Thread: first sales?

Nice work, and good luck.

Nice work - they look great.

Good idea, good looking pieces!

Nice work .... hope it works out well for you.

Allan

Your first sales - how exciting. I'm sure we all remember our own first with the same feelings.

Update us please

Question...How do you arrive at a price? I have no real idea of whats fair to both parties, seller/buyer.
I'm not expecting a "Get Rich Quick" formula, just want an idea of how others price their wares

Forgive me for sliding sideways of the topic.

Always a difficult question. For what it's worth, my rule (at your stage) was;

The cost of the wood (or what it would have cost if you bought it) + Something for the Electricity and tool ware + Something for the sundries (Abrasive paper, finish etc) + the cost of extras (candle inserts etc) + something for me (there is always a new something you've got your eye on.)

However the golden rule is never (ever) undersell yourself.

So for me a standard wood tealight would be around £5 - £8 ($9 - $ 12) - more for special woods, different finishes (that take extra time etc)

for example I'll pay around £7 for a banksia Pod from which I can get a Candlestick, with inserts I sell pairs for £25 - £30, Never made tealights from one but If I could get 2 from one pod I'd consider £10 a reasonable price.

Wow! Goodluck to you










jack
BandSaw Blades Online - Custom Welded Band Saw Blades

Thank you Mr Dragonfly. That's just the "formula" I need. When I do a carpentry job that is pretty well how I do it. The items are easily defined and the labour is straight out multiplication.
Getting into the "arty side" of things, to me, is a different thing altogether and you have pointed out those things.
Trying to get a bowl, for instance, a certain shape could take some time while I am learning a technique shouldn't be paid for by the client so one would just put a token amount on that.
I have made little things in the past but they were give aways. You are right when you said there is always some thing that you need for the shed so may as well make it earn its keep
I don't want to end up with a heap of "orders" to fill. That situation would, in my case anyway, be negative to my development of the skills needed. I am retired from work and I do my shed work because I want to as apposed to need to.
I was given half a Silky Oak tree by a mate who even delivered it, so I need to make him something for his trouble. On the front cover of the Australian Woodworker Mag is a cheese platter out Silky Oak that I think I will make for him. Its a very simple shape with a tile in the middle as a cutting surface
I suppose I could make a number of the same item and keep them until there is a market for them (just thinking out loud)

How did the sale go?

Sorry re delay on result my friend had the candle/Avon party then seemed to disappear for 2 weeks. End result was I only sold 3 items(better than nothing) everybody evidently liked them but most couldnt see the time and effort in the prices dearest was $20 most $10-15. Still it will pay for a new spindle gouge.

G'day Dennis!
Welcome to the world of "I like them, can you make me one!!!!" and then expect to get them at $2 shop prices.

My Art & Craft group have just held an Exhibition and Sales weekend and the latest phenomenon appears to be to barter at Exhibitions

One of the exhibitors had a large turned open form burl bowl on display and priced it at $150 and the purchaser wanted to haggle with the Gallery folks for a reduced price. When this was refused the purchaser said "it doesn't matter, I will buy it anyway.

Nice work

Originally Posted by fubar

Sorry re delay on result my friend had the candle/Avon party then seemed to disappear for 2 weeks. End result was I only sold 3 items(better than nothing) everybody evidently liked them but most couldnt see the time and effort in the prices dearest was $20 most $10-15. Still it will pay for a new spindle gouge.

All sales are worthwhile but if you can think in terms of "what tools can I buy ?" then even small ones can be heartening. My coffee roaster friend reminded me yesterday that "small" is just a starting point and he started out roasting 3kg a week (now he has 3kg of spillage in the roastery - or so his wife says).

The other thing to remember, is that there is significant peer-pressure to purchase the party-plan items at these events (that is why they exist after all) and your offerings would have been last on the shopping list, so I reckon it's a great start.