charging for hand embroidery?

hi everybody,

I make belts & similar accessories to sell. Now one of my customers has just enquired about my doing custom hand embroidery for him on an item (what he has in mind is rather extensive). Though I do embroider, I've never done it for a customer before, how would I go about pricing something like that?

your thoughts would be very welcome!

Rae

Reply to
angelsinarchitecture
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I'd start by telling him "if you have to ask, you can't afford it"

Reply to
Karen C - California

This subject has come up many times on rctn. Trying to summarize some of the ideas, here are a few. Make sure you have an agreed price

*before* you do *anything*. The chances are that a price that is agreeable to your customer will work out to be something like a tenth of minimum wage. If you enjoy needlework enough, you might be satisfied with this; i.e. you write off what your time is really worth against the enjoyment of doing the embroidery. Dont expect to get rich quick.

-- Jim Cripwell. From Canada. Land of the Key Bird. This creature of doom flies over the frozen tundra in winter, shrieking its dreaded call; "Key, Key, Key, Key rist but it's cold!!"

Reply to
F.James Cripwell

You must decide between what you think it is worth and what a customer is willing to pay. I used to do extensive embroidery for christening gowns and simply couldn't get paid for what my time was worth. However, I was able to supplement my income, I enjoyed the process, my materials were covered with a very decent profit margin if you don't count wages (the time it took to embroider).

Dianne

Reply to
Dianne Lewandowski

Hi Rae

It's impossible to get what hand embroidery is worth! So the next best thing is to get what would you settle for?

If I calculated the time, materials and preliminary work that went into my WIP, "The Old Mill at Pigeon Forge", by the time it's finished, it's value at only double minimum wage would be over $30,000.00, a price no one would ever pay for a piece.

Even at 1/2 of the minimum wage, it would be worth over 6 grand, which is still more than anyone would pay.

And don't forget, whatever you take in as hobby income, our dear Uncle Sam still want's around 26% of it!

TTUL Gary

Reply to
Gary V. Deutschmann, Sr.

Thanks to everyone who gave me suggestions. After some thought, I quoted the price of $900, which my customer found "too high" - but which seemed to me very fair given the size & intricate detail of his proposed design.

So, he is sending me $90 for one of my stock items instead, which is real fine with me ~

Thanks again for all the help!

cheers ~ Denise

Reply to
angelsinarchitecture

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