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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Brisbane Nth Side
    Age
    38
    Posts
    257

    Default What do we do with our finished pens?

    I'd love to know what we all do with our finished pens. Sell them to pay the bills, for charity or give them away?

    I recently struck a deal with a handcrafted jewellery store in a nearby shopping centre to sell my pens on consignment, and they have the option to buy some stock after the initial 3 month period. I've seen some on here also have deals with stores and a few go to the markets.

    What do you do?

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    humpty doo N.T
    Age
    48
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    3,040

    Default

    I have a store that sells mine on consignment. The rest are sold privately from word of mouth or given away as presents. Some stay in my collection never to be sold unless they offer is good enough
    I just try to make enough money to pay for it self including gifts and money for expansion and experiments not to make a living off.
    I just do it for the enjoyment.
    Cheers Rum Pig

    It is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Northern Sydney
    Age
    49
    Posts
    2,764

    Default

    In cost of kits/blanks alone, I have about $150 of pens sitting on my desk in front of me

    I have only just started selling them via word of mouth and have only sold a few. My biggest problem is getting time to make them so I can have a reasonable chance or either building up stock or responding quickly to orders. My complete lack of a pricing structure has also hindered me in a pretty big way. When a work colleague comes up and says "Wow, love it... how much?" and your only response is "Errr..", it doesn't help much

    Typically though most of my pens go as gifts, and I count the savings on purchasing gifts as, if not revenue, then certainly savings towards then pen costs.

    Cheers,
    Dave
    ...but together with the coffee civility flowed back into him
    Patrick O'Brian, Treason's Harbour

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Mandurah WA
    Age
    62
    Posts
    1,566

    Default

    Hey There,

    Most of my pens sell by word of mouth, I have a couple of corporate clients who buy a few every month or so, and I am redoing my website with a shopping Cart feature so hopefully that will get going in the near future

    I don't do crowds very well, and wont go to markets, as I don't haggle either.( read don't want to embarass myself when some D!(k says that they can get 10 pens at Office Works for $5.00 and they offer $10 for a $45.00 pen)

    HazzaB
    It's Hard to Kick Goals, When the Ba^$%##ds Keep moving the Goal Posts.


    Check out my Website www.harrybutlerdesigns.com.au

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Brisbane Nth Side
    Age
    38
    Posts
    257

    Default

    I should add what I do to the thread.

    When I started, it was all word of mouth. Working in an office with a high staff turnover means I never fully saturate the market here, so I still get the occasional sale. I started going to markets, did that for 6 months with mixed results. Then I decided I'd try for a shop deal and about a month later I had one.

    It helps pay the bills for us a little bit, but we don't rely on it. The hobby is about to buy a bandsaw/scrollsaw/bladerunner. One of the three.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Mooloolaba, Qld
    Posts
    128

    Default

    I usually have 20 - 30 pens made which I give to friends and rellies. Would rather give away a nice EB (usually dressed in burl) than have some lovely chap offer $10 for it. Would have difficulty supplying a market as I only make pens that I like. Maybe my pens aren't well enough made auyway.

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    spencer gulf south oz
    Age
    74
    Posts
    467

    Default

    I initially would not sell pens, I made them only for family and friends and then friends of friends etc. Coming from a large family and even bigger extended family there is a never ending demand. So very easy to find recipients for freebies.

    I was talked in to selling a couple to a friend who explained I would be doing her a favour as they were for people she found it difficult to buy for, "already have everything" type. That has grown a bit and have sold a few now. Don't push them but it is certainly a good way to help pay for freight and consumables.

    Like Ozkaban I consider some given as gifts a saving, easier than chasing around to find presents. Also have donated a few as fund raisers for charity and on two occasions recently had people ask for a pen as payment, the old barter system, that I like.

  9. #8
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Blackbutt QLD
    Age
    30
    Posts
    172

    Default

    I have my pens on consignment in a shop in town for $19.50 and i sell them for $15. though none in the shop have sold yet.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    near Mackay
    Age
    59
    Posts
    4,628

    Default

    I sell most of mine in my own shop, I have a small space for a display behind the front counter.
    I dont push them at all, they mainly sell themselves at a slow but steady rate. I am happy with that as I dont have time to make heaps of pens.
    I am at the stage now, where the hobby is funded 99 percent by pen sales, and I am also able to give a few away to charities and good causes.

    I find that by donating the pens for fundraisers etc. always generates a few sales, so I almost always get something back , as well as doing a good turn at the same time.

    I also recently donated one to the forum to give away as a monthly "free stuff" prize (which was redrawn twice and still no winner ), even doing that resulted in a sale and another pending sale.

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    brisbane
    Age
    52
    Posts
    579

    Default

    I've only started recently so i'm still working through my initial give away list, i interrupted that breifly for two workmates, one who paid in full who was stoked and wants another, and the other who is making issue of it. bleh. Drama at work i dont need. I didnt initially consider what i was going to do, other than just have the hobby perpetuate itself. However now i'm thinking about making a couple of cases and trying the markets out to see how it goes. I'd like to build up a small stock, but for the pace i make mine at i dont think its viable except where the "not having to purchase a gift with cash" and the smile is enough.

    Neal.

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Cairns Qld Australia
    Age
    69
    Posts
    1,229

    Default

    I've made about 130 pens so far. Of those, I have given away to bludging 'hinting' rellies & friends, around 40 pens. I have sold 1 (one) pen so far, .......I just HATE parting with my babies !!. I want to keep them all !!!.

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Oberon, NSW
    Age
    63
    Posts
    13,354

    Default

    I've well'n'truly lost count of how many I've made... but I've always turned them for fun.

    I liked to experiment with building up laminations, making my own kit parts, etc., etc. Quite a few were failures which were binned - the blanks at least, if not the whole kit'n'kaboodle - but just as many have been progressive developments of an idea, which has often found it's way into my regular turnings.

    Most have found homes with family, friends or charities. Many were sold when people expressed an interest, without actually seeking sales. Never for a large amount, but usually enough to cover costs. I still have a full pen case, the contents of which change over a period of time.

    For a while there I was talked into turning for sales...

    Never again. Although it led to a vast improvement in my pen turning skills, most people want a commercial kit and relatively simple lines. Which made the whole exercise more about my finishing than about experimentation.

    And then having to put up with clients whinging about "there's a ding in the finish" or "the ink doesn't flow properly" or...

    They're right, of course. You need to take pride in your work and if you're turning for sales then you have to take this in your stride. But it's not what I was interested in.

    So I only turn the occasional pen nowadays. Always experimental, always for fun.

    And, oddly enough, they're still finding homes with family, friends and charity... with the occasional unsolicited sale.
    I may be weird, but I'm saving up to become eccentric.

    - Andy Mc

  14. #13
    cookie48 is offline Old Fart (my step daughters named me)
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Mallala S.A.
    Age
    75
    Posts
    1,455

    Default

    I give most of mine away. Have sold about a dozen. Now most of the pens I make go overseas to our troops. They need all the help we can give them.

  15. #14
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Nerang Queensland
    Age
    66
    Posts
    10,766

    Default

    I make pens to relax and have a quick fix .

    I used to count, bit once I got past 2000 I gave up, and that was a long time ago. I do sell mine to work colleagues, an advantage working in many offices, but usually only Xmas/mothers day/fathers day and birthday/special requests. I also have a few businesses that request special orders and buy to on-sell.

    I give away more than I sell though - friends/family etc, and everyone who has ever worked with me that has left (better than the old $5 donation).

    Mind you I still have around 450 here with me as I type in display cases if anyone wants one . I also have around 50 glued up ready to turn and >400 odd kits down in the shed . Don't ask how many blanks I have
    Neil
    ____________________________________________
    Every day presents an opportunity to learn something new

  16. #15
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    2,636

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by dai sensei View Post
    Don't ask how many blanks I have
    How many blanks do you have?

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