Like many small businesses, I have been hit hard by the current inflation rate and the profiteering done by major businesses using it as an excuse. I have been trying to avoid raising prices for as long as I could, but with the increase in price in, well, everything. I don’t think this is something I can avoid any longer.
While leather hasn’t gone up in price too heavily, metal hardware has doubled, and sometimes even tripled in price over the past year. We all know the gas situation, and yeah, I could continue on. This has also led to shortages for many of the materials I need to make some of my signature items, meaning I have to go searching for alternate suppliers, or in some cases make those materials myself. (I won’t name too many names *coughringlordcough*.)
So beginning January 2023 I am going to have to reevaluate my prices across the board for all of my products. I have a debate though, do I increase the items most affected by the hardware price bumps significantly, and try not to touch anything else, or do I make a more modest price increase across all of my products in order to try and balance the load, as well as compensate more for my time and cost of living increases? I absolutely would like to hear from you, my customers, and get your feedback on those choices.
As it stands, my current prices are not changing until the end of the year. You can find them through my website, my Etsy site, and you can also find me at various sales events until the end of the year. Also, if you want a special order, or if you want to order something that is out of stock before the end of the year I will honor any prices currently available pre-increase in overall cost.
Currently the events I am attending are:
October 15th – Kitsap ACES vendor fair from 11am to 5pm at Kitsap ACES in Bremerton
October 30th – Combined Lifestile Hotel Takeover in Olympia Washington, at the former Red Lion. Hours are currently unknown.
November 14th and 15th – Magnusun Hangar Night Market Event in Seattle (Don’t know the hours quite yet.)
December 11th – The Kloset Vendor Fair at Substation Washington from 10am to 4pm.
As I find out about other events, I will try to update this list.
I hope you will all still choose me for your leather needs as I try to stay in business during this time when we’re all struggling, I wouldn’t have lasted as long as I have without all the customers that I’ve met through the years.