price point for sales

Andrew

I try to consider the fact that you are one of maybe 1500 people in the US who is turning and making products for actual sale. I also try to consider that I am not making a mass produced item - each one is unique - has its own shape, wood figure, loving care, skill and patience added to make the final product. I find that the market is often under estimated. People are looking for unique items ones that are not copied on a machine, that have the character that only comes from being hand made.

Take these things into consideration. Also take into consideration that there are others of us out here that are selling their turnings at a level that allows them to make something that resembles a living. If you want to do more than cover your costs, then that might set you on the right track to making meaningful money from your efforts.

If you want to approach it as if you are an hourly employee, then calculate the $9.00 per hour you would get at a manual labor job and then price accordingly - hardly worth standing in front of the lathe isn't it?

Ray

I don't think everyone should ask the same price, any more than I believe that most people would pay it. I also don't feel I'm obliged to support anyone other than my family.

I give myself, as I've said every time this comes up, $20-25 an hour and five bucks overhead for my stuff. As wood is purchased by the cord and sanding/finishing supplies run about 150 a year for ~200 pieces, I consider this fair. I nod politely as other turners I meet at sales tell me how much more I could charge, and take home more than most, because I sell more pieces.

Of course, I've still got kids two and three in college (one a SENIOR!), and began "turning for tuition" with our first about ten years ago, so money means more to me than "art" at the moment. Only when I have truly unusual wood or attend a distant and richer venue will I raise the price, and then it's based on what it will take for someone to take it from my collection or prevent me from giving it to someone I like. Some things you don't mind taking home.

I guess it boils down, as does so much in life, to time or money. The more time you have to turn, the less money you can accept, and the more you'll want to sell to clear the shelves - so you can continue spending time doing what gives you pleasure.

I charge $20/hour for a bowl, that is based on what it used to take me to make a bowl, I did this chart up when I first started to make bowls for a living...

At that time it would take me about 4-5 hours to make a bowl 12 by 4 inch for example, so I priced it at $95. That was 10-12 years ago. I have never changed my prices, but now I make the same bowl in under and hour. SO, as my skills improved, my proficiency increased and I started getting paid more per hour.

My market will take double that price and some folks charge the bigger price and do well, I am happy with what I get and the rate at which they sell.... They sell faster then I can make them and that is all that counts in the long run.

BUT, remember that some customers will complain about the high cost of the bowl and others will wonder how you can do it at such a low price and still make money.....The ones that think they are too much money wouldn't buy them if you had a 5 for one sale and the one who think they are inexpensive will ussually just buy one. So, make the price of that one, enough to make it worth while....Value your work as much as the customer does......

Just thinking out loud.. Hope it helps...... Ken....