Report on the 2012, 15th Annual Sharpeners Jam

What’s the Big Ideas?

Once again the Sharpeners Jam grew in numbers and education opportunities from the previous 14 years. The big Jam competition for the best ideas drew extra giggles this year. Previous year’s 1st place winner, Jim Turner, won in the newest category for the “Silliest Idea.” His “Red Neck Flat Hone” was a real hit. He used a regular drill and enhanced it with a flat hone attachment. The first place idea brought almost the same number of smiles with Tom Shute’s “Slick as Snot” suggestion. Tom who is a sharpener from New Jersey concocts his own secret scented formula of scissor oil and ties the bottle with a string in the back of the salon. These bottles have his contact information for sharpening attached. Additional bottles to the stylists are $5.00 each. Whether you mix your own “Slick as Snot Oil” or buy oil pins, the idea of attaching these to the salon with your label seemed to light a spark with nearly everyone who attended and gives the stylists a way to find your phone number.



By the difference of only one vote, Gordon Baney of Michigan had another give-away idea for stylists. Instead of oil, he gives away insert rings and does a “personalized fitting” for the stylists the first time he sharpens their shears in a new account. This added service has increased his business.

The third place idea was in the area of organization. Dave Shock from Pennsylvania uses a notebook binder with all his logs of sales, sharpening, etc for every salon and stylist he services. He notes brands of shears sharpened, edge angles and other details he would want to recall later. The thick book is impressive to both the stylists that see their names in it and prospects for new clients who thumb through and see names of others they know. It makes a great referral list.

These were just some of the ideas from the Sharpeners Jam. Some ideas I particularly liked that were not eligible to win a prize were the use of chapstick on a shear when you don’t have oil. Jim Turner told me this one, and I have been experimenting with this ever since. I have also been experimenting with Nagura Stones and a new way of creating a rideline on a curved shear which I will put up on Youtube soon. There is always some way that I change the way I sharpen, market, organize myself and sell after a Sharpeners Jam. I picked up several pointers from Casper Kiser in his bending class and sharpening class.

All of the educators from the Sharpeners Jam plus others will be at the National Beauty Tools Sharpeners Guild Convention September 22-23 in St. Louis, MO. Details of the convention and certification can be found at www.nbtsg.com. Watch for DVD’s from the Jam to be made available soon. Some Youtube uploads from Dennis Brooks’ presentation on Sunday can be seen now.

Bonnie Megowan

See a list of sharpening events at www.bonika.com Let us know if you have questions about events or sharpening ideas call 770-972-4332.