Avid Cat Interviews A Well Dressed Bullet
In June 2006, we made a sale to new customer, Nick Pavlovich, owner of Avid Cat Store Search. At the same time he started a new feature on his blog, interviewing an eBay Store owner. We were honored to be his first interview. And it went like this.
Contents at a Glance
Interview with Kathy of A Well Dressed Bullet
by Nick Pavlovich owner of Avid Cat Store Directory
I found myself searching through Avid Cat looking for the perfect Father's Day gift. My goal was to find a gift that my father would not just file away in his closet. My dad has some unique tastes and I wanted to get him a gift that he would use on a daily basis.I came across a few stores that had some great items, one of those stores was 'A Well Dressed Bullet' on eBay. The name caught my attention right away, my father is a gun enthusiast. In the past I have bought him several books on the subject for gifts. Entering the store I was surprised at the selection of hand made items from bullet shells, from belt buckles to pens.
My father was very happy with the gift and I look forward to returning to this store for addition purchases.
Question #1
How long have you been creating your unique items?
We started making our first Bullet Pens in 1990. At that time, one of our major suppliers had given us a German made bullet pen as a promotional item. Our first Bullet Pens were fixed non-retractable pens, and we gave these away to our customers as appreciation gifts.
Several years later, Rick decided to build a retractable pen based on this German made pen. These German made ones for example, although using brass rifle cartridges didn't use real bullets. It took awhile to find just the right components to build these pens (Rick wanted to build it using actual rifle cartridges and bullets) and there are actually 22 separate hand assembly steps to making each retractable Bullet Pen.
After we retired, we decided to try and sell them online. We tested the prototypes for a year with local police officers, ambulance drivers, service managers, delivery drivers and waitresses at busy restaurants and bars. After minor adjustments, based on their feedback, we put the first production models of the retractable pen on the market in 2001.
We started making our first Bullet Pens in 1990. At that time, one of our major suppliers had given us a German made bullet pen as a promotional item. Our first Bullet Pens were fixed non-retractable pens, and we gave these away to our customers as appreciation gifts.
Several years later, Rick decided to build a retractable pen based on this German made pen. These German made ones for example, although using brass rifle cartridges didn't use real bullets. It took awhile to find just the right components to build these pens (Rick wanted to build it using actual rifle cartridges and bullets) and there are actually 22 separate hand assembly steps to making each retractable Bullet Pen.
After we retired, we decided to try and sell them online. We tested the prototypes for a year with local police officers, ambulance drivers, service managers, delivery drivers and waitresses at busy restaurants and bars. After minor adjustments, based on their feedback, we put the first production models of the retractable pen on the market in 2001.
Question #2
We received our order I noticed how nicely the items were put together, do you have a background with the items you sell in your store?
Most definitely. We were licensed firearms dealer until we retired in 1992, selling firearms, ammunition and accessories and supplies for those who reloading their own ammunition. Rick was very knowledgeable and experienced in all aspects of this and is also a self taught gunsmith and machinist. He also has an 'artistic' side to him and he solely decides what to make, comes up with the design them and lastly how to construct them.
All the items that we make are not only hand crafted and assembled, with the exception of the Bic© pen parts and commercial buckle backs, but we design, prototype, manufacture, and distribute these items solely ourselves.
One of our purchased items Authentic Bullet Pen Presentation Package #3B Non-Retractable Pen
Most definitely. We were licensed firearms dealer until we retired in 1992, selling firearms, ammunition and accessories and supplies for those who reloading their own ammunition. Rick was very knowledgeable and experienced in all aspects of this and is also a self taught gunsmith and machinist. He also has an 'artistic' side to him and he solely decides what to make, comes up with the design them and lastly how to construct them.
All the items that we make are not only hand crafted and assembled, with the exception of the Bic© pen parts and commercial buckle backs, but we design, prototype, manufacture, and distribute these items solely ourselves.
One of our purchased items Authentic Bullet Pen Presentation Package #3B Non-Retractable Pen
Question #3
When I first browsed your store I noticed the belt buckles right away, I was very interested in them but thought my talents at assembling a belt buckle to the strap would be less than adequate. Do you provide any help or instructions on how to attach the belt buckles?No, to be honest, I never thought of this, but I am working on that right now! We make our belt buckles to fit the common belt width of 1 1/2" to 1 3/4".
Our belt buckles install only on the belts with snaps so that you can slip the new belt buckle onto the start of the belt and close the snaps to keep it in place. This allows the individual to also purchase additional belt buckles so one can change them, depending on the occasion.
Question #4
The purchases I made from your store actually were a gift for my Father on Father's Day. Do you find that most of your shoppers are buying your items as gifts for their friends and family?
As with most businesses, Christmas is always a huge season for us, and the majority of these purchases would be for gifts, but throughout the remainder of the year we get a mix of sales. Purchases range from folks buying for themselves or for a party or wedding to large corporate businesses who purchase as gifts for employees or customers.
We also have our collectible customers who solely purchase hunting/firearms items, and our products fit in nicely as they are so unique.
One of our purchased items 30-60 Springfield Silver Tip Nickel Bullet Key Chain
As with most businesses, Christmas is always a huge season for us, and the majority of these purchases would be for gifts, but throughout the remainder of the year we get a mix of sales. Purchases range from folks buying for themselves or for a party or wedding to large corporate businesses who purchase as gifts for employees or customers.
We also have our collectible customers who solely purchase hunting/firearms items, and our products fit in nicely as they are so unique.
One of our purchased items 30-60 Springfield Silver Tip Nickel Bullet Key Chain
Question #5
Do you plan on adding new items to your store in the near future?
Absolutely. We actually started out with I believe only around 8 different models of our Bullet Pens. After a year, we added a Military Bullet Pen line and Bullet Pens on key chains, along with Bullet Bolo Ties, Bullet Clocks and Shotgun Shell Walking Sticks. After that was our very popular Bullet Belt Buckles, Bullet Twist Pens, Bullet Key Chains, Skeet & Trap Clocks and Shotgun Shell Bar & Party Lights.
We often throw in miscellaneous seasonal items too, such as our Shotgun Fondue Fork Sets or Bullet Jewelry. This year we added our Bullet Card Guard Covers which have been extremely popular and although we have our standard belt buckle line, right now Rick enjoys coming up with new and unique designs of belt buckles, most times only making only a few of each.
So as you can see, we always try and keep things fresh and interesting. We do have a whole list of things we may consider making, on the drawing board forefront right now is a matching mechanical Bullet Pencil and cufflinks.
Absolutely. We actually started out with I believe only around 8 different models of our Bullet Pens. After a year, we added a Military Bullet Pen line and Bullet Pens on key chains, along with Bullet Bolo Ties, Bullet Clocks and Shotgun Shell Walking Sticks. After that was our very popular Bullet Belt Buckles, Bullet Twist Pens, Bullet Key Chains, Skeet & Trap Clocks and Shotgun Shell Bar & Party Lights.
We often throw in miscellaneous seasonal items too, such as our Shotgun Fondue Fork Sets or Bullet Jewelry. This year we added our Bullet Card Guard Covers which have been extremely popular and although we have our standard belt buckle line, right now Rick enjoys coming up with new and unique designs of belt buckles, most times only making only a few of each.
So as you can see, we always try and keep things fresh and interesting. We do have a whole list of things we may consider making, on the drawing board forefront right now is a matching mechanical Bullet Pencil and cufflinks.
Question #6
Lastly is there anything you would like our readers to know about your store or products?
We put a lot of our own personal principles into, and stand behind, both our products and service. We value our customers and strongly believe in customer satisfaction.
We make certain that our customers are very comfortable ordering from us. We know how impersonal and nerve racking it can be ordering online. On eBay, feedback is quite common and part of the transaction process, but for online websites, this is not necessarily the case. Yet, we have been fortunate and received so many really nice emails from our customers. The comments we receive mean a lot to us, and they are always so surprised by our personal attention, customer service and that we take such extra care.
We not only take great care in producing our products and with communications with our customer, but put a lot of effort into good packing so our products arrive safely (some items are fragile). It is rather sad that our customers are so thankful for what we believe should not be the exception, but the rule.
On a side note, a few of the most notable comments we received was a customer we had built a custom bullet clock for, he wrote that he felt that he now had friends in Canada and another who had written our communications and assistance during her purchasing experience made her feel so comfortable, she felt like she was right in our store.
Thank you Kathy and Rick for this great interview and for offering such great items.
We put a lot of our own personal principles into, and stand behind, both our products and service. We value our customers and strongly believe in customer satisfaction.
We make certain that our customers are very comfortable ordering from us. We know how impersonal and nerve racking it can be ordering online. On eBay, feedback is quite common and part of the transaction process, but for online websites, this is not necessarily the case. Yet, we have been fortunate and received so many really nice emails from our customers. The comments we receive mean a lot to us, and they are always so surprised by our personal attention, customer service and that we take such extra care.
We not only take great care in producing our products and with communications with our customer, but put a lot of effort into good packing so our products arrive safely (some items are fragile). It is rather sad that our customers are so thankful for what we believe should not be the exception, but the rule.
On a side note, a few of the most notable comments we received was a customer we had built a custom bullet clock for, he wrote that he felt that he now had friends in Canada and another who had written our communications and assistance during her purchasing experience made her feel so comfortable, she felt like she was right in our store.
Thank you Kathy and Rick for this great interview and for offering such great items.
Avid Cat on CafePress
A Few Links
- A Well Dressed Bullet & Authentic Bullet Pens
- Authentic BULLET products; Belt Buckles, Bolo Ties, Bullet Pens, Clocks, Shotgun Shell Bar & Party Lights, etc. A unique gift idea for a hunter, police officer, military, conservation officer and those who are just hard to buy for.
- Avid Cat CafePress Store
- Browse all the items on Avid Cat's CafePress Store
Our Main Squidoo Lens
For more information, please drop by our main A Well Dressed Bullet Squidoo Lens.We have additional information such as:
- A Little About Us
- Currency - Prices
- Payment Options
- Our Website Website Specials
- Featured in Maxim Magazine
- The eBay Squidoo Blog - Lens of the Day
- How to Care for Your Well Dressed Bullets
- Our Blog
- Favorite Sites
- A Monthly Poll
About Me on Squidoo
awelldressedbullet has been a member since June 14 2007, has rated 1,863 lenses, favorited 841, and has created 157 lenses from scratch. This member's top-ranked page is "Shotgun Shell Bar and Party Lights". See all my lenses
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