Island Economics

San Juan Islands-specific considerations for this business:

• •Tourists seek authentic handmade goods — 'made on San Juan Island' adds value
• •Limited local competition — few leather workers on the islands
• •Leather ships easily to the island — relatively lightweight supply chain
• •Boating community needs marine-friendly leather work — tiller covers, binocular straps
• •Strong equestrian presence on some islands — potential for tack and riding accessories

The $500 Experiment

Test this idea before investing heavily:

Getting Started

1. 1
   Start with small items (wallets, keychains, cardholders) before bags or belts

   • •Less leather per mistake — learning on $30 of leather beats learning on $100
   • •Small items sell faster at markets — tourists want souvenirs, not luggage
   • •Faster to complete — build skills and inventory simultaneously
2. 2
   Perfect your edge finishing and stitching before expanding product lines

   • •Clean edges and tight stitches are what separate professional from amateur work
   • •These skills transfer to every project — they're the foundation of quality
   • •Customers notice (and pay for) the details, especially in leather
3. 3
   Build relationships with local businesses that might need custom leather goods

   • •Restaurants need menu covers, hotels need room folders, boutiques need branded goods
   • •B2B orders are larger and more predictable than individual sales
   • •Custom business items often lead to referrals and repeat orders

Where the Money Goes

Expected startup and operating expenses:

Don't Cheap Out On

Areas where quality investment pays off:

Smart Places to Save

Areas where cost-cutting makes sense:

• •Buy leather scraps and remnants for small items — 70% cheaper than full hides
• •Order supplies in bulk from wholesale suppliers — Tandy's bulk pricing saves 30-50%
• •Start with hand stitching instead of a sewing machine — the results are equally good and machine-free
• •List on a local marketplace for free — no website needed to start selling
• •Make jigs and templates for consistent production — one-time investment saves time on every item
• •Share booth space at markets — split fees with complementary makers

Cash Flow Considerations

Financial timing and planning notes:

• •Leather inventory ties up cash — buy smaller quantities until sales justify larger orders
• •Small items turn over faster than bags or luggage — focus on quick sellers early
• •Custom orders should require deposits — 50% upfront covers materials
• •Holiday season (November-December) is peak for gifts — build inventory by October

Risk Reducers

Strategies to reduce risk and increase odds of success:

• •Start while keeping your day job — leatherwork fits evenings and weekends perfectly
• •All tools have resale value — active secondary market on Facebook and eBay
• •Test at farmers markets before investing in wholesale or custom
• •Start with proven patterns and templates — don't design from scratch until you know what sells
• •Leather scraps and remnants can become keychains — almost zero waste production
• •Offer repair services alongside new items — steady income from fixing other people's leather goods

Island Economics

San Juan Islands-specific considerations for this business:

• •Tourists seek authentic handmade goods — 'made on San Juan Island' adds value
• •Limited local competition — few leather workers on the islands
• •Leather ships easily to the island — relatively lightweight supply chain
• •Boating community needs marine-friendly leather work — tiller covers, binocular straps
• •Strong equestrian presence on some islands — potential for tack and riding accessories

The $500 Experiment

Test this idea before investing heavily:

Getting Started

1. 1
   Start with small items (wallets, keychains, cardholders) before bags or belts

   • •Less leather per mistake — learning on $30 of leather beats learning on $100
   • •Small items sell faster at markets — tourists want souvenirs, not luggage
   • •Faster to complete — build skills and inventory simultaneously
2. 2
   Perfect your edge finishing and stitching before expanding product lines

   • •Clean edges and tight stitches are what separate professional from amateur work
   • •These skills transfer to every project — they're the foundation of quality
   • •Customers notice (and pay for) the details, especially in leather
3. 3
   Build relationships with local businesses that might need custom leather goods

   • •Restaurants need menu covers, hotels need room folders, boutiques need branded goods
   • •B2B orders are larger and more predictable than individual sales
   • •Custom business items often lead to referrals and repeat orders

Where the Money Goes

Expected startup and operating expenses:

Don't Cheap Out On

Areas where quality investment pays off:

Smart Places to Save

Areas where cost-cutting makes sense:

• •Buy leather scraps and remnants for small items — 70% cheaper than full hides
• •Order supplies in bulk from wholesale suppliers — Tandy's bulk pricing saves 30-50%
• •Start with hand stitching instead of a sewing machine — the results are equally good and machine-free
• •List on a local marketplace for free — no website needed to start selling
• •Make jigs and templates for consistent production — one-time investment saves time on every item
• •Share booth space at markets — split fees with complementary makers

Cash Flow Considerations

Financial timing and planning notes:

• •Leather inventory ties up cash — buy smaller quantities until sales justify larger orders
• •Small items turn over faster than bags or luggage — focus on quick sellers early
• •Custom orders should require deposits — 50% upfront covers materials
• •Holiday season (November-December) is peak for gifts — build inventory by October

Risk Reducers

Strategies to reduce risk and increase odds of success:

• •Start while keeping your day job — leatherwork fits evenings and weekends perfectly
• •All tools have resale value — active secondary market on Facebook and eBay
• •Test at farmers markets before investing in wholesale or custom
• •Start with proven patterns and templates — don't design from scratch until you know what sells
• •Leather scraps and remnants can become keychains — almost zero waste production
• •Offer repair services alongside new items — steady income from fixing other people's leather goods