Thread: What Sells?

Originally Posted by KRH

There is an interesting discussion in another thread that, as a side discussion, visits making a living from your workshop. (see thread 32802 on changing life's direction).


I thought it would be interesting to start a new thread dedicated to this topic and a bit more focussed.



What is the general consensus on what types of wooden products sell. eg. pens, boxes, toys, clocks, other???, and where eg. markets, "normal" retail, consignment etc?

There are many sites on the web selling what appears to be expensive hand made wooden products, boxes for instance. How well do such craftsmen do? The work on some of these sites is stunning yet, on the other hand, some is nice but nothing to write home about. A great deal of the work done by members of this forum would not be out of place on such boutique sites.

Do we have many members with experience in selling their work? Can we collect their thoughts and experiences?

A few people that have seen my picture frames have asked me what I'd charge to make them something similar. I alwyas say the same thing. WW my hobby not a living, as soon as I'm making a product for someone, to their taste, timeline and budget it's no longer a hobby but a chore.

I have given some of my frames away as presents or just cos and they are much appreciated.

Originally Posted by BobL

to their taste, timeline and budget it's no longer a hobby but a chore.

Too right Bob! I've been asked to build things and once I realise that it's something standard, I recommend they go to IKEA. The quality has improved a lot over the years and you can't buy the raw materials for most things that they've got there sitting all ready to go.

IMHO, there are three types of product that you can sell:

1. Special sizes (fitted wardrobes, kitchens, furniture, etc)
2. Art (anything that goes outside the norm and represents the woodworkers creative talents)
3. Special materials (expensive/rare woods)

But as Bob said, once your hobby becomes the bread and butter, I quickly loses its theraputic qualities...


Damien

Great thread!

Reeves and I had a little display of our woodwork, gee, was it two years ago now? and I received a couple of comments that I noted, what people liked, what they were interested in buying etc.

There will always be those who like the small and inexpensive eg letter openers, bookmarks, keyrings and those who want something kinda standard, eg a box, but with something about the box that makes it stand out.

So, for the next craft show here at work, I'm trying to make a few simple boxes; miniature, rustic chests; and if I can, may be some more photo albums and a couple of clocks, if I can now that I'm back at work

The rustic picture frames and mirror frames are great, but are even better as gifts or requests, if you are so inclined.

cheers
Wendy

Originally Posted by KRH

There is an interesting discussion in another thread that, as a side discussion, visits making a living from your workshop. (see thread 32802 on changing life's direction).

I thought it would be interesting to start a new thread dedicated to this topic and a bit more focussed.

What is the general consensus on what types of wooden products sell. eg. pens, boxes, toys, clocks, other???, and where eg. markets, "normal" retail, consignment etc?

There are many sites on the web selling what appears to be expensive hand made wooden products, boxes for instance. How well do such craftsmen do? The work on some of these sites is stunning yet, on the other hand, some is nice but nothing to write home about. A great deal of the work done by members of this forum would not be out of place on such boutique sites.

Do we have many members with experience in selling their work? Can we collect their thoughts and experiences?

Its not really a question of which particular products sell
Your question is similar to "How long is a piece of string"

If there was a truly definitive answer, there would be a few limited items and nothing else would ever be for sale.

When it comes down to making a living out of your shed it really becomes an exercise in total sales, marketing and planning. As part of your selling system you need to evaluate many things just a few are;

Does the product suit your personality,
is it one off arty farty or is it a high volume repetitive.
The localities that you and your clients are in.
The socio economic and cultural groups that you and your clients are in, as this influences tastes and styles.
How to present your goods so they stand out from the opposition.
How to make your clients say, I want that piece at any price?

Now if you do find a top product, how do you handle others from copying it.

Stuff you cant buy in the local furniture shops / hardware wharehouse.

Think artistic and /or custom made, one of a kind stuff.

I have found a lot of interest in solid timber tables, bar tops, etc. Live edge slabs of natural timber or laminated up from solid boards. Each one is unique, and it's not like you can pop down to the local furniture barn and buy one.

Dont try and match the mass produced furniture, you will just end up making the same money as the poor Chinese guy who actually builds it.

Cheers

Ian

Originally Posted by echnidna

"How long is a piece of string"
.

Exactialy twice half its length

Originally Posted by KRH

What is the general consensus on what types of wooden products sell. eg. pens, boxes, toys, clocks, other???, and where eg. markets, "normal" retail, consignment etc

What sells at Markets depends on the market location, the make-up of the people there how much do they have to spend & how much opposition is there with similar products or how unique your product is.


Rgds

Originally Posted by BobL

A few people that have seen my picture frames have asked me what I'd charge to make them something similar. I alwyas say the same thing. WW my hobby not a living, as soon as I'm making a product for someone, to their taste, timeline and budget it's no longer a hobby but a chore.

I have given some of my frames away as presents or just cos and they are much appreciated.

Hear, hear! I make a living doing large-scale wood butchery but the smaller, prettier stuff I do for fun. I've done my share of commission work, yet somehow I'm never as happy with the end result. The fun factor just isn't there and to my mind it's just not worth the extra headache.

Being a turner, I've shelves full of my "latest and greatests" (well... they all are, or were, until I started the next. ) and there's the occasional home sale from curious visitors although as often as not I'll give 'em away as pressies... depending on whether I like the person, of course. Every now and then, when I've the choice between building new shelves (and a shed to put 'em in!) or clearing some space, I'll get a mate to take a boot-load down to his market stall for whatever they'll bring. I've no idea what sort of prices he asks or what profit he makes off 'em... just so long as my costs are covered per item. [shrug]

As for what seems to sell, my better movers at the stalls are either the more "personal" items such as pens, vanity mirrors and small turned boxes or the arty pharty stuff with no real use other than looking pretty. Most of my goblets.

By commission, rocking chairs and spinning wells are still way to the fore even though I rarely turn my hand (no pun intended) to 'em nowadays and have no plans to do so... if people want the larger items of furniture they can go through the business instead. It's amazing how many people change their minds when it's going through the books and start muttering about Ikea. Pretty and cheap seem to be the deciding factors now, people don't seem to want to pay for quality.

Unless selling through a gallery, perhaps? I see some pretty hefty prices for fairly mundane items at the gallery down the road. Occasionally I've thought about looking into it further, but... [shrug]

Depends on who your selling too, if its at the markets then trinkets too small furniture are the go, but if its to furniture shops it'll be what ever they sell!(beds/tables/chairs/media racks/entertainment centres/cabinets)
The problems with selling to shops is being able to make your product to compete with those crappy cheap imports... but this can be a advantage also by promoting it as a localy made product.
So to make a go of it you need to mass produce a single product... and wholesale it to the likes of large retail chains.
To make a range your gunna need too invest big bickies and have several employees then youd be able to offer a product range of say 10 peices.

I make gear for freinds and workmates... my bars and wine racks seem to be popular!(start a big one next week)

stuff that isnt the same as the other bloke

I found that markets aren't the way to go simply because most people expect to find cheap things.
Things that are practical as well as unusual looking seem to draw a lot of attention. Hard to come up with new things like that since the minute you put it out there someone's sure to copy it.
Tastes seem to constantly change.. what sells well today will sit on the shelf tomorrow, if it's one thing I learned is that you just can't predict what will appeal. You might have something that sat on the shelf 5 years... then that one person walks in and bingo... falls in love and buys it no questions ask. I have things I thought would be a sure winner because everyone kept telling me it was great and they love it.... and a lot will say oh that's sooooo nice... but they won't buy it.

What does seem to work fairly well is most under $15 items, really... under 10 and better yet.... 5... so if you don't do it because you really like woodworking.... don't get into selling. I'm happy most of the time if I get out what money I put in... people just won't pay for time.
Juvy

It's strange what sells. The thing in the photo is called a Lame (pron. lahmay) and is used for slashing the top of bread dough. Now these are pretty hard to come by around the world, strange as that may seem, and I started making a few for fellow home bakers. Then enquirys started to come in and I ended up sending them to England, Malaysia, Singapore, Canada, and the US, as well as all round Australia.
Long story short, I now don't sell direct, I wholesale them 50 at a time for $8.50 each. $450.00 a month is not bad for a hobby.

Great idea Termite, but even more so, Congratulations on finding a niche market like that!!!

Cheers
Wendy

Originally Posted by soundman

stuff that isnt the same as the other bloke

Well that's what I thought when I offered to buy 2 things on this forum. There is a market out there for specialty items (made out of real wood with some sort of personality).
I didn't get any takers on the pepper grinder and the only explanation was that the innards were too expensive. I've seen the innards for $8 and the 2nd in charge has now paid $38.50 for the pepper grinder! Sale lost.
I'm still optimistic on my second purchase which I am so keen to buy.
Carry Pine