elijahhenry10 Posted October 14, 2012 Report Share Posted October 14, 2012 Hello, I'm new here and have a few questions. I'll start out with a little bit about myself. I am 15 years old, and I jus got started earlier this summer making spinners. I started making my own spinners because I often lose my lures, and its a lot easier for me to take the fact of losing a $.75 spinner over a $3+ lure. It didn't take long for me and by business savvy self to start selling these spinners. Over the summer, I sold a little over 100 spinners and spoons, which I realize is a very small amount. The spinners that I sell are made from the minnow spinners and lead bodies from Jann's Netcraft. I am looking at designing and painting my own lures to sell for next springs Trout season, where I have told that I will sell the most lures. This is where my questions begin. My first question is about worm weights. Has anyone ever tried using them as a lure body to mimic a Panther Martin? When I saw them, it made me wonder if I could useable worm weight and an in-line blade and make something that looks very close to a Panther Martin. My next question is for those of you who already sell your own lures. How do you package these lures to sell? This past year, I would just put a spinner in a 2x3 resealable bag and sell them like that. For this year, I was thinking about making business cards and stapling them to the front of the bag, that way people can recommend a name. Does anyone know if there is a better or cheaper way to package these? I have looked in to blister cards, but I don't know where I would even begin with them. I guess that is enough questions for now. Thanks in advance, Elijah Henry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smalljaw Posted October 15, 2012 Report Share Posted October 15, 2012 What kind of wire are you using and what are you bending it with? And which lead bodies are you using from Janns? I thought they only sold brass lure bodies but I could be wrong. Anyway, what you are wnating to do is a lot harder than what you have stated, most of us have been doing it longer than you are alive and there is a reason it is a hobby for most of us, the reason is you don't make very much money compared to the time you put into it. If you plan to make a few dollars selling spinners you need to first make sure you can sell enough to pay for your materials because the cost of spinnerblades is pretty high and so is a wire former which you will need if you plan on making a bunch. Another thing you need to be aware of is disgruntled customers, most who buy custom tackle understand they are paying for lures that are made with better components and made to their specs, something they can't get off the shelf. They are great to have but you will also encounter the guy who thinks you are raking in money hand over fist and wants a lower price and when they get mad they report to the tax man and if you aren't prepared to show how much you spent versus how much you made, you could end up in a lot of trouble. Be careful who you deal with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elijahhenry10 Posted October 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 I'm not sure of the exact brand of wire, but it is .31 or .35 from Lure Parts Online. I use the Twistech wire former. http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/painted-lure-bodies/325702.aspx I came out $15 ahead after supplies and the Twistech this past year, with about 1000 clevis's, 2 spools of wire, and plenty of other materials left over. I was just happy to come out ahead after all expenses. It costs me a little less than $0.75 a lure to build, and I get $1.50 a lure. It takes longer selling than it does to make them. So far, I have only had one person who wanted a custom spinner made, and I didn't do it, simply because I couldn't. Depending on how I do this coming spring, I may have to become legal, I don't think they would really care though about someone they would only make $25 off of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gangel Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 So many things I want to say when I see something like this.... man I remember when I was like this when I young.... wish someone had sat down with me at that time and explained life.... but the biggest thing I can say right now is SLOW DOWN. There are 2 other words I wanna say, but I'm feeling nice right now. The one pointer I can tell you right now is that your market, you think, is going to get bigger, but it's just like the Kirby Vacuum cleaner sellers... who do you sell to after you've sold to your friends and family? That's one wall I've come to hit so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elijahhenry10 Posted October 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 I do get a little to anxious sometimes. I already have my lures in one store, and I know one other place that said they would sell them, and they are one of the biggest fishing stores around here that isn't Walmart or Gander Mtn. I guess if I could put them in one new store a year the market would slowly grow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smalljaw Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 I do get a little to anxious sometimes. I already have my lures in one store, and I know one other place that said they would sell them, and they are one of the biggest fishing stores around here that isn't Walmart or Gander Mtn. I guess if I could put them in one new store a year the market would slowly grow. That is where you're legal problems are going to start!!! Stores need to keep track of inventory and overhead, every item in the store that is sold and is in inventory gets listed for tax purposes, when the store list lets say $30 dollars in spinners from Elijah well thats ok until they match the name to the spinners and guess what? There is no matching business so the tax man goes back and audits the store and then they get the information on how they aquired the merchadise and who provided it and that is how the paper trail starts. If you are in stores, you need to apply for a tax I.D. number and file, if not I suggest you take your stuff out and reimburse the store, you are asking for a lot of leagal trouble and if you want to know how big it could be, ask your parents and see if they would be in favor of moving because the I.R.S. can take your home, I've seen it happen for the same thing. A friend of mine from a bass club used to sell a lot of tackle to shops all over, he got caught after 3 years as his name didn't match any business records on file. When the tax man came they asked him to prove how much he sold and how much it cost him, he couldn't prove anything so the tax people told him they believe he has been doing this for over 10 years and calculated how much he made and they took his house!!I'm not lying to you, ask anyone here, do not sell to store unless you are legal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gangel Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 I know I'm a newbie and all... but I just don't like this thread....? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smalljaw Posted October 17, 2012 Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 I know I'm a newbie and all... but I just don't like this thread....? Why? We have a younger member that will benefit from our experience. We're just trying to make him realize that there are a number of things to consider besides just making the lures, you also have to understand there is a business side that needs to be addressed if you want to go that route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gangel Posted October 17, 2012 Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 Never mind, it's not a big deal. Just a quirk of mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLT Posted October 17, 2012 Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 Where in Pa. are you From? York area? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elijahhenry10 Posted October 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 No, I'm further east. I am right in between Somerset and Johnstown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
