[TheForge] Making money

[Bob Ehrenberger]

Dan,

I was on the go all day yesterday so didn't even look at the computer.
Thanks for your ideas.

I do struggle with pricing.  When I compare my prices to other smiths in the
area I'm pretty much in line or a little high. But I went to an event in Ill
where there was a smith from Michigan and his prices were almost double
mine, so go figure.

I had hopped to do the craft show circuit for two years to get my name out,
and then have enough comission work to support the bussiness. But the
comission work has been slow in comming. I did just get a project for 100'
of iron fence which will help. I am also finding that my stuff sells best if
I can demonstrate at the event, so we are trying to replace sales only
events with demonstration /sales events.

I know that my area is not affluent, I found out that Bob Pactric once lived
nere hare and left due to lack of work. But we picked the area mainlly for
the farm ground, and for now can't move.

I think that my quality is pretty good. I continue to improve with practice.

When I went full time two years ago it was my goal to make $100 worth of
stuff in the shop each day. At that time it was a struggle to make that
much. Now I can make twice that on most days. The problem it seems is
selling it. I have a power hammer which helps and my son is still home
working on knives so I can get him to help if I just can't do something by
myself.

Bob Ehrenberger
Shelbyville, Mo

Date: Fri, 12 Jul 2002 12:15:24 -0400
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Making money
From: Dan Tull <dan_tull@juno.com>


The first thing that comes to mind? is ....

1.You are not charging enough for your work.
2.You haven't elevated your customer base.
3.Maybe you don't live in an affluent market.( I have a B/S friend
in Troy ,Al.  that has only one upper middle class resident)
4.or...heaven forbid.... your Quality is not up to Pier one Imports.
5.Or in my case , you can't turn it out fast enough.