selling crafts
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addy03
- Rank 3 - Star Mario
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- Joined: Thu Oct 15, 2009 2:22 pm
selling crafts
I just had a general question for anyone/everyone. How much do you charge for your crafts? Specifically for cross stitch stuff...I had a request for my Zelda intro screen that I did awhile back and I have no clue what to charge for time/materials/etc. Any suggestions? (Thank you in advance)
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funkymonkey
- Rank 10 - Cape Mario
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Re: selling crafts
In my experience, it's difficult to sell cross stitch for what it's actually "worth" if you give a true value on your time. I generally base my prices on overall size (like, a keychain-sized thing around $15, a 5 x 7 framed stitch around $40). I have tried to do cost of materials + $3.50/hr for my stitching time (since i'm generally watching tv while I stitch, I think it's a fair low estimate) but sometimes that comes out with a reasonable price and other times it doesn't.
I've also had people ask how much I would sell my epic mario stitch for, and after the initial shock of "I wouldn't!!" wore off, considering I probably spent 300 hours on it (figured out by 50,000 stitches divided by approx 3 stitches per minute) I would consider $2000 to $2500 (since the framing with museum glass itself was over $150). Hope that helps!
I've also had people ask how much I would sell my epic mario stitch for, and after the initial shock of "I wouldn't!!" wore off, considering I probably spent 300 hours on it (figured out by 50,000 stitches divided by approx 3 stitches per minute) I would consider $2000 to $2500 (since the framing with museum glass itself was over $150). Hope that helps!
Current projects: blackwork Macintosh, Super Mario World - Star Road map, Super Mario World - Full Map!
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Eliste
- Rank 10 - Cape Mario
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Re: selling crafts
What I will say is do NOT underestimate your costs per time. This is where people will balk, but if you did quality work, then your time is valuable. Its one thing to lowball the price for your time if you did the project for fun and just happen to be selling it, but if you did it on commission then for god's sake don't short change yourself on your time. There are minimum wages for a reason, but most people dont think they apply to artists/artisans for some unknown reason. It does and it should.
The reason I say this is that if you lowball it once, people will expect it to be low forever. Most people have no idea the time and energy that it takes to do a project, and expect them to cost the same as the equivalent in a mass produced store. Handmade things are worth more, they take more time. By lowballing your work in that area, you end up shoving yourself and other crafters into a price bracket where it becomes difficult to make money out of it. Figure out how much your time is worth, and make sure that your work is worth what you ask for.
The reason I say this is that if you lowball it once, people will expect it to be low forever. Most people have no idea the time and energy that it takes to do a project, and expect them to cost the same as the equivalent in a mass produced store. Handmade things are worth more, they take more time. By lowballing your work in that area, you end up shoving yourself and other crafters into a price bracket where it becomes difficult to make money out of it. Figure out how much your time is worth, and make sure that your work is worth what you ask for.
