Craft fair reality check

How in the world can you sell a well crafted box in the $5 to $15 range? Granted the wood is probably free but you will probably spend the better part of an hour making it. Not just the turning time. Don't forget the preparation time before you get it on the lathe and the time spent finishing it.

Another option is to sell at a gallery. You can consider various types of stores. I sell at one that is a co-op all-local craft store, one gallery with a large variety including intarsia, painting, pottery, fossil ivory carvings, rustic furniture,etc. that is owned by a sole proprietor, one fruit stand with an upscale gift shop, a gourmet bakery, and then several port city galleries. This frees your time up, but you pay a commission that ranges from 20% (which I negotiated at the bakery & fruit stand which don't generally sell on commission) to 40% at some others. Some places are

Derek

Harry, there is a way to sell boxes of modest quality at fairs for $5 to $15. Doing the math it's clear that in order to eat, a subsidy is necessary. Perhaps a grant to study boxes? Grantees don't have to _do anything except appear important...lots of time for turning boxes.

There is a great unmet need for important box studies. FDA-pill boxes, Voting Commission-ballot boxes, witness boxes, penalty boxes, box seats, box offices, boxing rings, boxed ears, soap boxes, 'one to the box', boxcars' hot boxes...the list goes on. Being an Episcopalian, I'm unsure about phylactery boxes. ?

Harry, there are many ways to sell boxes for ten dollars and survive... just another decision to agonize over like art vs craft, plagiary vs in the style of, cutting vs scraping, green vs dry, LDD vs alcohol, carbon vs HSS, Stubby vs Harbor Freight, ...and stick to business vs silly & off topic posts like this one. Get a grant, Mac, your study will be on the evening news. :)

Turn to Safety, Arch Fortiter

Sounds like it would be perfect for Canada. (TIC now) Perhaps a sponsorship program.

I am sure that here in the Great White North we can come up with "Far More Important Boxes" -- perhaps for use in a certain governing party who shall remain unnamed and hence unknown. Perhaps a coffin style box...

Yes -- but will it show him in Orange Overalls with "Escorts"? LOL

As usual Arch -- very "thought provoking" -- well provoking anyway. Hope Mac doesn't live nearby.

you can't, if you're doing it for a living, Harry.. but it would support my habit and pay for another cord of firewood..

also, most of the boxes are from branch wood and are 1" to 3" diameter, so not much you can get for them..

mac

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Hi Arch,

But Arch don't you realize that if enough turners applied to our government for grants our taxes would likely increase in order to fund the grant program. The next thing you know, bowl turners would be applying for grants too. Then the guys who turn ornaments would want to get into the act. All these requests would require additional tax increases. Then we would probably need a cabinet level group to oversee the grants. Of course this would no doubt cost at least triple the amount of the grants.

I think your suggestion is irresponsible and very likely to wreck what is left of our economy.

Spoken with tongue fully imbedded in my cheek,

Harry

Next to "hollow forms," boxes are the most difficult for me to sell. Especially when they're under about 4" in diameter, where people say "too small to be useful." I've pretty much given up on them. Maybe two/three ready for any day sale, and that's it. At about 45 minutes each, I have to get $20, but I doubt people would buy at half that, because they just don't collect them.

I sell ornaments at $22-32, and they leave at a steady rate. Go figure.

But with "progressive" taxation, it would only soak "the rich," who don't pay their fair share anyway. I stand ready as a bowl and ornament lover to take up boxes if I can, by that means, become an agent for soaking those undeserving b*stards.

Uh-oh, wait a minute.

It's folks with money that buy my stuff now. Never mind that redistribution scheme my evil twin mentioned....

Bento Box, Lunch Box, Box O' Rocks, Punishment Box, ...

What is this "phylactery boxes." ?

Flak-tery, is that how you pronounce it?

You made that up, right?

R. Raffan, Mr. Box-maker, would tell us students that he sold very, very few boxes in any of the galleries he supplied in Oz. He said that his best customers were the turners that he met at conferences and workshops when he traveled. Doesn't stop us from having fun making them, however, ;-) Ed.

phy·lac·ter·y n. pl. phy·lac·ter·ies

1. Judaism. Either of two small leather boxes, each containing strips of parchment inscribed with quotations from the Hebrew Scriptures, one of which is strapped to the forehead and the other to the left arm; traditionally worn by Jewish men during morning worship, except on the Sabbath and holidays.
2. a. An amulet. b. A reminder.

Lobby D. Thank you very much. I had seen worshiping men wearing those little black boxes and wondered what they were. Much obliged Ed

The explanation.

Read before posting. Of course I meant conservative. Reform might as well be Lutheran.

mac

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it's the old "trickle down" theory, George... those that piss on us also spread their wealth in our direction in order to become wealthier..

mac

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my thought was to buy a bunch of ear rings at the dollar store and put a pair in each little box... "ear rings - $20" "Free jewelry box with each purchase, for limited time only"

mac

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That was your evil twin right? Tell me it's so! Pleassseee????

ROTFLMAO

It _will_ work you know.

Or at least Unitarian!