Dealers benefit makers and dealers by being able to let them know what's hot, and what's not. Geography plays a part in that. Certain knives and certain makers sell better in certain parts of the country or the world. High dollars art knives sell better at larger shows than say in an area where the economy is not so hot, or in an area where people buy utility or hunting type knives. Most dealers know to take certain knives and inventory to certain shows.
Makers benefit by maintaining contact with dealers by finding out the knives that are selling.
Their income is dependent upon knowing what is moving. More gun magazines are doing multi page articles and photo spreads on knives as the Federal Government and states restrict gun ownership. Because of this we will see more people crossing over to knife shows and knife collecting. Our livelihood of the future of the knife industry is dependent upon bringing in new blood. In a separate future article, we will explore how laws hurting the gun industry will benefit the knife industry and the changing faces of the knife world.