Pricing your work to sell

[Phil]

This link popped up on a Popular Woodworking e-mail.

 

[AJB Temple]

Interesting. I know a few local woodworkers. One makes a few things for me for restaurant use - for example test tube flower vases that he makes for less than my cost of materials. They all have stands and fetes, food markets etc and one regularly has a stand at Sissinghurst Castle National Trust garden. They offer chopping boards and bowls mainly. Not much gets sold - people look and admire but don't part with money very often. Not viable as profitable businesses I fear. But that is probably not the point.

 

[Cabinetman]

Interesting. I know a few local woodworkers. One makes a few things for me for restaurant use - for example test tube flower vases that he makes for less than my cost of materials. They all have stands and fetes, food markets etc and one regularly has a stand at Sissinghurst Castle National Trust garden. They offer chopping boards and bowls mainly. Not much gets sold - people look and admire but don't part with money very often. Not viable as profitable businesses I fear. But that is probably not the point.

Yes I’ve seen similar, but the exception was a guy I knew who custom laser burnt CNC’d messages homilies and greetings onto the things he made.

 

[wallace]

I tried selling turned items at fairs a couple of times, ranging from big fruit bowls to little oak door wedges. Far too disheartening to keep trying. I still have a couple of crates of stuff in the loft. The only time I made money was selling magic wands with quarts ends to a hippy shop.

 

[Andy P]

I tried selling turned items at fairs a couple of times, ranging from big fruit bowls to little oak door wedges. Far too disheartening to keep trying. I still have a couple of crates of stuff in the loft. The only time I made money was selling magic wands with quarts ends to a hippy shop.

Yes it’s not an easy way to make a living , I had a stall at Devizes market every Thursday for eleven years !- tough going

 

[AJB Temple]

Yes it’s not an easy way to make a living , I had a stall at Devizes market every Thursday for eleven years !- tough going

Presumably at such a market you get the same visitors (pretty much) every week? Rapid market saturation.

I think there may be a market for skilled handyman services, to cover the wannabe DIYers whose wives have got tired of waiting.

 

[Andy P]

Presumably at such a market you get the same visitors (pretty much) every week? Rapid market saturation.

I think there may be a market for skilled handyman services, to cover the wannabe DIYers whose wives have got tired of waiting.

Certain I used to see a lot of regulars but also Devizes has a lot of visitors so I made sure I made a large range of products but always top end prices , but in a sales situation be prepared to actually SELL the product , if you just sit there you will struggle

 

[AndyP]

I’ve never been tempted to turn a hobby into a business. If I did what would I do for a hobby?

 

[Andy P]

I’ve never been tempted to turn a hobby into a business. If I did what would I do for a hobby?

Very good point !

 

[Woodbloke]

Certain I used to see a lot of regulars but also Devizes has a lot of visitors so I made sure I made a large range of products but always top end prices , but in a sales situation be prepared to actually SELL the product , if you just sit there you will struggle

...not forgetting that 35% AAT would be added on top - Rob