It's A Mad World - Silverhand Creative

Silverhand Creative Grand Plan

I have (if I haven’t previously mentioned this fact) a “Grand Plan” all laid out for the Silverhand Creative brand, which includes plans for an ecommerce web store. The main reason for the web store is to be another avenue to sell the items that I upcycle/recycle on a day-to-day basis. But, part of that plan is to also sell some (if not all) of the tools and accessories I use in the production of my creations. I will then use my social media outputs (Instagram,YouTube & Facebook) to promote these items in the posts and videos I create, with links to the individual tools’ page on the web store. Thus, funnelling traffic (and potential customers) to my store.

Also (as I have definitely previously mentioned elsewhere), I’m a Yorkshireman hailing from the city of Sheffield, which has a long and rich history of steel production and toolmaking (and the arts. Plus, it’s the birthplace of football/Soccer). This means (wherever and whenever possible) I try to use tools and accessories that are actually manufactured in here Sheffield or in Yorkshire, as a whole. #MadeInSheffield #MadeInYorkshire

Obviously, there are tools and their associated accessories that I like to use (such as Japanese saws, etc) that aren’t made in Sheffield. In those instances, I cast my net further afield to the rest of Yorkshire, then the UK, then Europe and finally to the rest of the world.

My reasoning was (and still is) that if I can promote Sheffield-/Yorkshire-made items then that has got to be good for not only the local economy, but have less impact on the environment due to the reduced shipping distances. Right?

The Rub

In my endeavours to lay the groundwork for all of this, I have come up against a little bit of a hiccup. That being that not one of the Sheffield-based companies that I’ve contacted (so far) have either not bothered to reply to my emails or when they do, don’t seem that bothered about dealing with me. And I’m not sure why (although, I do have an inkling).

Case in point: I recently contacted a local, globally known company (who shall remain nameless, for now) to enquire about what criteria would be required to become a distributor/seller of some of the craft and utility blades they manufacture. Their email reply (disappointingly) stated that;

…at this moment in time we are not in a position to take on any new accounts.

– Longstanding Sheffield Company

After my initial disappointment had passed, I sent a follow-up email requesting contact information for a local distributor. To which they graciously did so and quite promptly. However, upon checking out exactly where the distributor was, it transpired that they weren’t that local at all!

As The Crow Flies

The distributor is based in Edgware, which is bloody well Greater London..! How the hell is that (in any reality) considered to be chuffin’ local to Sheffield!?

For anyone reading this blog (who the hell am I kidding, no-one reads this stuff) who isn’t familiar with UK geography and its road system, it goes like this (by County, following the most direct route on the M1 motorway); South Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Azerbaijan, The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and finally Greater London. A distance of 155 miles (approximately 250km) from Sheffield!

To put this into some spacial context, the company who makes these blades, is situated (at worst) 3.8 miles (approximately 6km) away from my workshop. It’d only take me 50 minutes, or so, to walk to their front door.

Ignoring that fact, this means that if I placed an order with their Edgware distributor, said distributor would have to place a special order with the blade company (as said distributor does not appear to physically stock the blades I want to use). Said order would then have to be shipped the 155 miles down to Greater London, to the distributor, only to be shipped all the f’kin’ way back up to Sheffield.!? Is it just me, or does that make absolutely no sense, whatsoever?

How can this be, in any way, shape or form, the most cost effective solution available to the manufacturer of the blades? Or any manufacturer, for that matter? It’s a mad world, indeed, if companies think this is the best option.

It’s A Mad World, Definitely

What makes this even more frustrating, is the fact that I’ve emailed the “local” distributor (on more than one occasion) and even they have neglected to get back to me! I’ve subsequently emailed the blade company to inform them of this (and to get the details of a different distributor), but (as of writing this blog) I have yet to receive a response. What does a man (with a plan, a can and a frying pan) have to do to get some sort of response?

#MakeSheffieldGreatAgain

If you look at a map of the UK, Sheffield has (pretty much) the most central location. Thus, the distribution and sale of items made in this once great city, would have the shortest distance to travel in order to get to an end user, located anywhere in the UK…

And I’m sure it’s not just in Sheffield that this occurs. You could insert any town/city name into the above hash tag, from anywhere in the world that has companies that manufacture items, yet don’t sell them direct to the end user. Or dont have a distributor/reseller of their items in the same town/city, at the very least.

If these companies don’t have a distributor for their items physically in the same town/city, then they really should think about the reduction in shipping logistical costs, if not the greatly reduced environmental impact.

In The Mean Time

Until I get the eommerce website up and running (when I do I’ll link to it in this blog), then please contact me directly if you wish to enquire about the tools I plan to sell. purchase any of my current creations, or wish to discuss any commission work. Links to where and how you can do this are in the footnotes below.

Cheers,

C…