Wednesday, April 1, 2009

What About Wednesday: Rag Quilt Pricing

What About Rag Quilt Pricing???

I am starting this topic to start a dialog with our readers. (Please feel free to comment.)

Pricing of handmade items can be a very tricky task to accomplish. For the seller it means defending his or her original ideas, designs, and the actual work or labor put into the project. It also means building on the cost of the materials used in the project. How much really depends on the monetary value the seller or creator sets which usually depends on his or her experience, and overall craftsmanship.

Personally when pricing my work I take into consideration the amount of time it took to complete the project and multiply that times my labor cost/per hour. I value my experience so my labor costs are set comfortably above the minimum wage rate. Much of my fabrics I try to purchase when on sale or at a huge discount. I have an average cost per yard I use to establish material costs.

For buyers, pricing means affordability. Especially in the present economy. But aside from that do buyers really understand what handmade items true value is?

Please comment and state if you are a buyer or a seller!

7 comments:

  1. As an "artist-seller" I know how hard it is to put a value on your creations. So many of us sell item at less than the cost of the materials to make them, not even considering the cost of the time involved.

    I, too, would like feedback from buyers about pricing and what's going on in their heads in determing what price they are willing to pay.

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  2. I'm a seller and buyer. Buyers need to be educate on materials used, experience by the seller, and time put into making these beautiful creations.

    As a seller, I've gotten plenty of responses stating beautiful work and price a bit low. Well I put my items at a comfortable price that I'm willing to buy it myself.

    As a buyer, you can't really see the quality of the workmanship unless the buyer takes plenty of pictures (it helps trust me). First I look at the picture and set a price I'm willing to purchase the item at and then I look at the price. If its in the range than I buy it if not, I then determine if its a got to have item or not and go from there.

    Educate, educate, educate. Can't say it enough.

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  3. Wow nice topic, I too would love to hear what they have to say.

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  4. AS a longarm quilter, I have established prices but I have not yet gotten to the point where this would make a comfortable living. It is fun though - so that counts for something.

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  5. Great topic! As a seller, I think you also have to look at your competition and their prices, and "what the market will bear". Most shoppers on auction venues expect to buy it cheaper than if they went to a store, so that's another consideration.

    I do consider my time, but definitely cannot get what my talents and skills are worth. Afterall, this is my hobby and a special one at that.

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  6. The thing is, sewmeow, that the items we sell can't be purchased in a store. The vast marjority are one of a kind. They are not mass-produced, mass-marketed things. JMHO

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  7. It is difficult to price fairly for our work, and see what the market is willing to pay. This is a great topic! Joey is right about educating the consumer, but we also need to educate the seller. Our RQQ™ group is great at helping members set good fair prices for their creations. We help each other determine a fair price for her time, skill, creativity, and material cost. Most have found the fair price for their things. It is up to the consumer to value our efforts, as well. I think if we price in a range where we are comfortable with the profit, the buyer gets a fair price on an original, handcrafted, unique item.

    Just remember to price the material's replacement cost, though, not just the lowest price paid. Afterall, don't we have to replenish our stash??? lol

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