Over the Gate

Gareth

I need some advice and guidance regarding the pricing of one or two craft items that I have been asked to make and submit to my Church's up and coming Christmas fair.

Normally the stuff that I make and donate goes into the raffle. but this year the fund raising committee are insisiting that I sell my hand-made wares for a fair price.

I have produced almost enough stuff to warrant a stall dedicated to just my craftwork alone, which includes; Baby quilts, present sacks, Lavender bags, and some of my matchstick items.

It is these that I am having the troble assigning a fair price to, and so I was hoping for a little advice and guidance from my fellow OTGer's., without pricing myself out of the market.

Matchstick Crucifix; 125 match matchsticks, approx 9cm, X 4cm, and about 5 hours work over 6 days... ... ... £££ppp?:

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Screw top matchstick pencil case; 670 matchsticks, 20cm high x 7.5 cm diametre, approx 30 hours work over 2 weeks, and £1 coin holders; 225 matchsticks, 10 cm high and about 11 hours work over 1 week ... .... ....££pp?:

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all advice welcome.
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In Lust, In Like, In Love.

Gareth

Beelzebub has a very special place for me!

kaz · Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 10:54 pm Post subject:

I wouldn't have a clue at pricing hand made items like those - the final price never seems to reflect the hours of work put into an item

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Bazzer · Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 7:39 am Post subject:

Why not price by size?
Small £5
Medium £7.50
Large £10

Bearing in mind the price does not reflect profit for you but a donation to the cause.
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Still at the Bar, still on me own, still moaning and still a miserable Old Git.

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BorderReiver · Joined: 27 Aug 2007 Posts: 312 Location: Norfolk

Time x minimum wage?
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Mike

The more I see of my fellow man the better I like my dogs.

Gareth · Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 7:08 pm Post subject:

Eschra · Joined: 15 Jan 2008 Posts: 952 Location: West Yorkshire

Don't forget to ensure whatever you prices also is realistic to the amount you also spend on materials.

You don't want to make less than you paid to make it - yes I have seen it done

You can go on that then add a sensible percentage on top as an alternative method - often the bigger the item the less profit level I expect if that makes any sense?!

For instance if something small cost £3 to make it wouldn't be unreasonable to ask £4.50 (50 percent profit) but £7.50 (150% profit would be a little cheeky)

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Real smallholders wear out rather than burn out; rusting away is negotiable.

Bazzer · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 6:37 am Post subject:

Only problem I see in an Hours/Materials related costing is would the average punter at a Church Fayre shell out thirty squids for a pencil case, excellant as it is?
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Still at the Bar, still on me own, still moaning and still a miserable Old Git.

http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/

green man · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 1:39 pm Post subject:

I fear you are right Bazzer, the 'match stick made' is a skill from the past and seldom appreciated by anyone these days. Like most things involving skill India/China have the labour and ingenuity to out strip us all.

Better ask yourself what would I buy if I had thirty pounds spare, afraid pencil case wont be on the top of many lists.

How about you turn it into a raffle stall, spread the liability that way, and the table will be cleared at the end of the day!

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What is in your heart will grow there.

BorderReiver · Joined: 27 Aug 2007 Posts: 312 Location: Norfolk

jinxy · Joined: 12 Nov 2009 Posts: 7 Location: S.Wales

you cannot place a modern profit margin type cost on hand crafted items (material cost +labour+energy ) leave that to mass production
You have to look at what you have created and decide what you think its worth and what you lose in monetary gain can be made up with look in the eye of the buyer and the knowledge that your hand crafted piece will be appreciated and cherished