Hi Randy,
I sell some stoppers at craft shows and through friends. They sell ok. They are fun and fairly easy to make. I use up lots of cut offs and scraps so they cost next to nothing to make. Yes, you can make a profit, but to make a living at it you have to sell lots and lots and lots.
Dan
Does anyone here sell the pens or stoppers they make? Where do you sell thing? How do you market them? Is there a profit to be made?
Randy
When I retired in 1993, I thought that I would supplement my retirement income by selling my woodturning output. I sold at local craft fairs, in gift shops, and some direct. I kept careful records over three years and found in 1996 that I had averaged a profit of 25 cents an hour (which was my wages). I quit selling except for an occasional piece that someone just has to have.
A few people make a living turning wood and many of them who claim they make a living have a spouse with a full time job. Richard Raffan said, in an interview I did with him, that anyone wanting to make a living at woodturning should have a partner with a full time job. I agree with him.
That said, bottle stoppers and pens do sell fairly well at local craft shows, or they did when I was selling. Bottle stoppers were my best selling product at $8.00 each at #12.00 each they hardly sold at all. Spinner tops and baby rattles also sold well at shows where there were children present.
If you just want to make a little money to offset the cost of your shop, go for it. Watch for local craft shows or fairs in you area and give them a try.
Fred Holder
In message , Fred Holder writes
This is almost the same as was told to me by a top author. Only a few write for a living, but most have another job, or a partner with a good paying job
Maybe the answer is to turn wood and write books :)
Living in Mexico, I thought that "tequila stoppers" would sell well, and ordered the kits in bulk.. WRONG..
Shows and gallerys do well for bowls and "art" pieces, but in my experience, pens don't seem to do much there, though..
I'm in sort of a "gifts to mail home" market here I sell a lot of pens in the cantinas and clubs here... I'm the "Pen Pimp" and always carry my pen roll with me.. lol That's led to several sales, and more important, several referrals... The profit margin on pens is very good... I can invest $10 in a pen and sell it for $50.. I'd rather sell larger stuff, but selling a bowl that costs $30 to make for $50 (maybe) isn't much return on my labor..
mac
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