Chainmail Ponies

[Frith is Magick 1,471]

Hello all.

 

As a hobby I enjoy making chainmail stuff, and I'd like to take my hobby to the next level. I would like to make and sell all sorts of chainmail goods featuring pony colour schemes and images, as well as non-pony projects as well, both selling things I make and doing commissions. Unfortunately, buying the neccessary materials in the neccessary quantity is a very large investment, and a very large risk, thus before taking that risk, I would like to gauge interest.

 

I would be grateful if you would reply with whether or not you would be interested in paying for such goods. I'm not taking orders, and you don't need to feel obliged to buy anything if you do express interest, this is just to get a feel for a market. Bear in mind depending on the size and detail of these projects, the price could be anywhere from $40-$200+.

 

Thank you for your time and sorry if this is posted in the wrong section.

 

 I don't have any Pony stuff yet but here are a couple things I've made:

 

 

 

These were all made with home made rings. My goal is to purchase higher quality rings for anything intended for sale so that it will look better. Also sorry for the image size...

[Grepper 3,193]

I think those look nice. I unfortunately am unable to buy things online, though...

[Kerberossz 1,930]

Woah very impressive! I have always liked the chainmail stuff so it's nice to see there I like the 2. one especially.

Edited June 12, 2015 by Kerberossz

[Frith is Magick 1,471]

Hmm, with interest being so mild, it's my guess that the merch market is slowing down and the potential high cost of chainmail is unappealing. I suppose this topic also doesn't serve as a great market survey.

[Guest]

Chainmail bracelets... that's literally the coolest thing I have seen today aside from the new episode. I'm glad I ran into this post because it's really making me want to go out and buy a few : ).

[Frith is Magick 1,471]

As the new year approaches, I am once again considering doing this chainmail thing. Before I start investing too much into this or request permission to set up a commission shop, I'd once again like to get a feel for the market, hence necro-ing this thread. If opening shop was an opion, I'd do anything from byzantine bracelets and key chains to scale flowers, small chain and scale mail accessories, to midsize flag/mural type things. Small projects could be in pony colour schemes (with limits due to availability of ring colours), perfect for the subtle brony, all the way to pixel art type flags, or gauntlets and cuffs for the badass bronies out there. Projects, depending on size and complexity, could be anywhere from $10 CAD for small keychain type things to $200 or more for large flags.

 

You don't have to actually intend to buy something to express interest, just let me know if this is something the community would like to see in 2016. Like I said, I'm just getting a feel for the market.

[SilyGeny 369]

Oh god those are amazing! Thanks, now I wanna get a chainmail bracelet for Christmas xD

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 42,202]

I have always adored chainmail, not sure why. It just looks awesome. These, they also look awesome. :3 Are chain-mail ponies a popular thing at all? I definitely don't ever see any. 

[Frith is Magick 1,471]

 

 

Oh god those are amazing! Thanks, now I wanna get a chainmail bracelet for Christmas xD

Even if I started today, I'd be lucky to get rings shipped in and final project delivered by christmas, but it is good to know there is interest for this.

 

 

 

I have always adored chainmail, not sure why. It just looks awesome. These, they also look awesome. :3 Are chain-mail ponies a popular thing at all? I definitely don't ever see any.

I haven't seen pony maille out there either. Completed maille is hard enough to come by because of how time consuming it is, pony projects even more of a...Rarity . I have the time and interest, but good rings aren't free, so being able to sell projects and break even, as well as having people constantly challenge me would be a great opportunity.

[Idris 241]

Cool thread. I needed ballast for my cosplay so I made key ring chain mail last month. If you need a bit of weight to balenced a mask or weigh down fabric it's really useful stuff !

I would think bracelets would sell nicely?

 

I failed with my last hobby for profit project, but Wintercroft Masks have done really well. I think you have to dive in and have a go, but keep it financially in a place where you can afford to fail. Because these things can take a while to get going.

Wishing you the best of luck with the project and looking forward to seeing your work about the place

[Frith is Magick 1,471]

 

 

Cool thread. I needed ballast for my cosplay so I made key ring chain mail last month. If you need a bit of weight to balenced a mask or weigh down fabric it's really useful stuff ! I would think bracelets would sell nicely? I failed with my last hobby for profit project, but Wintercroft Masks have done really well. I think you have to dive in and have a go, but keep it financially in a place where you can afford to fail. Because these things can take a while to get going. Wishing you the best of luck with the project and looking forward to seeing your work about the place

Thank you so much. My plan is to buy rings as needed, which will keep me relatively safe financially, but make lead times longer. I'm just looking to break even on my hobby. If interest is strong after I start, I may invest further. Most work will be custom, but I may make a few simple items as regular stock. 

 

If I do this, I won't be requesting permission until at least mid-January.

[simba86 1,541]

I actually do chainmail myself to, i have done pot scrubbers ,wallet chains and jewlery. only thing for me is that people don't want to pay for the hours it takes to put stuff together when the people in china have the machines to do it faster and WAY cheaper. you might sell a few but i don't think you will find many people willing to pay you enough to make it worth the hours and hours putting it all together, I have a bunch of scalemail stuff i have been wanting to put together but have not had the time, i think scalemail looks cooler

[Frith is Magick 1,471]

 

 

I actually do chainmail myself to, i have done pot scrubbers ,wallet chains and jewlery. only thing for me is that people don't want to pay for the hours it takes to put stuff together when the people in china have the machines to do it faster and WAY cheaper. you might sell a few but i don't think you will find many people willing to pay you enough to make it worth the hours and hours putting it all together, I have a bunch of scalemail stuff i have been wanting to put together but have not had the time, i think scalemail looks cooler

I've never seen a machine do chainmail, though China and India do have cheap human labour. My market advantage is that I'm planning on doing small, custom work as opposed to large, generic work such as reproduction. My other market advantage is that I'm aiming closer to break even than actually earning any sort of wage, so the price will be reasonable.

[EpicEnergy 23,247]

Oh, that's interesting!