SDB777 Posted October 4, 2015 Report Posted October 4, 2015 How do you price your items for craft sales? Wife will probably be carrying some of her recent stuff to work, and she has no idea what kind of funds she should be asking for. Wood cost is free to her, but the pattern, blade used, finishing materials are not.... Is there a formula or do you just charge for the time? Scott (no sense giving them away) B oneleggimp 1 Quote
DWSUDEKUM Posted October 4, 2015 Report Posted October 4, 2015 Scott here is the dilemma. Do you charge for your time? If so how much. For instance lets say that you make a box and decide that the box itself has around 6 dollars worth of wood, finish etc tied up in it. Conventional wisdom says 3x plus the cost of material would be a starting point. So the box is currently $18. Now you have to decide if you are going to charge for your time to make the box. Lets say that your time is worth $20 / hr. and it took you 3 hours to make the box. That would put the box at $78. Now for most venues this would probably be way too high a price tag. Most folks go to craft fairs for a deal and are looking for said deal. So lets say your box is worth $18 but you would like to reclaim a little bit on your time spent so double that. The box would now be $36. Depending upon the box of course, size, complexity, uniqueness etc. If there is more than one or two of you in the craft fair try to find out what their prices are like for their things and price accordingly. Here is an important point - YOU control the price. If a customer indicates that they really like that item but it is priced too high dicker with them a bit perhaps you can get the sale for a couple of bucks less than you had originally priced it. Above all be friendly. Talk to the customers and have some fun. Not all craft fairs will be successful it will be what it will be. DW SDB777, TexasJeff, heppnerguy and 1 other 4 Quote
orangeman Posted October 4, 2015 Report Posted October 4, 2015 Mr market will tell you very quickly what the price should be. I have taken puzzles to shows and folks sometimes remark how reasonable a piece is. In the next few shows I will gradually raise the price to what the market will bear . Sometimes an item won't sell at the original price and I will then lower the price until it does sell. Then I decide if it is worth making the puzzle for the lower price. Mr market is all knowing. Regards, Brian oneleggimp and Lucky2 2 Quote
LarryEA Posted October 4, 2015 Report Posted October 4, 2015 Do a search for pricing in General Scrollsawing. There are mucho times this has been asked and a bunch of suggestions. Quote
terrylee Posted October 4, 2015 Report Posted October 4, 2015 You know that in this craft scroll saw world you never get your money out of time you put into it,but that's the fun of it.I been doing for number of years of make it and selling it.If I just break even on it and make another to buy some more wood is okay with me.Never gonna to make a living off of it.I do lot of intarsia wood art and a dog head like this one I get 55.00 for this and the full body I ask 65.00.Just have fun with it and enjoy it Fish 1 Quote
NC Scroller Posted October 4, 2015 Report Posted October 4, 2015 This is a toughest question ever asked on forums such as these. There are so many factors such as quality, materials used, whether it is an art show vs craft fair, etc. Location is also a factor. Items sold in craft fairs near big cities (NY, DC, LA, etc) often sell for higher prices then in more rural area. The exception being if the rural area is known for it's artisans. Some folks just charge time, others charge time and some material costs. Quote
amazingkevin Posted October 5, 2015 Report Posted October 5, 2015 How do you price your items for craft sales? Wife will probably be carrying some of her recent stuff to work, and she has no idea what kind of funds she should be asking for. Wood cost is free to her, but the pattern, blade used, finishing materials are not.... Is there a formula or do you just charge for the time? Scott (no sense giving them away) B For my letter projects a buck a letter i am happy with,Bigger items like the Lords Prayer i can come down to .50 cents a letter.Depending on my mood you might just walk away with it for nothing but your smile! oneleggimp 1 Quote
Jim Finn Posted October 5, 2015 Report Posted October 5, 2015 (edited) I think it all depends on your reason for selling at a craft fair, or local festival. I sell my stuff just to get others to fund my hobby. I am GOING to make wooden items and my options are: (1) sell them at a reasonable price or (2) burn them. I make cedar boxes with inlaid maple images or lettering. My total materials cost is about two dollars per box. I started selling them for less, seven years ago, but now ask $20 each no matter the size or complexity. Takes me about two hours to make them. (I make them 10-20 at a time). I sell about 300 a year and could make three times that many. Selling is the hardest part, for me. I see no others here, making this item and very few offering anything made of wood. . I could not make a living doing this but this has become a self funding hobby for me that keeps me busy about 32 hours a week. I live in a rather low income part of the country, but if I were to go to the big city, like Dallas, I could easily get more like $25 per item. Edited October 5, 2015 by Jim Finn NC Scroller, oneleggimp and jblock9907 3 Quote
ike Posted October 5, 2015 Report Posted October 5, 2015 I make a lot of nativity scenes and I price them at least %X cost some more if the market will bear it/ Quote
jblock9907 Posted October 5, 2015 Report Posted October 5, 2015 Master Scroller, "self funded hobby". I like that Quote
Phantom Scroller Posted October 5, 2015 Report Posted October 5, 2015 My take is if it don't sell put the price up because they think it's rubbish. Done it on numerous occasions and sold them. Roly Lucky2 and WayneMahler 2 Quote
orangeman Posted October 5, 2015 Report Posted October 5, 2015 Roly, Years ago I tried that with some cactus dish gardens I had on consignment in a store. They were attractively priced at $15 and didn't sell. The store owner suggested I raise the price to $20! He said folks were coming in looking for gifts priced around $20 and that was what they were going to spend. So I raised the price to $20 and the items literally walked out of the store. Phantom Scroller 1 Quote
heppnerguy Posted October 6, 2015 Report Posted October 6, 2015 I think it all depends on your reason for selling at a craft fair, or local festival. I sell my stuff just to get others to fund my hobby. I am GOING to make wooden items and my options are: (1) sell them at a reasonable price or (2) burn them. I make cedar boxes with inlaid maple images or lettering. My total materials cost is about two dollars per box. I started selling them for less, seven years ago, but now ask $20 each no matter the size or complexity. Takes me about two hours to make them. (I make them 10-20 at a time). I sell about 300 a year and could make three times that many. Selling is the hardest part, for me. I see no others here, making this item and very few offering anything made of wood. . I could not make a living doing this but this has become a self funding hobby for me that keeps me busy about 32 hours a week. I live in a rather low income part of the country, but if I were to go to the big city, like Dallas, I could easily get more like $25 per item. Jim, Your prices are extremely low for you beautiful boxes. Not many have the regular turn over that you have. You have an extremely eye appealing item, with a lot of variety to fit just about any ones desires, and they are priced at a give away price. By directing most of your cuttings to one basic item, you have gotten the task down to an art in itself. I do not believe you would sell any less of them at $25 but you certainly have figured things out. I sell much lesser boxes at $50 to $65 and they are much more labor intensive than yours, because each box for me is something that i really do not enjoy making, but people seem to want them. You almost have a production line set for you boxes and so it has become easy for you do put them out. I have to admire you and the wonderful job that you have done with them. I guess it proves that if one finds the right item and does it exclusively, one can make it a very productive thing and still enjoy their hobby. My hat has been off to you for a long time, my friend and I also love how generously you help others who want to learn a thing or two from you.. Dick heppnerguy Quote
ike Posted October 6, 2015 Report Posted October 6, 2015 I too am like Dick. his is a hobby I make nativity scenes and sell them for $15 to $30 I do about 6 or 7 shows a year all small church sales. and I make enough to finance my hobby for a year. it was my last sale last year and I had 2 left and a woman wanted one for $20 I said that I will just store it till next year, she decided to buy one and handed me a 50 to fay for it,she knew it was at bargain prices. I sport my hobby and have a good time selling. before I cut prices I will burn it. Phantom Scroller and Lucky2 2 Quote
SDB777 Posted October 7, 2015 Author Report Posted October 7, 2015 Thanks everyone! I did a search...got a bumpkus/nada/nothing. Maybe my tongue was in the wrong part of my mouth? Was hoping to 'self fund' and gain some more advanced patterns, and keep a healthy supply of blades. The wood is easy, she can have all she wants from my sawmill. Everything else will need to come from her 'playtime'..... Didn't know if things were priced by the square inch, character/letter, or cost times 3. And if it's anything like the pens, bowls and whatnot I make on the lathe.....there will be plenty of 'freebies' heading out the door. Scott (pens are fun too) B Quote
LarryEA Posted October 7, 2015 Report Posted October 7, 2015 I did a search...got a bumpkus/nada/nothing. Maybe my tongue was in the wrong part of my mouth? Was hoping to 'self fund' and gain some more advanced patterns, and keep a healthy supply of blades. The wood is easy, she can have all she wants from my sawmill. Everything else will need to come from her 'playtime'..... Didn't know if things were priced by the square inch, character/letter, or cost times 3. And if it's anything like the pens, bowls and whatnot I make on the lathe.....there will be plenty of 'freebies' heading out the door. Travis posted this........... Check it out http://www.scrollsaw...g-your-work-r45 Quote
ike Posted October 7, 2015 Report Posted October 7, 2015 I get most of my wood at a saw mill it is all rough cut and green. I dry it and then plain it to the size for scroll sawing. when pricing i count my wood at about $6 a Bord ft. and while doing this I still hear that my prices are very reasonable. I count my labor at about $7 per hour, Quote
ubgoofy2003 Posted October 8, 2015 Report Posted October 8, 2015 Terrylee, I don't think you are getting what you deserve, for sure fine work. If a person wants a pet intarsia, they will pay a good price for it, because they can't get it anywhere else. You are the maker. Most of all you should be rewarded for your talent. Just my thoughts & sure do like your Art. Thanks Quote
Bpardue Posted October 9, 2015 Report Posted October 9, 2015 I sell intarsia - smalls run $30-45, normal size pieces run $2-3 per piece of wood in the piece. Commisioned work is $4 per piece of wood plus pattern cost. extra large pieces are actual material cost plus $10 per hour My last commision piece sold for $1200 the current commision piece a horse head designed by JGR is $275 Quote
aubec Posted October 9, 2015 Report Posted October 9, 2015 Could also try using something similar to this pricing calculator - there are many different ones available http://www.craftfairsuk.com/craft-calculator.aspx Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.