spyderco employees on the forums, you'll find that it's geared toward answering questions and providing an industry-leading level of customer support. We're not just pushing products.

I work very closely with Kristi and see on a daily basis how devoted she is to her job--particularly management of the forums. She regularly goes above and beyond the normal call of duty to keep forumites happy and diplomatically manage the handful of unmanageable ones.

I've also seen Sal's workload and I'm amazed at the level of participation he maintains on the forums. I challenge you to show me any other company founder in the knife industry who interacts so regularly with his customers or participates regularly in forums.

I thought I knew the knife industry fairly well before I came to work for Spyderco. Since joining the Spyderco team, I realized that there was a lot I didn't know about the industry and that Spyderco operates VERY differently from the other players in the market. And I couldn't be happier that they do...

Stay safe,

Mike

P.S. I'm writing this from a hotel room outside Ft. Lewis, WA. Kristi is one floor up. We're here for the SpecOps West trade show and Kristi skipped Mother's Day with her kids to be here to set up.

[sarguy]

We're here for the SpecOps West trade show and Kristi skipped Mother's Day with her kids to be here to set up.

That level of commitment is why I love these knives and the company behind them.

[Toad310]

[quote:]
P.S. I'm writing this from a hotel room outside Ft. Lewis, WA. Kristi is one floor up. We're here for the SpecOps West trade show and Kristi skipped Mother's Day with her kids to be here to set up.[/QUOTE]

If you want the kind of job she has, this is something you know ahead that you will sacrifice.

I missed many events, and holidays running a business.

If you like your job, and moreover, wish to keep it, you have to do what is required. Period.

Again, forcing me to feel sorry for someone at a trade show, fun job to have, that is required, you miss things.

You can make up for it when you get home. My daughter who is in college, is thankful that I had provided her with a good life, knowing it cost silly holidays.

Business is business. You do what you are told to do, or you will be replaced...in a second. There is no loyalty in business, none. It does not matter what company, or boss, there is no loyalty in business. This is not me talking, this is part of the general theories of business, and business management.

Remember we are pushing 10% unenployement in America, so anyone with a job at this point in time should feel lucky.