by Steve Bottorff
This story was published in the December 2002 issue
of Sharpeners Report. The paragraphs in blue were omitted.
A nearby suburb has a farmer’s market on Saturday
mornings in the summer and fall. The market focuses on locally
grown and organic produce, and recently it has been expanded to include
crafts and other home made products. Unlike some other markets in
the area, it has no building or shelter – a street is blocked off on
market day.
A sharpener used to come to a nearby farmer's market twice
a month to sharpen knives and tools. Last spring the market manager
called to say he was leaving, could I take his place? She said
that the presence of a knife sharpener draws people to the market, who
then spend up to an hour shopping while their knives are
sharpened. Because this benefits the market she needed a
sharpener and would not charge a table fee. I gave it some
thought, consulted my wife, and we decided to do it. It has been
both interesting and profitable, and I encourage others to check it out
as a possibility for the 2003 season.
Since the market is outdoors, I had to think about equipment
portability. I bought two 2-ft. x 4-ft. folding tables from Sam’s
Club. They can lie on the back seat of my car - I do not have a
truck.
Each of my grinders is mounted on a MDF board, and they sit on top of
the
tables. I carry a folding workbench in the trunk, along with a
plastic
milk carton and a GateMouth bag for smaller tools and hones. And,
after just one day in the sun, I bought a market umbrella! (Note:
in the second season I added a third table.)
There were outside outlets for electricity, but since the street could
be wet, I decided to add a 4 x 4 outlet box with GFI receptacles to my
extension cord. Since I already had my sharpening equipment I
spent less than $200 to get ready, most of it on the umbrella.
My equipment includes a Tormek wet wheel grinder, a paper wheel knife
sharpener and a regular bench grinder. The Tormek
runs slow and smooth, so I just sit it on one of the tables. The
grinders
I clamp to the portable bench so they don't vibrate and walk around.
I use the Tormek for scissors, then finish them with a Wolff pink
hone and adjust the screw if needed. The Tormek also does a great
job on pinking shears. I usually take garden shears and hedge
trimmers apart to sharpen them, but sometimes if they are in good
condition so I just use a diamond hone to touch them up. Before
sharpening I scrape the garden residue off with a putty knife, and when
I am finished a drop of
oil makes them work like new. (I have since added a Twice As Sharp for scissors - it is much faster.)
I also use the Tormek to restore a bevel on badly worn knives, and it
grinds chipped blades and broken points without any risk of overheating
the steel. The paper wheels are used for knife sharpening and burr
removal. I wipe each blade with paint thinner to remove the wax
and polishing compound left from the wheels. (A dedicated
commercial knife sharpener like a TruHone (with 1000 grit stones) or a
Chef'sChoice 2000 could
take the place of the paper wheels. I am using an F. Dick RS-150 Duo which comes with both 220 and
1000 grit stones.)
I just use a file for the shovels and
hoes, so few tools actually need the bench grinder. (Another
upgrade - I now carry a belt sander in place of the bench
grinder.) I don’t
sharpen lawn mower blades but refer this business to a local mower
shop, and in return
he refers all his cutlery work to me.
On a typical Saturday morning I will sharpen 50 to 60
kitchen knives, a dozen pair of scissors and a dozen garden tools
ranging from pruning shears to shovels. This brings in between $240 and
$300. On a really busy day I can make almost $400.
Since this is an affluent suburb I charge my full
prices. I often see full sets of chef’s knifes in leather rolls and
even see custom knives made by Dale Walther in nearby Dover, Ohio.
Since this market worked so well I decided to try some
others. Another nearby market operates out of a large pole barn,
half of which can be closed off and heated for winter operation.
This market has never had a sharpener and it started slowly as I build
up the business. Since this market is in a poorer neighborhood I
charge about 80% of my usual prices.
Other markets I tried were seasonal outdoor markets open on
weekday mornings and afternoons. One of these is working out
pretty well and business is growing. It is the inner city and I
use the same lower prices I use at senior centers, etc. Two
others could not
arrange for electricity. I may buy an inverter or generator and
try them again next summer. (One of these markets has arranged
for electricity from a street light and I will have a generator this
coming summer.)
For success at a farmer’s market you need to build the
business through promotion and word of mouth. When people first see you
they always ask if you will be back next week, so a regular presence –
every week or every other week – is important. Once the
market understands the
traffic that a sharpener can draw they will be happy to include you in
their
promotions. When the markets put an announcement in the paper that a
sharpener
will be there I get 20 or 30 more customers. This is more work
than
I can handle and I have to take some back to the shop. People
seem
willing to pick up their knives later, and often bring me more work
when
they come.
Sharpening at a farmer’s market is not likely to produce a
full time income due to the seasonal nature of the markets, but it is
an
interesting way for a sharpening shop to supplement business or a nice
part
time job for a retiree. I have seen a wider variety of tools and knives
than
I knew existed, and each Saturday brings a new challenge. I am also
meeting
a lot of interesting people.
Copyright 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008
Updated September 17, 2004
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