Bet on silver
Hand Poured Silver
October brings Protos
Keep it Classy Bar
Support the Pour Bar
3 ozt .999FS BOS Bar
Skull/Coffin Bars
BOS Button
Keep it classy with bos
Introducing the first release of the “Keep it Classy” Stamp
Disappearance
2016
Support the pour final run
Third and Final release of 2020
#1 – 20 is the pour mintage
The “Awareness” ribbon is stamped every “STP” Pour
The Process of creating a Brand.
April 2020 was the month I started to keep track of all sales, purchases, supplies, etc. The Excel chart is a bit of a mess, however if I learned anything from addiction and recovery, it’s that everything worth of value is a very slow process. So in launching a possible business model for selling hand-poured silver I do so being mindful that the reputation, quality, and message for the future is being created today.
So what does that mean? I don’t know, it sounded like a pretty cool introduction. But I guess I’m saying the thought of making a living selling silver sounds amazing! But is it feasible? Is trading the passion of pouring scorching hot lava into a graphite mold for pure enjoyment worth excel sheets and marketing strategies? Is it worth coming home from work, to fill orders and work? Once the fun stops, the hobby stops. The second there is outside pressure to produce, the stress begins. When your counting pennies and pinching silver shot, your second job has officially started.
Three Things my April Excel Sheet has Taught Me
Just for funnzie I created an Excel Spreadsheet to start tracking my transactions in the goal finding my profit margin. Besides not having a clue of how to create a spreadsheet for business, I was able to identify things that could help decide if selling silver could become a second source of income, or even a full-time job. Here are three things I learned in my first attempt at organizing my sales, cost of goods, and profit.
- Making .67 cents profit on one pour is not going to cut it. As I skim the profit row, nine out of 29 products gained a profit under 3 bucks. In one transaction I actually lost .86 cents. The process in pouring one silver item is not redeemed under 3 bucks. This would cause me to mass produce items at that rate, which goes against the BOS brand.
- Low sales, bigger profit is the way to go. Week one and two in April reflect 17 sales transactions with a profit of $16.50 and $46. Week 3 had one transaction for a sale of $183. for a profit of $32.38. Week 4 had 10 transactions for a profit of $36. It seems the more sales and transactions, the less profit versus one big sale for the same or more of a profit. Getting away from selling ounce-by-ounce maybe coming in the future. Remember, I have a full-time job, and family. I have to keep BOS fun, profitable, and not taking up my family’s time.
- Investments and Purchases. This one is quick and to the point. I spend over $1500 on silver and equipment. Yes some of got paid back, however this can not happen ever again. The cost of purchases must be refunded quickly and promptly. Again, this can never happen again!
So those are three things that my BOS Excel Spreadsheet allowed me to see. As of now, I have made adjustments for May and can’t wait to see the end report!
-Keeping it Classy!
April 2020: An Ocean of Uncertainty
Three months, six months or one year from now, how do you want to look back at March 2020? Is it the month that killed your silver hobby? Or the month where your sales went through the roof? However you consider silver, it is important that we learn from this pandemic, not only in keeping our health, but the financial part of silver as well. 
I’ve only been collecting silver for one year. In Feburary 2019 I bought a silver round off “FeeBay,” and the next month I posted my first Instagram silver pic. I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
I learned quicky the difference between rounds and coins. I learned slowly that using credit cards to by silver online with the pure intention of selling it and making a couple of bucks NEVER WORKS OUT THAT WAY!
That summer I learned how to melt and pour silver, and in September I raised $500 for a sober living scholarship by hosting a live silver auction on IG. The silver degenerate community came with the support!
After taking the Fall semester off from silver due to my last semester of graduate school, I came back in 2020. What a time to get back in the silver game!
However, March was something new for everyone. Stock market dropped, silver spot dropped, online bullions added buying minimums of at least $299, and premiums skyrocketed. Panic buying begun not only with toilet paper but precious metals. But what are we in for next? That question is worth it’s weight as we embark through the April oceans of uncertainty.
For that I review the month of March a little closer. The American Government walked out of long grinding waste of time impeachment hearings, right into the modern day Noah’s Ark with the Corona Virus. The “profit-driven” and “agenda-setting” media’s message started a panic which allowed the American citizens to predict something so bad was going to happen that a shortage of household sanitizing products ignited across our nation.
The by-product was vocabulary I never dreamed I would speak. I am “essential” according to my work. “Social distancing” or more like isolating is the norm. We wait outside in long lines to get groceries and small business’ are falling apart. We are ordered to stay home, wear mask, and use Zoom. (I know somewhere there’s a sick joke in that last sentence.) Furthermore, for the first time in my life I am not a background character, my family and I are being effected as well.
The government response is print money. I believe and too lazy to look up, in 1971 money was no longer a receipt for gold. I’m sure there’s fleet of economist social distancing as we speak, predeicting the long-term effects of the pandemic.
The uncertainty is real, we seek information to make a prediction, however we are also vulnerable. We choose to accept or believe the information. It’s one extra channel the message gets sent through and represented through our own perception. We are making predicitions with information that has been filtered through numerous channels. In other words we get the watered down version and we water it down more on social media.
So what do I predict, and how do I want to look back at March 2020 a year from now? I start by respecting the fact that in the face of CV19 taking lives, a silver hobby is completely irrelevant. However, I mindfully choose to keep my hobby going, and search how I can somehow give back to the IG silver community, and not just take.
First, I am critical of the profit-driven media’s, message and aim not to communicate fake news. With that, I can’t predict the high and low silver spot price for April. However I will buy inventory due to last month’s shortage. In other words, I’m going to keep buying silver, and create a reserve, for the unexpected.
So how much is in the reserve and what is considered the unexpected? Well, the latter answers itself right? As for how much to put up, that depends on how much I pour. Ten to fifteen ounces will be more than enough for me to hold back.
I hope to look back at March 2020 and identify that’s where I learned to always have a reserve for the unexpected no matter silver, cash, gold, etc.
Second, I want to look back and be able to answer the questions, how did I help? How did I make someone’s life a tad bit easier? How did I give back to the silver community for all their support in my videos, blogs, and pours? Last week I hosted my first BOS Silver GAW. It was exciting, and for the people! I can’t keep taking, and some point I have to give back.
Third, I want to look back at this moment, and be able to say, “yeah back in March 2020, that’s when I got motivated to help, give back, and I realized what is really important.
Keep it classy…
The List: Silver Sellers on Instagram
Geeze, you try do something nice for the newcomers buying silver on social media platforms and it turns into a “bitter-bunch of cry babies,” who proclaim the list is stupid and bias. It’s the Freshman who didn’t make the team syndrome. No complaints from the “Top” however this is what the BCS must of felt like before they changed to a playoff system, (Which I totally disagree with).
But, here’s the deal. The attitude and negativity displayed in the comments when “you” weren’t on the list, is probably the exact reason why no one talked about you. This list not only showed an unbias opinion of reputable sellers to buy from, even more it showed the true character and d-bagness (I think I just made up a word), of the sellers that proclaim their expertise.
The list is not about, how much silver you have or the million deals you did. Nor is it about how many years you’ve been living in you mom’s basement collecting and selling rare coins on Ebay. It’s simply about who’s cool to buy from, who’s not going to burn you and who takes that extra step whether it’s sending a hand written note, or just not making it about themselves.
The list is for new buyers on social media, not your ego. 
