Fake intarsia

[Scrolling Days]

So what's with all of this fake intarsia I keep seeing in the stores recently?

Has anyone else seen this stuff.....it usually shows up in zoo gift shops, nature themed stores, etc, looks really shiny, and sells for about $40-50/piece (where a genuine hand made one would be in the hundreds or more).

I'm just curious what it is.....almost seems like a resin, but it might be wood. It looks like it is mass produced. Anyone know where these things come from and how they are made?

I hate to use the word "fake" but something just looks wrong about them. Not sure what it is. Maybe just the recognition of poor quality.

[DaveP]

There is scarcely anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse, and sell a little more cheaply. The person who buys on price alone is this man's lawful prey.
(John Ruskin 1819-1900).

[wood-n-things]

Shawn we had a re-seller claiming she did her own intarsia here this summer. i got to talking to her because she had alot of disney stuff and nfl things. I was curious why she did not seem to be concerned. After talking to her about saws and species of woods used etc, I was finally able to point out she had no idea what I was talking about in regards to saws & blades etc. Turns out her items are actually made in Vietnam. I scolded her for saying she did it herself. I turned her in to the market manager and within the hour she was packing up, as our items must be made in Montana or they cannot be displayed here.

[ubgoofy2003]

Mike, you hit the nail on the head, with it being fake. I was going to say, it was probably made in China. You just can't trust anyone any more. Look first & be the judge, as to what a Craft is. Kinda like lazer cuttings. Glad you got them out of your domain. Good Job.

[hammer7869]

Good for you Mike!! I just dont like going to craft sales even and see all this mass produced junk, pamper chef, mary kay, avon, tupperware. None of those are crafts! Craft Sale managers should keep an eye out for these vendors and not allow them in.

[Janette]

Way to go Mike!! As for the "fake" stuff you're talking about - I haven't seen it so not sure where it may come from. there's a ton of stuff on e-bay that's disney etc. and definitely imports. I don't know how they get away with selling it because of the copyrights.

[martzy]

I am in charge of vendors for a small craft show in December. I wish I could make it handcrafted only but that is not the case anymore. Lots and lots of crafters are getting out of the business because they weren't making any money. We have a lady that brings things in that she sells in her store. All of it is made overseas. It's nice but it's not handmade by her. I spend months getting ready for a show and all they hav to do is pick up the phone. I am doing my best to keep it from turning into a trade show but it's getting harder and harder every year. I can't let the show die but I don't want China to take it over either. Rock and hard place.

Keith

[Spirithorse]

I've also seen this Vietnamese intarsia. I thnk the items I saw
were actually authentic intarsia but, I have no idea what wood species
they were using.
As Mike said, they had tons of Disney and NFL items and were not concerned
about it.
As far as price goes, I must say, I sell my items MUCH cheaper than most of the
prices people on this board quote or, in my area, in this economy, I wouldn't be selling much at all. I enjoy doing it and as long as I am not going in the hole on selling it I
don't mind doing what I like and making a few cents to buy more wood and more patterns.
God Bless! Spirithorse

[Forester21]

Keith - you can make it an all handcrafted show. Do you require pictures of the vendor in their shop making their products? I have to send in pictures like that to a couple of shows I go to.
We have a local "Christmas in the Village" show that is fantastic. The organizers make sure the items are hand crafted. I've seen them go to vendors and talk to them to make sure. And it is one of the best shows that I sell at. People attend knowing that they will find hand crafted items. It is small - 30 or so vendors I think. But it is a good show.

Even if you have to keep your show small with only hand crafted items, other vendors will find out and you will be able to fill it in future years.
T

[Forester21]

As for the "Fake Intarsia", What makes it fake? I know there is a company in a town near me that makes their intarsia using cutting machines of some kind. The local restaurant has it all over their walls. When people ask if it's my art I just smile and say "no". But inside I am cringing. What they make is nice, but it uses a lot of vaneers for backgrounds, and a lot of gaps. People like it though.... I would like to take a tour of their shop some day to see the process they use. But I prefer to make "one of a kind" items.
T

[martzy]

I would like nothing more than to make it a handcrafted only show. The problem is getting vendors to come. We are working on increasing our attendance to show crafters that they will make a good profit if they come. I have passed out a lot of applications and craft shows and get very few, if any, responses.

The person who brings stuff from her store advertises in our program and donates to the big ticket raffle. How do you turn her down as a vendor and still ask that she support us. I will continue to try to fill the spots with vendors who make their own items but I can tell you it is getting harder and harder to find people willing to come. If I wanted to have a jewelary show, that would be easy. Seems everyone and their brother are making jewelary anymore.

I'm not saying I am in support of these knock offs. I get just as frustrated as everyone else when I spend months and months making my items and then see laser cut trivets and so called hand knitted hats come out of heat sealed bags.


Keith

[ubgoofy2003]

Keith, I know what you are talking about, when you say it is very difficult to get someone to participate in your show. I was thinking of something like a sign saying it is hand made or not handcrafted. Each booth would have a sign according to their products. You would have both involved with the show, but, customers would be able to choose. Just a thought. Keep up the good work.

[Janette]

It's a catch 22 - if there are items that are not handcrafted allowed at a show - I will NOT attend. How can someone who handcrafts compete? I think it would be better to have a smaller show, with handcrafted only - than a big show with everything but the kitchen sink - they call those flea markets. I'd make sure prospective vendors know you allow non handmade items otherwise they may get upset when they get there and see them. Also - some way to allow customers to know-perhaps a program or booth sign would be beneficial.

[Rolf]

The fairs that I have done are a mix. I do very well competing against the manufactured stuff.
As noted by others almost all of our local fairs now have a mix. We used to have real art and craft vendors from up and down the east coast. That is no more, the money is not there to make it worth their while. The Only exception has been a couple of the very high end shows, and they had lots of painters, photographers, jewelry with a rare wood worker here and there.

[lkbraa]

Kudos Mike on bringing the 'junk' to the judges/committee attention! And Kudos Keith for trying to put on a quality event.

Personally in our area I have noticed more and more festivals going down the route of non-handmade items even tho the event advertises such...shame, shame, shame on them! And one of the culprits to this IMHO is GREED!!! They figure the more booth fees they collect the better off they are, no matter how it is hurting true artisans. However, I think in the long run it actually hurts the sales and attendance as people did not come to see a flea market but a quality festival/show...or that is what I am hearing from attendees these days.

One of the interesting things I heard, here locally, that some of the festivals/shows were accepting sponsors along with vendors. Where the sponsor would pay 3 to 4x higher for their booth, and be allowed to sell the pampered chefs, candle light, and the other china/foreign junk. Once again, I credit this to pure GREED! The organizers get their additional booth fees, not looking at what they are doing to the true artisans.

OK...I will get of my soap box...this is one issue that really gets my blood boiling! Especially when you have a potential customer ask " Do you have that in a different color in a box?"...SORRY THIS IS NOT WALLY WORLD!