Pricing turned bowls

[dearlw]

After looking all over the net, I see pricing is all over the place. How do you guys price turnings if you are looking to start selling your items. I would consider myself an intermediate turner, I mostly love turning bowls. Branching into goblets and other what I would consider display items like mushrooms, ect... I understand there isn't a set price guide but I'm perplexed on the pricing aspect of items. Some I see are priced so high I'm not sure Id have the guts to price it that high, but if people will pay that price who am I to quibble about that lol.
Just wondering how some of you price your turnings that you consider selling??

Thanks
David

[dearlw]

I hope this isn't a reduntent post. If so I appolizie in advance. couldn't find posts on this subject, new to the site. Thanks in advance for any help.

David

[Toymaker Len]

The question is not redundant David but it is an evergreen old chestnut recurring question. And welcome to the forum. You will find many experts and many, many wonderful woodworkers. My advice on pricing is simple...drop the price until the item starts to sell and then you know what the bottom line is. If you are standing beside a table of bowls and can't sell one in the first couple of hours just try to sell them for less. If a customer is interested and complimentary just ask them what they would pay, offer a discount on the marked price, talk to other traders. When the items start to move at the bargain basement price then you may start to finesse the product. Maybe red woods sell for a bit more etc. Pricing can be tricky. My wife and I took a load of items from Australia to sell at Covent Garden market in London one time. Covent Garden is pretty up-market so we thought we would up our prices by about fifty percent. So our puzzle which we sold for thirty dollars here went up to twenty-five pounds (roughly fifty dollars) First hour...nothing. Dropped the price to twenty pounds...next hour nothing. Dropped the price to what we get in Sydney, fifteen pounds (thirty dollars here) and suddenly they took off. We had hit our price point and we sold everything we had over two days. Good luck, there are not many occupations as pleasant as woodworking for a living.

[Paul39]

Dearlw,

I sell my bowls through a craft shop. The shop gets 40% of the selling price. I usually have a general Idea of what I think they are worth, but ask the owner what she thinks she could get. We are usually close.

If there are galleries or craft shops near go look and make notes. Look or nice shape, interesting grain, nice finish.

If your bowls look like the below you can get good money. You can get more if you have bowls in museums and are dead.

https://www.google.com/search?biw=1440&bih=731&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=vK9kW6r7D9CUsgWGq77QDg&q=mint+museum+charlotte%2C+wood+turnings%2C+bowls&oq=mint+museum+charlotte%2C+wood+turnings%2C+bowls&gs_l=img.12...5018.17206.0.21122.22.22.0.0.0.0.154.2104.18j4.22.0....0...1c.1.64.img..0.3.362...0j0i30k1j0i24k1.0.IuGR2GzdZJE

I am not famous or dead so get between $50 - $100 for bowls 10 to 20 inches in diameter. Nice grain, unusual grain is worth more. Size matters, a big bowl will sell for more than a smaller one. The exception is segmented pieces. There is a guy locally that makes exquisite 5 inch segmented turned boxes that sell for around $250.

I have also done some smaller mushrooms and weed pots - a little bottle shaped thing with a hole drilled in the top for dry flowers. Those sell for $10 - $25 depending om size grain etc. I am 78 and turn for entertainment and to suit myself. So far everything I have put in the shop has sold. Sometimes when I show something I am pleased with, a person will just have to have it.

Check what turners are selling at flea markets, on ebay, etsy: https://www.google.com/search?q=etsy+turned+wood+bowls&client=ubuntu&hs=VF4&channel=fs&source=univ&tbm=shop&tbo=u&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjkxIW_3NHcAhUFKH0KHVuIDPYQsxgIKA&biw=1440&bih=731

One rule of thumb is: Charge twice what you make per hour for how long it takes to make the object. This assumes one is pretty good and efficient. Early on it took me 20 hours to make a bowl, now, starting with a dry piece of wood I can go from rough blank to sanded and first coat of tung oil in about 2 hours. It will likely need to be touched up as it moves around overnight.

Below are three of my pieces, first a close up of a weed pot to show how much shine I could get with many coats of rubbed on Tung oil. The other two are unusual pieces that sell quickly. The third I told my dealer I thought was worth $100, she agreed and said lets put $95 on it, it sold in 2 weeks.

I hope this helps.

[woodPixel]

Dearlw, can we see some photos of your work?

Might I suggest that if you haven't turned 100 bowls/plates/objects then you really need to build build build. This isn't about stock, it's about understanding how long a thing takes you AND refining your technique and skills.

The advice above is spot on. I've read a great deal from turners here on the subject.

One thing I might mention, that feels important to me, is "go through a retailer". Unless you have a gift for selling, time, skills AND space, you are deluding yourself that you can do better. Retailers can be highly beneficial - they act as free marketing, get you visual exposure, sell your duds and save you a lot of time. There is also the impremateur of having your work stocked... there is value in that space. It is poor to think that one can retain 100% profits for themselves... retailers offer a highly valuable service.

There is NOTHING more singularly off putting to a buyer than going to a market and seeing a tired bloke who can't sell sitting in a customer-vacant stand.... piles of stuff no one is looking at. It has the stink of death to it. The seller gets dispirited, potential clients are put off and avoid you like the plague. I see it all the time. It's really sad.

All they need to do is dump it on someone who is incentivised to sell it. Let them take 50%. It's a bargain.

You can then go back to turning 20 more things.

[cava]

There is NOTHING more singularly off putting to a buyer than going to a market and seeing a tired bloke who can't sell sitting in a customer-vacant stand.... piles of stuff no one is looking at. It has the stink of death to it. The seller gets dispirited, potential clients are put off and avoid you like the plague. I see it all the time. It's really sad.


Sage advice. :2tsup:

[dr4g0nfly]

Cant't speak for Aus but here in the UK the golden rule is 'Don't undercut the professionals', if you do, you are not doing them or yourself any favours.

[Robson Valley]

Decor landscape photography, back in the B&W 16 x 20 analog days. I was taken aside by 2 professionals and told what my floor price should be.

Watercolor paintings. Mine were fairly quickly sketchy things of storms and villages, marinas & boats, etc.
$50.00/square ft. You like it? We measure it for a price. I did quite well. They were just wall paper to me in that day and time.

If you multiplied Diameter x Depth then X some dollar number, what could that look like?
From wood carving, I don't see 20% of the wood blank in the dish. Time and the finish.
If it was just nut-crazy wild wood, I'd be asking 3X.

I have some cedar feast dishes on display in a custom jewelry store. $10/inch length.
Entirely arbitrary but not unreasonable for the tedious hand work to carve them.
We all know what finishing is like.

[burraboy]

You put a price on it, if it sells then it's too cheap. If it doesn't, then its too expensive. Adjust as necessary.

[Paul39]

You put a price on it, if it sells then it's too cheap. If it doesn't, then its too expensive. Adjust as necessary.

Years ago I had a co worker in Seattle, WA, USA who was moving back to his wifes home town. He put his house on the market and it sold in a week. Several people gave him grief about pricing too low. His comment, "maybe it was the right price".

Several years ago I bought a shop made 28 inch swing bowl lathe from a guy who said he made and sold over 3000 bowls a year. (That is about 8 bowls a day working 6 days a week.) I expressed astonishment, as at that time it was taking me 10 - 15 hours to make a bowl to my satisfaction. He said he was in the shed all day every day.

He asked me to his house on show what he was about to load to take to the flea market. There were bowls everywhere on every horizontal surface. He had a few nice pieces on display but the flea market bowls I would be ashamed to show. Bowls were rather thick and rough and the finish was slopped on, with runs. Buyers were apparently happy, as they sold. I did not ask for how much.

[NeilS]

... dump it on someone who is incentivised to sell it. Let them take 50%. It's a bargain.



I have a slightly different take on my gallery outlet owner. It's more of a relationship, which in my case goes back decades. In my experience most gallery owners are in it for more than the money.

I don't have any experience of markets, so can't offer any suggestions there, but if you think your work is suited to galleries I would suggest the following:



Look at what is being offered for sale and for how much in some galleries within travelling distance of you.
If in your judgement your work is comparable, select your six best pieces that represent what you are currently making and arrange to meet some gallery owners/managers. They will quickly tell you if your work is likely to sell in their gallery.
Your work may be more suited to some galleries than others, so don't give up if you get a few thumbs down to begin with. It may also be the case that the gallery already has as much of your style of work that they can sell. They like variety.
Some galleries will tell you what your work might sell for. In my experience, they don't. You have to decide and take the risk with pieces placed on commission, which is how most work is sold.
Expect your gallery owner to take at least 40% commission, and subtract another 10% GST from the wholesale price here in Australia.
In my opinion, the gallery earns every bit of their commission.
If you do get your work into a gallery, monitor how long it takes for particular pieces to sell. Although, I find that what sells quickly from one batch of delivered work doesn't necessarily move so quickly next time. But, your work does have to move out of the door of the gallery at a reasonable rate if you and your gallery are to have a mutually satisfying and long term relationship. About 15-20% per month (with the exception of any very expensive pieces that are waiting for the right buyer) is enough for the gallery display to not become too tired looking.


David (et al), I hope that is of some help if you are going down with the gallery option.

PS - I don't know of any rich woodturners. Most of us turn wood because we love doing it. That is our reward. Anything we sell is a bonus.

[Colin62]

I don't know of any rich woodturners. Most of us turn wood because we love doing it. That is our reward. Anything we sell is a bonus.

While I agree with your entire post, this bit means the most to me. Thanks.

[wood spirit]

Cant't speak for Aus but here in the UK the golden rule is 'Don't undercut the professionals', if you do, you are not doing them or yourself any favours.
Can't agree with this more. Have been at markets with hobbyists selling ridiculously cheap. They damage sales for someone even trying to make part time income & clearly regard the exercise as a way to clear the shed.

[Toymaker Len]

Can't agree with this more. Have been at markets with hobbyists selling ridiculously cheap. They damage sales for someone even trying to make part time income & clearly regard the exercise as a way to clear the shed.

I would respectfully disagree here. There is a world of difference between a professional and an amateur. The bloke who is clearing his shed is showing the public just how ordinary woodwork can be and doing a service by selling cheap items to people who might otherwise never have a wooden bowl or object in their house. The pro on the other hand will have stunning items by comparison, brilliantly finished, excellent forms, broad selection of materials and able to talk knowledgeably about the craft. The shed clearer is picking up the loose change from people who would never afford a professionals work so the two aren't really competing. However climbing out of the amateur camp into the pro camp can be very hard. Don't they say you need to do ten thousand hours of practice to become a master?

[dearlw]

Thanks I do love turning, I love to see them come to life with what is inside that just jumps out and says wow! I've really never sold anything mostly gifts to people in my life, but I've been told numerous times that I need to start selling, it would be nice to get something to help offset what I spend to make the wifey happy, lol. It just perplexes me to look on the net and see prices all over the place no rime or reason to it. I guess if I try I'll price what I think they are worth like my wife says you can always come down but kinda of hard to go up.

[dearlw]

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[hughie]

Hmm a bit of a can of worms. I have seen various formulae here and there. But for me, I sell through galleries and they often ask me what I want, then they add the commission on top.
I guess its the punt method of pricing that I usually go for :) But much depends on what it is and how much embellishment has gone into it.

[dearlw]

Attached at end a few.

[woodPixel]

I've had a bit of a think about this - its been a good question for me to price my own work.

I agree overall with the statements by Toymaker Len "world of difference between a professional and an amateur"

You, I, or anybody who Gives It A Go will never undercut the prices of a professional turner or artist, even if you perfectly copy it - for the simple reason one is unknown, unmarketed and without "value". A professionals name carried gravitas, people pay for that more than the spectacular single piece.

What may in fact be a very nice bowl/object and may sit on a table an attract many positive comments, but a pro is unlikely to sell at markets and we are unlikely to sell at galleries.

Even if they do, and we should, the apparent differences in quality would be obvious to the casual observer. Im sure famous people sell their wares to the commoners occasionally :)

I'm thinking that Van Gogh used to sell on the banks of the Seine Paris... a few paintings on easels and piled up against the guard rails. He starved and no one loved his work.... but he gave it a crack!

Just my thoughts. Overall, price your work "for what sells" and practice practice practice.....

[mummatoni]

pricing is a very fluctuating thing i been to some markets and been told am too dear but next customer come say i am extremely economically priced so at the end of the day. some days you sell others you might not it all depends in what shoppers on that day are looking for and some times your wood work takes their fancy. like don't get me wrong i love the day my stall sells out but one thing my hubby said turning is not my earner it just keeps me occupied but if makes a profit good, however he wants me to not loose lose sight on why i turn as for me personally it my best antidepressants. any item i make takes time and loved so i am going to sell for what i feel is fair and on the day certain people if i chose may negotiate price but most times rarely don't go down as that say even i do not respect my own work. that just my 2 cents worth of thoughts anyway.

keep on plugging away

[Paul39]

I do not turn for a living. I make the very best piece I can to my satisfaction, then with the guidance of my shop owner get the best price I can for each. Sometimes I will spend much too much time and effort on something, knowing it will not bring much, but do it anyway because it pleases me. I photograph everything so I have a record of what I have done.

[NeilS]

I .... do it ... because it pleases me. I photograph everything so I have a record of what I have done.



..... Ditto