tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327697317325646976.post200260603249948353..comments2024-02-20T02:15:49.718-08:00Comments on Sparrow Salvage: Apples and Oranges - That Thing You Do and Why You Don't Charge Enough to Do It part TWOPenelopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00552220520085713818noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327697317325646976.post-80777217842822832072013-08-09T08:22:25.732-07:002013-08-09T08:22:25.732-07:00Wow, this is all gutwrenching. It hits in the sola...Wow, this is all gutwrenching. It hits in the solar plexus. I agonize over this stuff. I guess we all do. I agree with fanicfuldevices I spend almost as much time photographing, editing those photos (and I still hate them)and then listing, posting as I do making my product! and that's saying something! That frustrates me GREATLY. If I could reduce the time and frustration there it would make my life better. I'm not selling diddle on Etsy and am trying different people's advice about promoting. But it's slow going. So I lay awake worrying about pricing, shipping pricing, etc. My partner says, "you price to low because you don't have any money and are poor all the time. So you can't fathom anyone paying over $25 bucks for anything!" Sadly he's right. I also sell in a gallery where I work part time in the summer. It frustrates me to have to convince people I MADE the work. They see prefab stuff at Hobby Lobby and think that I assemble the pieces from store bought. They are shopping the places you've illustrated in this post. That is what they know. They don't see my moldy garage studio with the bucket of acid the soldering bench the anvils the hammers..... I sell more when I bring in a small bench and demo. I don't get much done but I sell more. That's a little hard to do on Etsy. the About page helps.... maybe I need to make youtube promo videos and link them somewhere.. thinking out loud....Melissa Manleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02778982816995425759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327697317325646976.post-44069032741983928072013-08-08T13:51:57.040-07:002013-08-08T13:51:57.040-07:00Okay, those last few paragraphs made a believer of...Okay, those last few paragraphs made a believer of me! So at my current prices, I should be selling alotta, but am not, am mostly flatline. So what have I got to lose? My prices are going up. Next subject, how to get past the feeling that a sale is a sign you are doing good work, and all that stuff. Intellectually, I know what it really means when you sell is the right person found you. Just raised the prices on my earrings. $60 is the new $48. Thanks for the effort you are making to liberate us! xx,Pbetweenreaderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14375176811934076402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327697317325646976.post-43279631242914753252013-08-08T07:05:43.977-07:002013-08-08T07:05:43.977-07:00I've never considered selling my work cheap. I...I've never considered selling my work cheap. I have customers who tell me 'don't lower your prices just to sell'. They get it. I sell at markets and people ask for a discount. I never say yes. Straight out 'no I do not reduce my prices'. If they ask why I simply tell them 'this is my occupation. How I earn money.' If I am feeling really cheeky I add 'would you accept less pay if your boss asked you to give him/her a discount?'Melaniehttp://www.ateliertalaru.etsy.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327697317325646976.post-26556772002613027152013-08-06T21:21:08.650-07:002013-08-06T21:21:08.650-07:00i forgot to say something that i read one time abo...i forgot to say something that i read one time about this girl's reason to raising her prices. she said something along the lines of "i'd like to exist in a higher monetary vibration and therefore to attract that i need to raise my prices". So...you can't charge $30 and expect to earn thousands. You want that reality, you need to vibe in it. <br /><br />ok time for bed :)Jiorjihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11352845052880804902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327697317325646976.post-89931676437736877572013-08-06T00:07:46.679-07:002013-08-06T00:07:46.679-07:00Such interesting, useful posts that you are writin...Such interesting, useful posts that you are writing here.....it really is major food for thought. I am trying more and more to make a living through my jewellery (and supplies) businesses, and I am definitely stuck between the "but nobody will pay more for my work!" fear and the fact that I absolutely agree with everything you are saying. I will look forward to your last post....Rebeccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14254291271007836270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327697317325646976.post-84707366016247722932013-08-05T05:44:28.606-07:002013-08-05T05:44:28.606-07:00I'm a sucker for coming back every couple of d...I'm a sucker for coming back every couple of days to see how the comments are going...<br /><br />When it comes to applying the same standards of pricing to other work I've realised that when it comes to my costuming work I price much more realistically and absolutely hate seeing others who drastically underprice in order to sell their work. One of my most popular headdresses is one I blogged about 2 years ago. It's a be-atch and now when I get enquiries about it I tell 'em how much I want. Eight of ten will never get back to me, but the two who pay get something that they love to wear and I that I enjoyed making because I didn't have my face screwed up the whole time as I was burning my fingers thinking, "If only I'd charged what I should have for this!"<br /><br />And as a dance teacher I've been taught by my mentors to never under-sell. It's a common discussion theme in belly dance forums simply because there are so many people who start their classes or perform at events for prices that really harm the rest of the community, particularly those for whom it is their main income. <br /><br />So yes, as creators of something physical to wear and that will hopefully be cherished we should command our worth. I'm as interested as anyone to see if I can bear this out.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07597848141374788831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327697317325646976.post-49801731142217970042013-08-05T02:39:31.990-07:002013-08-05T02:39:31.990-07:00Edit express here I come!Edit express here I come!Ohinemurrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03277441916434018722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327697317325646976.post-19499009987587355702013-08-05T00:33:11.453-07:002013-08-05T00:33:11.453-07:00Storing all these insightful articles of yours in ...Storing all these insightful articles of yours in my bookmarks and to give myself the time to work through and digest thoroughly. These big companies are all about the brand first and selling the emotion of owning their pieces, rather than any real artist design and intent.<br />We've all got to hold on to our design souls and find a way to get found.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327697317325646976.post-7678757111220691972013-08-04T20:09:25.070-07:002013-08-04T20:09:25.070-07:00can i just add that i actually came back just to r...can i just add that i actually came back just to read the comments? <br />numinosity i feel you so much about identifying too much w/yr customers. but RAISE YOUR PRICES. just do. also lela this is such an art-wide issue across all fields. i love when ppl talk about their similar experiences in very different areas, like shipwreckdandy's wisdom bomb about the massage/holistic world. <br />and good on ya jorji! next time, price higher!fanciful deviceshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15032434965998552318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327697317325646976.post-19270927905983186792013-08-04T13:04:59.574-07:002013-08-04T13:04:59.574-07:00Another great post Penny! I read this yesterday an...Another great post Penny! I read this yesterday and came back to comment. You and Dawn have been very eye-opening for me. I really appreciate the time you take to educate us. I agree with Marina about the time it takes to photograph and list also. There's so much that goes into our work besides making the pieces. <br /><br />Speaking of eye-opening... the prices that go along with the mass-produced jewelry in your photos. It's sickening. Your gorgeous pair at the end show the time, labor and unique components put into their making. Not to mention the photos and composing the listing. At least with our creations you won't see yourself coming or going. That's what I look at whether I'm buying for myself or creating to sell.<br /><br />In conclusion, I must add that Edit Express rocks! Thank you for sharing it with us!martinisfor2https://www.blogger.com/profile/05935263427060069544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327697317325646976.post-61852041417917383362013-08-04T12:41:28.556-07:002013-08-04T12:41:28.556-07:00i won't comment on those samples. I won't ...i won't comment on those samples. I won't comment on how "DIY" and "handmade" is making its way in the mass production world and people are eating it up cos it's trendy and it's "in" and all that crap. And i won't make a comment on how my ex employer whose "designers" create the lowest possible creative hair accessories ...creative as in picking different colours on a computer screen and then sending off the "artwork" to china to mass produce thousands of shit pieces that fall apart in your hand AND THEN>...he wanted to have a tag on everything that said "handmade" BECAUSE it would get him more sales because that's the trend. I haaaate trends. are we all sheep?!?! can't we have our opinion?? BLAH!!!<br />I WON'T COMMENT ON ANY OF THAT!! grrr.<br /><br /><br />i will however make a comment about how i had a craft show a few weeks ago and as i priced things, i lived in fear of you sparrow(haha) thinking that if i even dare to lower the prices you'd kick my ass. umm well i lowered a liiiittle bit. A little. The silver pieces i left as is. I wanted to have a variety of prices so that it would balance out and GUESS WHAT!! the highest prices sold faster. I was quite shocked. They preferred to go for the more detailed/highest priced items. <br /><br />REALLy appreciate your posts :)Jiorjihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11352845052880804902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327697317325646976.post-56385098833778837742013-08-04T08:49:46.638-07:002013-08-04T08:49:46.638-07:00Seriously...your examples make me ill. And yet I k...Seriously...your examples make me ill. And yet I know it's all true. I've always known it. I'm lucky in that I am not having to make a living selling my stuff. But still, we should at least be respected for our efforts.<br /><br />Before I got so heavily into jewelry making (for the second time in my life) I was deep into photography. That world is the same. I was (and still am) contacted quite frequently by someone wanting free use of my images. My standard answer is NO unless it's for a non-profit. Then I *might* agree. But the people who ALWAYS GIVE their photos away kill the rest of us. And what really angers me is when someone GIVES permission for photo use to someone else who is putting it in a book for SALE. Who gets all that money? Uhhuh. Ok, sorry for the rant. I think this might be a good post for me. ;)<br /><br />Thanks, Penny. Your efforts in this are very eye-opening & appreciated.Lelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00680525369327961001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327697317325646976.post-89800269438876506712013-08-04T08:01:50.499-07:002013-08-04T08:01:50.499-07:00I've known for some time that I've under-p...I've known for some time that I've under-priced my items and underpaid myself, but this series of yours is really bringing that to light. Your examples definitely help me see what I'm doing to myself and the rest of the handmade community. Thank you for prying my eyes open a little more!CraftyHopehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10341033878002504601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327697317325646976.post-53654514716567090302013-08-03T15:39:02.330-07:002013-08-03T15:39:02.330-07:00Brilliant article, especially the bit about the gl...Brilliant article, especially the bit about the glue around the stones....I shall act upon it too!<br />Lindsayhttp://www.facebook.com/violetjewellerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327697317325646976.post-28792741782415414432013-08-03T13:35:51.516-07:002013-08-03T13:35:51.516-07:00I went into the "Top Ten Etsy Sellers" t...I went into the "Top Ten Etsy Sellers" that you showed on a previous post...I looked at the top Etsy sellers in Great Britian...Jewelry...well just as i thought...<br />Cheap, $15 and under, not "handmade" but put together with Chinese findings and a bit of wire...<br />Nowhere were "artists"...basically mass produced crap...<br />so I guess we will never be top sellers...But it makes me realize that the big draws are cheap, cheap ,cheap...<br />and throw in crap.Beatnhearthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14825208509765183528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327697317325646976.post-59483410920856794672013-08-03T12:45:38.965-07:002013-08-03T12:45:38.965-07:00I'm catching up on posts. Great stuff, really ...I'm catching up on posts. Great stuff, really has me thinking even though I am on the handmade supply end. I would love to hear opinions of jewelry makers taking the leap to appropriately value their items, would you take a similar leap to pay more for handmade supplies.<br /><br />When I am pricing maybe I am getting too emotionally connected to my customers, because I think that all jewelry designers out there should have access to handmade supplies for their creations. I want them to raise the bar beyond buying at Michaels and chinese lampwork strands not only for me but, for them pushing their creativity, and for their customers seeing that there are other unique choices out there.<br /><br />I totally agree that the retail formula does not work for handmade, of course we need to know our costs. But I have to make every bead and jewelry component on my table I am not just ordering supplies, my wholesale can't be 50/50.<br /><br /> When I first started selling at shows and a bead shop owner would ask if I sell wholesale I would be nervous and indecisive in my response, in fact I did not even know what to ask for. Sensing my insecurity and lack of confidence with naming a wholesale price the bead shop owner would go for the kill and say " I ALWAYS get 50% off from artisans, you are hurting your sales by not offering 50%." After a few of these unpleasant experiences I reached out to other artisans at the bead shows and I found out that a great majority of them do not wholesale at 50% in fact artisans like me that are not doing production work would wholesale at 20% or lower. So I finally had permission to ask for 20%, I literally went home and practiced my new confident artisan persona in front of the mirror. I needed to believe that 20% was totally fair. Now when a customer asks about wholesale I say without stuttering and not making eye contact "20% for bead shops" the response is usually " Thanks had to ask, hope you are not offended your work is beautiful." It's amazing how much a polite but confident manner from me generates a completely different response. Try it you will like it.Gardannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08627322636329214313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327697317325646976.post-37618090357126346782013-08-03T11:57:36.908-07:002013-08-03T11:57:36.908-07:00Eek! what an eye opener - now where's my calcu...Eek! what an eye opener - now where's my calculator...!Lesleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16974728482917154566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327697317325646976.post-17042144363668610212013-08-03T11:32:06.803-07:002013-08-03T11:32:06.803-07:00yeah- and where in that damned formula is all the ...yeah- and where in that damned formula is all the time i take photographing, editing and listing? goddamn it. looking at your example item/prices made me ill. why am i comparing myself to target? cuz its what i know...fanciful deviceshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15032434965998552318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5327697317325646976.post-33632197550713599232013-08-03T08:18:42.795-07:002013-08-03T08:18:42.795-07:00Thank you again for such prolific and thoughtful p...Thank you again for such prolific and thoughtful posts on this subject. I'e made things (fusion belly dance costumes, jewellery, random stuff) for years and, well, the pricing has probably always fallen short. I've just been across to edit express and upped everything by 20%. <br /><br />And I look forward to your post about how to price. Although I'm tempted to now just make stuff and come up with an arbitrary high figure and see what happens - as you so beautifully say, the making comes from the need to make, the solace that creating brings is worth more to me than the prices I charge. However.... Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07597848141374788831noreply@blogger.com