Tuesday 11 May 2010

Crafting and pricing .... the eternal dilemma

A recurring theme on a lot of crafters' blogs seems to be at what level do we price our makes.  Obviously the cost of materials has to be covered and then there is the time and effort put in also otherwise it is a complete waste of time and energy making anything to sell.  I am no different and now have to sit and seriously think about the pricing on my makes for the craft market in a few weeks time and would really like to build a little cottage industry in my three bed semi!

To that end can I pick your brains a little please?  This is a cot bed size (112 cm x 124 cm) patchwork quilt made with a mix of Cath Kidston, Laura Ashley and Michael Miller fabrics .... it has a new polyester wadding filling and is backed in a very good quality cotton from Jill Northam.




How much would you pay???  Be honest please and it will be a great help to me in the coming weeks so that I don't either oversell or undersell.

Thanks xxx

18 comments:

  1. hmm
    as you may know I encountered some underpricing at the craft fair at the weekend..I perhaps should have been clearer £1.50 for a heart hanger, while the other lady was charging £3.50..which imho is still preety low but more like it!!
    It is sooooo tricky and deb your quilt is flipping gorgeous :D
    However..I would not have the first clue of a price....totting up the fabrics roughly in my head - there must be a total of a metre plus of top end quality fabrics plus the backing a metre plus..plus the wadding..so add that together and double it at least I'd say...
    Is that helpful??
    Probs not!!
    XXXX
    btw did I mention....GORGEOUS!!!!

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  2. Thanks Claire ... did you notice some of your lovely Patch fabric in there too xx

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  3. Hi Debbie,
    Gorgeous quilt :)
    I would say you should be pricing upwards from £30 depending on costs of materials, but then it depends on what price you feel comfortable with too. If it helps maybe list the designer materials on the price label. HTH xxx

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  4. I would say start at £30. It is beautiful

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  5. Just found you via the 20 minuters link and had to stop by and say I have loved looking through your work it is al so beautiful! I, too, am just starting out selling my bits and pieces and finding the pricing so difficult. My sister suggested to me that I work on a basis of cost of material + cost of time (at 10p per minute, which gives you a typical wage of £6 per hour which is entirely reasonable, don't you think?) and then multiply the total cost of the make by either 1.5 or 2, whichever you are happiest with. It is so hard to find a balance between making a decent wage and being reasonably priced. After all, we do have to make something for the time and effort taken.

    As far as the quilt is concerned, I would definitely be willing to pay between £30 and £40 for a handmade cot quilt as it would be so precious and I might even be swayed into going up to £50 if it was just perfect for the baby's room etc (which yours very easily might be for someone) - and don't forget, if you give yourself a decent profit margin then you can always choose to let your buyers haggle (within reason).

    Good Luck with it all - can't wait to read more xx

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  6. I have no idea but agree that you should definately mention the fabric designers. A CK mention could really make the difference.

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  7. Debbie, I am going to have to be cowardly and say "I don't know"....... because I don't. All I DO know is that your quality of make is just fabulous. Good luck!

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  8. I have no idea of the price but just wanted to say the quilt is really beautiful. xx

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  9. Pricing is always difficult, and I've often been struck with how cheap some people have sold things - in that I can't see how they possibly could have covered costs - and as Lacey says, often making a more reasonable price seem expensive. Not sure really what to advise as I don't think I've got it right yet!

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  10. It's difficult, I was going to say about £35 yes I would mention the fabrics you have used.
    Josie x

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  11. I'd say at least £45/£50. If you sell it any cheaper you may find the buyer resells it at a profit.

    It's absolutely beautiful, an heirloom for some lucky person xx

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  12. You have to cover your costs, Then I say to myself whats the most I could get for this. Sometimes things work out really well with little effort and you can make a decent wage, and other times you'll be lucky to cover the cost of the materials, Start high and then go lower if it doesn't sell.
    Your quilt is beautiful, you should have no problems selling it.

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  13. Absolutely lovely quilt - and it's soooo hard judging the right price, isn't it? I would agree on AT LEAST £30, probably more towards £40 and definitely mention the designers. Well done and good luck with it!

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  14. I agree that your price should start at £30. It is VERY difficult to decide. Sometimes people visit craft and handmade fairs and think that items should be going cheap and are looking for a few bargain presents. When I was trying to sell watercolour paintings my old tutor always advised on doing as much research as possible first bt visiting other venues - and never undersell yourself.

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  15. I totally agree, £30+. If people want bargains, then they should shop on eBay or bootfairs, you should never undersell yourself. I think you should consider selling on Folksy as its easy to set a shop and there are no up-front fees. I think you work is just lovely. The best of luck with your venture.
    Jak x

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  16. Probably about £35 . . . I tend to look at what other people are charging for the same sort of thing elsewhere. Another way is to say what is the highest and what is the lowest you'd be prepared to sell your piece for and then sort of work your way to the middle.

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  17. This is always tough; underprice and you're being foolish to yourself, overprice and you have no takers.
    My own solution is a little crazy; I work out exactly what it's cost in materials, add in some sort of payment in time, then look at that final cost.
    If you think it's too high, then so will your customers. It's at this point I usually make some products as offsetting the cost: make something from the scraps, which take up very little time, and add them into the scheme.
    Selling crochet brooches at £2 each sounds ludicrous, but as I usually sell around 10 or 12 at a fair, that goes a long way to offset the higher end stuff, of which I'll probably only sell one.
    All this is probably as clear as mud, sorry.
    Wish you well with your fairs and hope you have a fantastic time,
    P xx

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  18. Have absolutely no idea and agree with all of above, just wanted to say how beautiful it is and what a lovely family heirloom it will be...simply gorgeous hun xxx

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