Wolfman Production Pushed Back.

James I have a question that I think might end the forum banter. Your razors are arguably the most sought after razors on the market. Why not not make this your full time job and hire more help? Clearly there is a high demand and you are not meeting that demand and this is alienating some people. Why not address this? Either make this your full time job or hire a craftsman with your skillset to do the work or both.

This is now my full time job.   When I began making razors, I was still working a regular job.   I went from full-time to part-time, and then eventually I quit the other job and now I'm at my shop every day.  

My preference is to work alone, although I do understand the situation with demand.    The question of whether to continue working alone or to hire some help is on my mind most days.   I'm still sorting it out mentally, as I've got concerns about both scenarios.   I suppose I should hurry up and decide, but I'm not there yet.   I like the idea of a small shop where I can do technical things without having to explain it to anyone.    But of course I could have some employees doing all the work and I could just train and manage.   But these are very different scenarios and I like the current one so far.

With machining, they say you are signing your name on every piece you make.   I can still say this now, and I consider this to be a positive aspect of the current situation.    It's something I enjoy very much.

Fair enough, I respect that, but at what point do you not miss out on the demographic that would love to give you dollars without the year or longer wait? Financially, this model is obviously viable for you and your craftsmanship. For me, the waiting list for a great razor like yours and the limited edition slants Joe puts out, puts me off a bunch to be honest. There aren't a lot of people that wet shave that would spend 300 plus on a razor. A waiting list and or as Joe's modus operandi a computer free for all,put a lot of hobbyist off. ATT puts a very comparable product on the market with no wait. Why can't you?

WolfmanRazors I'll wait to be added to the list for a titanium razor, no problem. A top quality artisan product is worth waiting for, IMO. If people don't like to wait, there are other alternatives available.

James I have a question that I think might end the forum banter. Your razors are arguably the most sought after razors on the market. Why not not make this your full time job and hire more help? Clearly there is a high demand and you are not meeting that demand and this is alienating some people. Why not address this? Either make this your full time job or hire a craftsman with your skillset to do the work or both.

This is now my full time job.   When I began making razors, I was still working a regular job.   I went from full-time to part-time, and then eventually I quit the other job and now I'm at my shop every day.  

My preference is to work alone, although I do understand the situation with demand.    The question of whether to continue working alone or to hire some help is on my mind most days.   I'm still sorting it out mentally, as I've got concerns about both scenarios.   I suppose I should hurry up and decide, but I'm not there yet.   I like the idea of a small shop where I can do technical things without having to explain it to anyone.    But of course I could have some employees doing all the work and I could just train and manage.   But these are very different scenarios and I like the current one so far.

With machining, they say you are signing your name on every piece you make.   I can still say this now, and I consider this to be a positive aspect of the current situation.    It's something I enjoy very much.

Fair enough, I respect that, but at what point do you not miss out on the demographic that would love to give you dollars without the year or longer wait? Financially, this model is obviously viable for you and your craftsmanship.   For me, the waiting list for a great razor like yours and the limited edition slants Joe puts out, puts me off a bunch to be honest.  There aren't a lot of people that wet shave that would spend 300 plus on a razor.  A waiting list and or as Joe's modus operandi  a computer free for all,put a lot of hobbyist off. ATT puts a very comparable product on the market with no wait.  Why can't you?

I think James basically answered these questions in his previous reply.

in my opinion, I don't really think a merchant needs to do anything they're not comfortable doing. if James is ok with his lower output and his clients are still signing up for his craftsmanship knowing that there's a wait, I do not see the problem here.

if there's a need in the market, that void will eventually be filled. you even said it yourself: ATT puts out a very comparable product without the wait.

Well said andrewjs18. I have an ATT and have been enjoying it very much, but I do understand that there is a wait for the Wolfman. I've been strategic about purchasing the ATT slant heads and leaving the non-slants for my eventual Wolfman.

Fair enough, I respect that, but at what point do you not miss out on the demographic that would love to give you dollars without the year or longer wait? Financially, this model is obviously viable for you and your craftsmanship.   For me, the waiting list for a great razor like yours and the limited edition slants Joe puts out, puts me off a bunch to be honest.  There aren't a lot of people that wet shave that would spend 300 plus on a razor.  A waiting list and or as Joe's modus operandi  a computer free for all,put a lot of hobbyist off. ATT puts a very comparable product on the market with no wait.  Why can't you?

You may want to look at this from a different angle.   I think it's highly likely that I'm the only person in the world designing and producing a safety razor from scratch, working alone.    From that, you may be able to understand why it's not really a valid consideration that I must automatically assume volumes that are beyond my scope in doing things this way.    Everything I've done in terms of design and process were intended for low volume production only.   My focus is on highly finished, customized pieces.   If I wanted to scale that up, it doesn't necessarily work.  

I can however design a new razor, and farm the whole thing out to a local machine shop with a team of workers, and have them do everything.   That would be comparable to every other machined razor on the market.   That's how I could get more razors made.   Not the same quality of design, fit, or finish, however.

Fair enough, I respect that, but at what point do you not miss out on the demographic that would love to give you dollars without the year or longer wait? Financially, this model is obviously viable for you and your craftsmanship.   For me, the waiting list for a great razor like yours and the limited edition slants Joe puts out, puts me off a bunch to be honest.  There aren't a lot of people that wet shave that would spend 300 plus on a razor.  A waiting list and or as Joe's modus operandi  a computer free for all,put a lot of hobbyist off. ATT puts a very comparable product on the market with no wait.  Why can't you?

You may want to look at this from a different angle.   I think it's highly likely that I'm the only person in the world designing and producing a safety razor from scratch, working alone.    From that, you may be able to understand why it's not really a valid consideration that I must automatically assume volumes that are beyond my scope in doing things this way.    Everything I've done in terms of design and process were intended for low volume production only.   My focus is on highly finished, customized pieces.   If I wanted to scale that up, it doesn't necessarily work.  

I can however design a new razor, and farm the whole thing out to a local machine shop with a team of workers, and have them do everything.   That would be comparable to every other machined razor on the market.   That's how I could get more razors made.   Not the same quality of design, fit, or finish, however.

James, what makes your razors stand out is the combination of it all.

Great craftsmanship
Great design
Great shaves (so all say)
Huge demand with a waiting list
True one man artisan work
You still communicate/respond to emails (unlike a certain Lee Whodini in the brush artisan business)

This is why I personally have no problems with being on a wait list and not being able to discuss my final order with you before summer/fall 2016

I emailed James too, this January I think. He responded very quickly and very cordially, and told me that I'll hear again from him when it's my turn and I believe that. I have no problem waiting for him at all. Thinking how popular WolfmanRazors are these days and the demand, the man was still very humble and polite and I really admire him for that. I have encountered primadonnas on this hobby, but James is top notch in my book.

I'll wait buddy, take your time.

I emailed James too, this January I think. He responded very quickly and very cordially, and told me that I'll hear again from him when it's my turn and I believe that. I have no problem waiting for him at all. Thinking how popular WolfmanRazors are these days and the demand, the man was still very humble and polite and I really admire him for that. I have encountered primadonnas on this hobby, but James is top notch in my book.

I'll wait buddy, take your time.

Well said, I am waiting as well. James replied to every email and went above and beyond trying to explain the wait. I'd rather wait and get a piece of art made by him personally, than get it quickly from outsourcing.

I won't post on this further as I think it's a moot point now. We can agree to disagree. I do appreciate the proprietor answering my questions with civility as some artesians have not been thicked skinned enough to take criticism. Wish him the best and all of you waiting for his razors enjoy them and hopefully they are worth the wait. Let me say this however. Someone said "piece of art" when referencing these razors. I think that's a tad extreme folks. Unless you plan to hang it in your office or living room, a razor, no matter what it looks like, is not art! That's like saying my tree saw made by the Hutterites is art..... It's a tool, not art.

I won't post on this further as I think it's a moot point now.  We can agree to disagree.  I do appreciate the proprietor answering my questions with civility as some artesians have not been thicked skinned enough to take criticism.  Wish him the best and all of you waiting for his razors enjoy them and hopefully they are worth the wait.  Let me say this however.  Someone said "piece of art" when referencing these razors.  I think that's a tad extreme folks.  Unless you plan to hang it in your office or living room, a razor, no matter what it looks like, is not art!  That's like saying my tree saw made by the Hutterites is art..... It's a tool, not art.

Art, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.

Justin