Catalog pictures

[Piet.S]

For years the Spyderco models are pictured in the catalog in this fashion.



In a plain sideview, showing also the other side and with the blade folded in.
Very informative for sure and completely honest but by no means to be considdered "very atractive".
I think I'm not the only one here that found himself wanting a certain model only after seeing one of those beautiful pictures on the forum here like this one,



If you want to sell the bride you got to dress her up.
And that it is also possible to make pretty pics yet informative is shown by those that CRKT uses.



So, is this something to think about or is it more a non issue?
What are your opinions, please?

[Mr Blonde]

Good point Piet. Apart from the 'prettiness' of the dressed up pictures, the colors are better rendered. I find the colors of the 'Ted photo' and the CRKT advert, to be more 'real life' than the graphics currently used.

Wouter

[jaislandboy]

I don't know Piet....I think most of us Forumites are a lot over average in our enthusiasm for knives / spydercos....and I DO agree that sales would improve to the general public if the pictures /photos were "spiffed up a bit" instead of a boring "still Life" shot....so as far as Improving Sales for Spyderco....yeah! those sprint run fliers that had the Kumo, Volpe, Spyker, Navigator2 and 2005 catalog seemed to have more background scenery than the 2006 catalog....
as a crazy Forumite....I look here to see more "in action photos" or to see more of that eye candy from the POV of other Forumites.....so for the 5-10% of the general public who you would consider a Knifenut.....who read these Forums....I'd say that "it wouldn't matter" pretty photo ad or not....

[smcfalls13]

I think "forumite style" pictures would be a nice upgrade to the catalog, but it might come at an increased cost for Spyderco, and outweigh any possible extra sales.

It would look very nice though.

[dlemay]

Printing full color ads can get pricey. Printing the knife on a white background helps reduce print costs. To make each knife picture as ornate as above would more than likely incur a significant print cost. From a business standpoint, one wants to minimize cost to increase profit. If the change in ads did not increase sales, we may see an increase in knife prices to compensate. I'd rather have the knives sell for cheaper (buy too many anyways), than have really pretty ads. My $.02

[WhyNot]

I think "forumite style" pictures would be a nice upgrade to the catalog, but it might come at an increased cost for Spyderco, and outweigh any possible extra sales.

It would look very nice though.

smcfall13,
If you imply that increased cost would come from the royalties to the photographers, I can assure you that there are plenty of forumites who would be honored to do it for free
WhyNot

[Ted]

Hi Piet - I agree, better photography and more close-up detail shots would definitly help us 'internet' buyers, but also traditional brick&mortar store buyers. It would trigger the interest to go and check out the knife.

Take for example the Fred Perrin Street Beat. If it were to be pictured in the traditional Spyderco style, it's 3D bottle shaped handle would probably not be visible. Same for the Temperance FB. There's no Spyderco picture that's shows it very ergonomic and versatile handle shape.

[huugh]

Maybe Spyderco could just add additional picture gallery @ each's product page where would be either Spyderco's own pics or pics submitted by people here or by email etc. (the nice ones )?

[ruxton]

I agree, having a background image gives you a better idea of the colour, on a pure white background it can look very different. The waved and foliage green delicas are a prime example.

[dialex]

I'm afraid you are right here, usually pics do little justice to the real spydies. Considering that many knfedealers use the pics from the Spyderco website, I'm sure many models would have sold better if the pics were a bit "tuned up".

[Shanged]

Photo contest! Lets have everyone take pictures of their current-production Spydies and make a thread.

Oh wait, how about we just take all the sweet pics from the "Picture Thread."

[smcfalls13]

smcfall13,
If you imply that increased cost would come from the royalties to the photographers, I can assure you that there are plenty of forumites who would be honored to do it for free
WhyNot

An excellent point.

[yablanowitz]

It would be nice, but as dlemay pointed out, even if you get the photos for free, it costs more to print a full color picture with attractive background than it costs to print one with a plain white background. Multiply that by the number of models in the current catalog, and you come up with a significant cost increase.

Would the better pictures increase sales enough to offset the higher print cost? How should I know, I'm not an advertising executive . Could Spyderco keep up with the increased demand if the better pictures did boost sales enough to be cost effective? Sorry, I don't know that one either. Maybe Sal does.

I can tell you it is possible to shoot yourself in the foot by increasing demand too far beyond production capabilities.

[connor]

Hi *@*,

I guess most of us have preyed either the Spyderco forums or the BladeForums for better pictures of interesting new knives in the past. So I guess there is most definitely a demand for HQ pictures.

Spyderco should supply those on their website. Many of them. In lotsa angles.

-Connor

[gofiend]

we need:

not only plain views


but also spine views


and artistic views


and close-up views!

[DAYWALKER]

Alohallo Piet.S,

I agree. While the current "Mug Shots" used for the line is straight up and no nonsense, they lack..."something." Like Jaislandboy stated, it doesn't matter for the hardcore users, you know the line: "Those who know...". But what about those who don't know? I mean, to capture those who know the industry is good, but there are a LOT of folks out there who don't know and can be sold on a picture...

When I look at Spyderco's pic for the Mini Persian...folks say, "Okay. Nice knife." ( I mean, WE know better though... )

Looking at Ted's pic, folks then say, "Wow! Look at this picture...Oooh, nice knife!" Now they are not only captivated by the knife, but the "scenery" in Ted's shot has them "thinking" about the knife in the center...

The CRKT Mo'Skeeter ad...same affect as Ted's shot, but more focused. people now look at it and go, "yeah, I could use one of those in the shed...I should get a few for the shop...I KNOW that so&so could use that...etc." I look at the knife, then get "planted within a workshop", then it gets me thinking that either I can use a knife like that, or I know someone who could.

I have noticed that when guys are flipping through knife catalogs, they take longer with the ones by CRKT, or Microtech than they do with the Spydercologues...I think this is due to the "Ooh and Ahh" from the way their models are presented...


I dunno, this is just me I guess...perhaps I should check back when I have fully recovered from the OT in Hell.


Good thread, and God bless

[Th232]

Yeah, I feel a more colourful picture would work better when attracting customers. Perhaps a job opening for Simona? Only one catch though: function before appearance. But still, I think some full colour pictures would work better.

[spydutch]

Well FWIW, the beautiful pics of the Mini Persian made by Ted and Wouter made me buy my very first PE Knive in 2 years

But to be honest, I would like Spyderco to keep the pics just as they are. The knives are hard to resist from these pics as it is

[wec12]

we need:

not only plain views.......

What a pleasure... That's my Viele II . Thanks gofiend .

[clovisc]

yea... good idea!

its kinda nuts to have such "ordinary" pictures of extraordinary knives.

seems like a really cheap marketing/advertising upgrade, sal...!